Martin Zagnoev, Johannnesburg
This is hardly surprising given our often difficult history. Yet it hasn’t all been bad as we tend to assume; there have been good times and even golden eras.
Following on the Holocaust, mainstream anti-Semitism has taken a massive dive. It is no longer considered acceptable to openly bait our people. Gone are the days when the Czar or a priest could get up and incite a pogrom. Nowadays it would be immediately and widely condemned if a political leader made any such racist statements.
We enjoy full citizenship and equal rights in all countries, including Germany, Russia and Iran. In America, Jews are the most popular minority. Our people are no longer subject to curfews at night, in any country.
Anti-Semitism has, however, remained among the extreme right-wing fringe. But even there, much of this hatred has shifted towards Islam which they now see as a bigger threat. Some of these extremists even praise Israel for its handling of the Muslims!
Traditionally, Jews were often better treated in Muslim lands than they were in Christian countries. But since the rise of Zionism, most Muslim attitudes have hardened against us. This is likely to change if peace is found in the Holy Land – bigger miracles have occurred in the establishment, survival and prosperity of Israel.
We usually assume that those who oppose Israel are only motivated by anti-Semitism. Yet over two thirds of nations voted in the UN in 1947 to establish our homeland, in spite of the Muslim countries voting against it.
When Israel was still young and weak, many supported her. Since she is no longer seen as the underdog, she has lost much of that support. The side which is seen on TV with bombed cities and dead babies, is the side which wins in the court of public opinion.
Some say yes, but what about France where it is unsafe to wear a yarmulke? There are many Muslim immigrants who have not managed to integrate well with the French. Most of them live in poorer neighbourhoods where many experience alienation and rage.
It is in these Muslim areas where it is unsafe to wear a yarmulke. The average Christian Frenchman has no issue with the Jewish population. In fact, the president of France has asked the Jews not to leave the country.
