International

U.K. Jews fear 'backlash'

By Hasan Suroor

LONDON APRIL 18 . Britain's Jewish community has complained of a wave of anti-Semitism across the country since the start of the current Israeli military offensive in Palestinian territories; Muslim "extremists" and the media have been singled out for whipping-up passions. This follows widespread condemnation here of the alleged massacre by Israeli forces in the Jenin refugee camp, as well as calls for a boycott of Israeli goods sold in Britain.

Jewish concern was given fervent voice by Britain's Chief Rabbi, Jonathan Sacks. In an interview with the BBC — which Israel has routinely accused of biased coverage — he said that Israel had been "very unfairly treated in the media" and that this could inflame feelings against British Jews. "In mainland Europe, we've had many, many attacks on synagogues — in France, Belgium and elsewhere. It's not that bad [here] but when you challenge Israel's very right to exist you are certainly calling into question the Jewish people's right to exist collectively," he said. Pinning blame on alleged Muslim extremists, he added: "If you talk long enough about killing Jews one day, it will happen, God forbid."

His remarks came a day after the Jewish veteran Labour MP, Gerald Kaufman, bitterly attacked the Israeli Government's military actions against Palestinians and denounced the Israeli Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon, as a "war criminal" and "blustering bully".

Dr. Sacks, however, defended Israeli actions saying, "people have not understood that it is fighting for its right to be." He complained that there was not sufficient understanding in Britain of Israel's position and, echoing Mr. Sharon's opinions of the current military actions, said: "What is happening now is the direct equivalent of what America is doing in Afghanistan. If we support the latter, I think we also have to understand the former. They're the same policy."

Human rights groups were quick to question his remarks, with a spokesperson for British Friends of Peace Now saying that the comparison was not valid. She also dismissed his charge of anti-Semitism as too sweeping. "Not all anti-Zionists are anti-Semitic', she said. A spokesman for the Muslim Council of Britain also took strong exception to Dr. Sacks's attack on Muslims.

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