Danny Finkelstein on Rising Antisemitism and Safety in London

The Shifting Landscape of Antisemitism

• 💡 Danny Finkelstein reflects on a significant increase in antisemitic abuse, noting he never anticipated writing or speaking about it extensively when he joined The Times in 2001.
• 📌 He describes his astonishment and depression at the necessity of addressing antisemitism, which has moved from a private community concern to a political issue.
• 🎯 Finkelstein argues that attacks on the Jewish community are fundamentally an attack on the structure of liberal democracy, tolerance, and the principle of agreeing to disagree.

Historical Context and Modern Manifestations

• 🚀 The discussion touches on 9/11 as a potential turning point, noting how some reactions linked the event to Western foreign policy, a sentiment Finkelstein experienced with a reporter's comment about Jerusalem being where 9/11 started.
• 🧠 He traces the connection from the disaster of European Jews to the creation of Israel as a place for safety, yet paradoxically, he no longer feels completely safe in London.
• ⚠️ Finkelstein criticizes the slogan "globalize the intifada," viewing it as an encouragement of violent acts and not a respectable form of speech, even for a free speech advocate.

Justification of Violence and Historical Parallels

• ⚖️ The idea that Israel's behavior or specific governments create an environment for legitimate anger is challenged by Finkelstein, who points out that antisemitism predates Israel's creation.
• 📚 He references historical accounts where attempts to eradicate Judaism were frequent, suggesting the problem is deeply rooted and not solely tied to recent events.
• 🧩 Finkelstein suggests that anti-Israel resistance can be interpreted as a form of not tolerating Jews living in a particular area, flipping the narrative on its head.

Navigating Safety and Identity

• 💬 He emphasizes that while people can have legitimate objections to actions by any government, this does not justify violent behavior or calls for violence.
• 🕯️ The conversation includes a poignant anecdote about a Rabbi's advice to "Be more Jewish, act more Jewish, appear more Jewish" even in the face of danger, highlighting the courage of Jewish people in London.
• 🧩 Finkelstein recounts historical responses within German Jewry in the 1930s: assimilation, communism, emigration to Israel, or trying to navigate within the existing community, none of which offered complete safety.

The Broader Implications

• 😔 A sense of bleakness is shared regarding the lack of a universally safe place for Jews, with a reflection on how families have historically chosen to downplay or hide their Judaism.
• ✅ Finkelstein concludes that the issue is not solely about the Jewish community but about the necessity of living in a stable liberal democratic society that tolerates differences and resolves disputes peacefully.