Israeli actions fostering anti-Semitic beliefs

While Dr Kevin McCarthy puts recent acts of anti- Jewish prejudice down to “a reflexive action from a cohort that wants to denigrate their fellow human beings ..... in their limited, and limiting, worldview”, he is in denial about the link between this increase in prejudice and Israel’s wanton human rights abuses, as most shamefully shown in the recent assault on Gaza.

Indeed, 25 years ago, Yehoshafat Harkabi, former director of Israeli military intelligence, made that very link to Israel’s actions. He wrote: “it would be a tragic irony if the Jewish state .... was to become a factor in the rise of anti-Semitism” and “in the struggle against anti-Semitism, the frontline begins in Israel.”

In November, 2003, financier George Soros said that if Israel changed its policies “... then anti-Semitism will also diminish.” Also, in the UK, the Jewish watchdog Community Service Trust has said “...foreigners’ criticism of Israel stems ... from what they see as fair and moral considerations.”

Dr McCarthy’s letter displays a very limited view of anti-Jewish prejudice, and not only compared to those mentioned above.

Charlie Murphy,

Ludford Rd,

Dundrum,

Dublin16