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This is Momentum at its best: mobilising the idealism of its members to tackle real social problems. The video is a serious attempt to educate its members on anti-Semitism - but it stops just at the point that things get really tricky. [THREAD]
2. The film gets across the peculiar character of left-wing anti-Semitism: that it's a conspiracy theory rather than a racial theory. From the Rothschilds to the Elders of Zion, anti-Semitism invents powerful Jewish interest groups who allegedly control govts, banks & the media.
3. But here's where things get tricky. Conspiracy theories about Jewish power now focus overwhelmingly on Israel. The power once attributed to the Rothschilds, "Jewish finance" or "the Elders of Zion" is now credited to the "Israel lobby", "Mossad" or "Labour Friends of Israel".
4. People who would never dream of tweeting attacks on the Rothschilds or "the world Zionist conspiracy" will cheerfully suggest that the BBC is controlled by "the Israel lobby", that "the hand of Israel" was behind 9/11 or that Luciana Berger is in the pay of the Israeli state.
5. The effect is the same: they're perpetuating an anti-Semitic conspiracy theory that's left a trail of blood across history. But they don't recognise it as anti-Semitic and are often furious when this is pointed out. Their friends rally around them and the problem gets worse.
6. No one seriously disputes that it is entirely legitimate to criticise the Israeli government - in the same way (but *only* in the same way) as any other government. But a lot of nakedly anti-Semitic comment now clutches for the bedsheet of "Israel" whenever it's exposed.
7. The Left needs to become more alert to the anti-Semitic clothing in which criticism of Israel can (often unintentionally) be dressed. The only solution is education - & it has to come from within. This film is a start, so credit to Momentum for beginning the task. [ENDS]
