Are Europeans Really Antisemitic?

UK Prime Minister, Theresa May and Labour Party head, Jeremy Corbyn (BBC)

My theory may well be about to be tested. I have maintained for some time now that most Europeans are at the core antisemitic. It is in their DNA. Not that they are Nazis. Nor would they necessarily act on their antisemitism in ways that would be overtly harmful to their fellow Jewish citizens. At least not intentionally. I think most would even vehemently deny they are in any way antisemitic. Especially in countries like the UK - our closest European ally and trading partner. Whose culture is much the same as it is here in the US - sharing a common language – perhaps the most culturally significant thing we Americans share with them.

Yesterday, the British parliament handed Prime Minister Theresa May a stunning and humiliating defeat. Her Brexit plan which would take the UK out of the European Union was firmly and loudly rejected: 202 for - 432 against.  It is being reported as the biggest defeat for a sitting Prime Minister in modern British history!

I don’t think it is too early to say that Prime Minister May’s days are numbered. There will almost certainly be a no confidence vote. If she loses that vote (which at this point seems likely – but you never know) new elections will be called.  Which makes it a distinct possibility (if not likelihood) that the UK’s new prime minister would be the current leftist leader of the opposition Labour Party, Jeremy Corbyn.

I don’t think there can be any doubt about his antisemitism. Despite his protestations to the contrary. That is plain to see if one judges by his past. So plain to see that former UK Chief Rabbi, Jonathan Sacks unequivocally condemned him as such. Hard to give Corbyn the benefit of the doubt after that.

Lest anyone say that his election would say nothing about British antisemitism, I beg to differ. The claim that UK citizens will really only be voting for him based on his populist liberal positions might be true.  But the fact that they will ignore his overt antisemitic behavior (often disguised as anti Zionism as cover) tends to show just how little they care about it. And that is precisely the very thing that makes British voters antisemitic . Even though they might not realize it. You don’t vote for a bigot because you otherwise like his policies.

Imagine for example if Louis Farrakhan were to run for President in the US. If one ignores his antisemitism, he espouses many of the same values we do. They are the classic family values all Americans live by. Values like education, working hard, supporting your family, and living a highly moral lifestyle. Some of which are missing in some of our current political leaders. If not for his virulent antisemitism, I might actually support him. But his antisemitism cannot be ignored. His hateful rhetoric against Jews and Judaism makes it plain to see just how much of an antisemite he is. Despite his protestations to the contrary.

Is there even a snowball’s chance that Farrakhan or anyone like him could be elected President by the American electorate? I don’t think I even have to answer that.

Anyone that might try and explain such a rejection away as an inherent racism on the part of the American people has already been disproved by the election of Barack Obama. Twice. 

Contrast that with the following. 18 years ago when Democrat Al Gore chose as his running-mate, Joseph Lieberman, an observant Jew who would have been a heartbeat away from the Presidency  American voters actually increased their support for Gore. After being 10 points behind George Bush in the polls he pulled even. And actually won the popular vote! God bless the American people!

Americans will not elect an outright bigot into office no matter how good his polices might otherwise be. (And no, Trump is not a bigot!) Will the British? I hope I am proven wrong but I think they just might.