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Practice makes perfect:
1/ Bob James, a Labour member suspended over online antisemitism, denies expressing antisemitic views. He claims no-one has ever explained what's racist about his statements and asks for "a perfect example of antisemitism" in his posts to be pointed out.
1/ Bob James, a Labour member suspended over online antisemitism, denies expressing antisemitic views. He claims no-one has ever explained what's racist about his statements and asks for "a perfect example of antisemitism" in his posts to be pointed out.
2/ A member of Alyn and Deeside CLP, Bob James came to public attention recently through his persistent trolling of TV mathematician Rachel Riley after she had expressed concerns about the antisemitic abuse she received from people who claimed to be Labour Party members.
3/ I hesitate to bestow the "perfect example" accolade on anything associated with antisemitism. But, sadly, there's no shortage of material on Bob James's timeline that shows hostility toward or discrimination against Jews as a religious, ethnic or racial group.
4/ For starters, Bob James insinuates that British Jews are more loyal to Israel than to the UK, presenting their concerns about antisemitism as part of a cunning plot by a foreign state. He portrays Jewish citizens as potentially treasonous agents who can't be trusted.
5/ Bob James regularly uses dehumanising (parasite) and demonising (Satanic) language to describe Jews, classic metaphors about supposed Jewish treachery (30 pieces of silver) and tropes about supremacist ambitions and their economic and media power.
6/ Bob dismisses Jews' concerns about, and experience of, #antisemitism as lies and fraud, motivated by hidden agendas. He taunts them about the Holocaust, claims they exploit it and "prostitute" their religion (regardless of their actual beliefs - some he accuses are atheists).
7/ Bob James stereotypes Jews as wealthy and detached from the working class. He makes solidarity against antisemitism conditional on them proving they've protested against other forms of racism or their views on Israel. He claims Jews demand special treatment over other groups.
8/ Bob James repeatedly portrays Israel and Jews who identify with it as adherents of Nazi ideology. He claims that objecting to such comparisons is the same as trying to prevent any criticism of Israel or Jews. It's part of his attempt to demonise Jewish people. #antisemitism
9/ Whilst barely able to accept its existence when Jews raise concerns about antisemitism, Bob James simultaneously blames them for causing it. By complaining about anti-Jewish racism, he claims they are creating resentment and damaging the "Jewish image".
10/ Bob James gaslights Jews about what they are and what #antisemitism is. It has been explained to him many times that Jewishness is an ethnoreligious identity and that not all Jews practise Judaism but still he persists in doing this.
11/ And what else other than antisemitism would compel Bob James to tweet "Adolf Hitler would be proud of you" at a Jewish journalist?
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