Friday, September 3, 2010
Never mind that Abbas has no power to compromise on anything, including violent struggle, or that his constituency, such as it is, doesn't want him to, or that his leadership, even if he were to personally want to end the conflict, is so fragile that any false move means the end, and the plethora of other issues on the Arab side (inside and outside the Palestinian Authority) that make this impossible, as well as the demonstrated fact over the past year that pressure on the Israelis simply pushes peace farther away...no, forget all that, it's the Jewish Cabal's fault.
At Philosemitism Blog: EU Commissioner warns of 'Jewish lobby' grip on US politics
Karel De Gucht, the European Commissioner for Trade, one of the highest ranking officials at the EU, warned this morning on Belgian (Flemish) radio that the Jewish lobby (not pro-Israel lobby) had a grip on US politics. Belgium holds at the present the presidency of the EU. The belief that the US is controlled by Jews is widespread in Europe ...
Source: Luc Van Braekel (Karel De Gucht over de Joden)
One should not underestimate, for instance, the [power] of the Jewish lobby, at Capitol Hill, the American parliament. It is the best organised pressure group there. In other words, one should not underestimate the grip the Jewish lobby has on US politics. Be it with the Democrats or the Republicans, there is little difference.
One should not underestimate the opinion - outside the lobby - of the average Jew who does not live in Israel. There is indeed among most Jews a faith [geloof] - I cannot think of a better way to put it - that they are right. And faith is something difficult to disprove with rational argumentation. It doesn't depend on them being religious or not. Even secular Jews [vrijzinnige] share the same faith of being right. It is therefore not easy, even for a moderate Jew, to talk about what's happening in the Middle East. It's a very emotional issue [for them]."
"Moderate Jews"! That's a new one. More at TheJC: Outcry over EU man's 'antisemitic' remarks
This is typical anti-Jewish conspiracy thinking. It is the Jews that stand between us and a better world, nevermind the mountain of evidence to the contrary.
He is, of course, quite sorry:
"I regret that the comments that I made have been interpreted in a sense that I did not intend.
"I did not mean in any possible way to cause offence or stigmatise the Jewish community."
He added: "Antisemitism has no place in today's world."
Think more. Speak less.
Oh, I interpreted his words exactly the way he intended him. Looks like no more Stella Artois for this moderate Yid. It is haram!
Belgium always was an antisemitic place though Jews were tolerated for the trade they generated for Brussels.
I thought stella artois was a cigar.
Is there a cigar with a logo similar to stella artois?
Beer. Good beer, unfortunately.
Karel De Gucht said that the pro-Israeli and/or Jewish lobby has a strong influence in Washington and that this influence leads to the US being more pro-Israel than they would otherwise be. Although he didn’t mention this in the interview (because it was not part of the question), he most likely agrees that Arab leaders are not helping either.
Is Karel De Gucht anti-Jewish, antisemite, racist, etc? No, not at all. He is not even anti-Israeli. He has been extremely vocal against all forms of discrimination and has been fighting Belgium’s far-right parties for ages (he once infamously called far-right leaders “cockroaches”). But one of his weaknesses is that he is not always diplomatic and sometimes is a bit blunt.
Instead of calling him names, simply dismissing his statements because you don’t like them and calling for his resignation, one should debate whether (or not) he may have a point after all.
Finally, ironically, some of the comments here and elsewhere are proving Mr De Gucht’s point - that criticism on Israel (or those acting on its behalf) is immediately censured by accusations of antisemitism - both by individuals and by organisations representing Israelian and/or Jewish interests.
@#5 - Read the quoted comments carefully and you'll note that while the context was ostensibly about peace talks involving Israel, this politician's comments themselves referenced Jews, not Israelis. Whatever you think De Gucht's beliefs may be or how you would prefer to construe them, his statements reflect a rank antisemitism and are both inexcusable and unpardonable. Your thinly veiled reference to "those acting on its behalf" is cut from the same cloth and is equally despicable.
The European Union's reaction has been worse than tepid. It has been craven and cowardly at best and supportive of De Gucht's sentiments at worst. Europe is fast becoming a place which has no attraction for decent people.