In April,
Guardian columnist Naomi Klein
effectively accused most of the world’s Jews of being in thrall to a ‘genocidal ideology. We thought at the time it was unlikely she could write anything more morally reprehensible.
Two days ago, we learned that we were wrong.
Her nearly 6,500 word “Featured”
Guardian essay (“How Israel has made trauma a weapon of war”, Oct. 5) is as vile as the headline suggests, and reminds us of
Dave Rich’s observation that
“the basic idea behind most modern antisemitism is that Jews must be up to something. Whatever Jews say and do can’t be taken at face value: they must have some ulterior motive or hidden agenda that needs to be uncovered.”
So, what are the
true motives behind Israeli and diaspora Jewish efforts to memorialise the Oct. 7th massacre, according to Klein? The commemoration of the
mass murder,
rape, torture, mutilation and hostage taking provides Zionists, she argues, “
the rationale and cover story for the shattering violence and colonial land annexation“. It’s also designed, Klein says, for “
reducing sympathy for Palestinians and generating support for Israel’s rapidly expanding wars“.
Klein chided the various creators of exhibits, memorials and films about the Oct. 7th massacre for not taking proper caution to avoid “
evoking dangerous emotions, like hate and revenge“.