[Thread]
A message to my fellow British citizens:
When we say we're worried about antisemitism, we mean it. We're not pretending or politicking. We're not trying to get an advantage in the Israel/Palestine debate or about boycotts of Israel. We're not playing a rhetorical game.
A message to my fellow British citizens:
When we say we're worried about antisemitism, we mean it. We're not pretending or politicking. We're not trying to get an advantage in the Israel/Palestine debate or about boycotts of Israel. We're not playing a rhetorical game.
We're worried about antisemitism.
It's a surreal worry, because Britain still seems as it has always seemed. There isn't much street violence; there isn't much immediate physical threat. But under the appearance of normality there is something going on.
It's a surreal worry, because Britain still seems as it has always seemed. There isn't much street violence; there isn't much immediate physical threat. But under the appearance of normality there is something going on.
A number of times, recently, different people have contacted me to ask me, 'as the expert in antisemitism', whether it's time to leave. When is it time to leave?
Not the Labour Party. Britain.
I'm completely scandalised that this question is being asked.
Not the Labour Party. Britain.
I'm completely scandalised that this question is being asked.
The answer was no, we're fine, don't be silly. It isn't any more. Now the answer is not yet and I hope not at all.
I'm completely scandalised that this is my answer. I'm not telling people just to calm down any more.
I'm completely scandalised that this is my answer. I'm not telling people just to calm down any more.
People should be thinking about passports. People should be thinking about money. People should be thinking about where they might get work if they needed to leave.
I'm completely furious and disgusted that this is my advice.
I'm completely furious and disgusted that this is my advice.
And yes, this is connected, too, to Brexit. Brexit cultivates a furious movement against 'foreigners', 'globalists', Muslims and 'cosmopolitans'. And it is easily possible that we are walking into severe economic and political crisis in the coming months.
There is no majority in Parliament for any Brexit or for keeping EU membership. A no deal Brexit is a possibility.
In political and economic crisis, and given that antisemitism is now a factor in the way Brits are thinking, and given people will be looking for somebody to blame, there are serious risks in the medium term.
Furious movements are coalescing in Britain, also in Europe, also in the USA. They are movements which are building themselves around the notion that 'the people' or 'The white working class' are being betrayed by 'the establishment' or the 'elite' or the (neo)-liberals.
I so hope I'm being paranoid, shrill, hysterical and all the things that we are accused of. But I'm not.
Antisemitism is not the only danger; there are others. But it is one.
Antisemitism is not the only danger; there are others. But it is one.
