Anti-semitism is an enduring danger
ANTI-SEMITISM has poisoned different societies throughout history and it would be an act of scandalous complacency to think there was no danger of it surfacing in Wales or the UK.
The Holocaust is in living memory and Europe is rightly haunted by the memory of how an advanced country that had been a beacon of the Enlightenment succumbed to fascism and then perpetrated genocide.
Irrational hatred of the Jewish people continues to burn in the hearts of the mad and the bad. Social media has handed a megaphone to extremists and bigots, and it is to our shame that people in Britain live in fear of anti-semitic attack.
Concern about a perceived failure by the Labour movement to get a grip on anti-Jewish sentiment spurred hundreds of protesters to gather outside Parliament yesterday. A people who were pursued by a regime intent on their extinction have every right to express their concern.
Cardiff South and Penarth Labour MP Stephen Doughty said he felt “deep shame” that influential Jewish groups felt the need to speak out in this way. Jeremy Corbyn has said that he will not “tolerate any form of anti-semitism that exists in and around our movement”.
This is an opportunity for Mr Corbyn to demonstrate leadership; there is a double responsibility on him to address concerns because he aspires to lead the country as Prime Minister.
He is a central figure in UK politics who has excited millions of people with a vision of change. His challenge is to ensure that those who would seek to bring toxic attitudes into our democracy are not granted a foothold.
Anti-semitism has appeared under both left and right-wing regimes and people in every society must ensure that twisted stereotypes and casual prejudice do not creep back into culture. History demonstrates how latent hostility to the Jewish people can be quickly exploited by demagogues with terrifying results.
Reports that dangerous attitudes are festering in modern Britain merit the fullest possible investigation.
This will in no way shut down reasoned debate about the best way to pursue peace in Israel and the Palestinian territories. Rather, the extinguishing of prejudice and an appreciation of the diversity of opinions may advance dialogue and opportunities for partnership. The Western Mail newspaper is published by Media Wales a subsidiary company of Trinity Mirror PLC, which is a member of IPSO, the Independent Press Standards Organisation. The entire contents of The Western Mail are the copyright of Media Wales Ltd. It is an offence to copy any of its contents in any way without the company’s permission. If you require a licence to copy parts of it in any way or form, write to the Head of Finance at Six Park Street. The recycled paper content of UK newspapers in 2016 was 62.8%