Anti-Semitism in Paris, Buenos Aires, Washington

The unaddressed element of the Paris jihadist terrorist attacks in early January is anti-Semitism -- and the rather overt efforts of the French Socialist government led by President François Hollande to downplay the fact that six of the 16 people massacred were Jewish citizens sought out in a kosher market. At the same time, Hollande went to great lengths to repeatedly say that the jihadist attacks do not represent Islam. It took more than a day for Prime Minister Manuel Valls to say that France is at war with jihadists and radical Islam. We still await those words from President Hollande. ~~~~~ But, French Jews understand. Anti-Semitic attacks are common - desecration of Jewish cemeteries and anti-Semitic graffiti - and they have become increasingly severe. In March, 23-year-old Islamic jihadist Mohamed Merah became the first 'homegrown' Moslem terrorist in France when he murdered three French paratroopers, three Jewish schoolchildren and a rabbi, with close-range head shots. Merah, a French citizen of Algerian origin, filmed himself carrying out the attacks to "verify" the deaths. He later died in a gunfight with police after a 32-hour standoff at his apartment in Toulouse in the south of France. French police said Merah attacked the Army personnel because of France's involvement in the war in Afghanistan, and he killed young Jewish schoolchildren because "the Jews kill our brothers and sisters in Palestine." ~~~~~ On the rare occasions when members of the French government speak of anti-Semitism - usually after an anti-Semitic incident - they refuse to speak of Islamic anti-Semitism, even if Islamic anti- Semitism is now the cause of almost all anti-Semitic attacks in France. French Jews could see on January 11 that Prime Minister Netanyahu was not welcome at the marche républicaine - and rumors flew in France that Hollande asked him not to come because of "security" considerations - while Palestinian Authority President Abbas, who helped invent modern anti-Semitic terrorism - and other supporters of jihad were warmly welcomed. French Jews are resigned to the anti-Israel opinions rampant in French mainstream media. They have seen the French parliament vote for the creation of a "Palestinian State," notwithstanding that its goal is the eradication of Israel and its Jewish population. French Jews, like most French civilians, realize that, unlike the French jihadists who have weapons caches, they are unarmed and that the soldiers put in the streets after the Paris massacres will not be there forever. They see no-go zones grow increasingly violent. They see that French prisons breed radical jihadists. They are aware that the government cannot stop mass riots and has few means of preventing more attacks against Jews. They suspect that if it had been only Jews killed in the recent attacks, no protests or march would have taken place. There were milions of "Je suis Charlie" signs but perhaps several hundred "Je suis juif" signs displayed during the crisis period and march. ~~~~~ Is it any surprise, then, that each year more French Jews leave for Israel? Almost 7,000 left in 2014, and the Jewish Agency for Israel expects 15,000 this year. The Moslem population is largely silent. Those who speak officially for the French Moslem community say that Islam is not the threat, that the real culprits are those who "insult Islam," and that "the main victims" are Moslems. The French population is not convinced. Several polls, taken before the Paris massacres, show that more than 70% of French people think that Islam is incompatible with democracy and western civilization. French society has not been so divided for a long time. Recent polls show the rising fear of a widespread explosion. The French journalist Eric Zemmour said in 2014 that France was on the edge of civil war. His remarks were a shock. He received multiple death threats and is now under police protection. All those who criticize Islam in France suffer the same fate. Charlie Hebdo cartoonists received death threats. They were also under police protection but they are dead. French Jews are now under military protection. ~~~~~ France is a special case because of its historical ties with Moslem West and North Africa, leading to a 10% and rapidly growing Moslem population in mainland France that is encouraged by the French Socialist government, perhaps because 93% of Moslems voted for Hollande. But anti-Semitism is not restricted to France. ~~~~~ Reuters today reported that the death of a prosecutor investigating the 1994 bombing of the Argentine AMIA Jewish center that killed 85 people, which was initially reported as a suicide, has now been declared by Argentine President Cristina Fernandez not to be. She said today that Alberto Nisman, lead investigator into the 1994 attack, who was found dead in his apartment late Sunday with a 22-caliber pistol by his side, did not kill himself, but the President offered no other explanation. Nisman had accused Fernandez of trying to derail his investigation into the bombing and he was due to present his case to Congress hours after his death. The government says two men who Nisman believed were deeply involved in the alleged cover-up of the 1994 attack had been falsely presented to him as state intelligence agents and he believed them. Fernandez said the deception discredited Nisman's charges against her and points to a conspiracy to smear her name. What is suggested by some is that Fernandez was in a secret deal with Iran to exchange oil for grain and that Nisman may have been going to implicate Iran in the bombing of the AMIA Jewish center. ~~~~~ And anti-Semitism popped up in Washington today. The White House announced that President Barack Obama will not meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during Netanyahu's controversial March 3 visit to Washington. Republican House Speaker John Boehner invited and Netanyahu accepted, without informing Obama, an invitation to address a joint meeting of Congress to explain why the President's approach to Islamist extremism and negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program are not in the best interests of Israel or America. When informed about the invitation by Boehner's office, the White House accused Israel of breaching diplomatic protocol under which foreign leaders advise host leaders of pending visits. The White House also said a meeting could be perceived as an attempt by the administration to influence Israel's March 17 elections : "The President will not be meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu because of the proximity to the Israeli election, which is just two weeks after his planned address to the US Congress," National Security Council spokeswoman Bernadette Meehan said in an emailed statement. “As a matter of long-standing practice and principle, we do not see heads of state or candidates in close proximity to their elections, so as to avoid the appearance of influencing a democratic election in a foreign country." Netanyahu's visit has further strained already difficult relations between the Israeli leader and Obama. Netanyahu has made no secret of his opposition to ongoing talks with Iran, saying that Teheran cannot be trusted to abandon ts ability to build a nuclear weapon that could directly threaten Israel. His visit will come as the White House tries to tamp down a move in Congress to pass legislation that envisions new economic sanctions on Iran if no satisfactory comprehensive nuclear deal can be reached. "The President has been clear about his opposition to Congress passing new legislation on Iran that could undermine our negotiations and divide the international community," said Meehan. "The President has had many conversations with the Prime Minister on this matter, and I am sure they will continue to be in contact on this and other important matters.” ~~~~~ Dear readers, just last week, President Obama held White House talks and conducted a joint press conference with British Prime Minister David Cameron. The British election campaign is underway and Cameron's re-election as prime minister will be decided by the parliamentary elections on May 7. What a difference two months makes. Or could it be that Barack Obama has once again shown his preference for Moslem leaders and agendas, while once again embarrassing America by rejecting Israel and its Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu. Is this anti-Semitism? You decide.