ADL: Pro-Palestinian rallies in US often include 'raw anti-Semitism'
By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
Pro-Palestinian rallies around the United States have escalated in tone to the point where they go "far beyond legitimate criticism o Israel and often can be categorized as raw anti-Semitism," Anti-Defamation League National Director Abraham Foxman said in a statement issued Wednesday.
"There is no doubt that the kind of raw anti-Semitism we saw emerge in Durban, South Africa during last year's UN World Conference Against Racism has re-emerged in the United States and is being used as a weapon against Jews and Israel. This is a very troubling trend, and one that leaders within the Arab American community need to speak out against," Foxman said.
The ADL reported "several consistent themes" at pro-Palestinian rallies in Chicago, New York City, San Francisco, Detroit and Dearborn, Michigan, and in Washington, D.C. These include equating Zionism with Nazism, including the distribution of fliers referring to the "genocide" of the Palestinian people. The Holocaust and Holocaust imagery, including the swastika, are featured prominently at the rallies, often in a manner "that is deeply offensive to Jews and especially Holocaust survivors," the ADL reported.
Protesters charge that Jews or "Zionists" control the US government, and claim that "Jews killed Christ" to libel Israel and the Jewish people.
There have also been calls for the destruction of Israel. At a rally in Washington, D.C., there were calls to "globalize the intifada" and the stage was adorned with a large Hizbullah flag. Protesters often express support for violence against Israel, including suicide bombings.
In Chicago, after repeated anti-Semitism at pro-Palestinian rallies, the ADL took out an ad in the Chicago Tibune calling on community leaders to "Say No to Hate." |
