Amid the current controversy over the Aston Villa v Maccabi Tel Aviv match, a number of unfortunate but common misunderstandings and distortions have inevitably raised their ugly heads in the surrounding public discourse and argument, including some column inches in this excellent news organ.
Passions running high
These are emotional times, with events that stimulate, and often amply justify, passionate reactions. However, passion can so easily turn to violence, so these are potentially dangerous times also. The language used can be important, with the potential to be either part of the problem, or part of the solution.
First, of course, “antisemitism” – a term being thrown around, indeed hurled at people’s heads, these days, with gay abandon.
Being anti-Israeli government does not equate to antisemitism
Surely it must be clear to everyone by now that profound disapproval of the current Israeli Government does not in any way constitute antisemitism. Many, many Jewish people, here in the UK, in Israel, and all around the world, share that disapproval.
To be deeply unhappy with the way Vladimir Putin conducts the affairs of the Russian State is not the same as being a racist anti-Russian or someone with a bigoted disapproval of the Orthodox Church.
Equally, in the case of Israel, to disapprove of the actions of Netanyahu’s Government is not to disapprove of all Israelis, and certainly not to disapprove of all Jewish people globally. That notion is quite simply absurd, and yet in some quarters it seems to gain momentum daily.
Netanyahu has distorted reality
That Benjamin Netanyahu and his cronies have so successfully managed to get their opponents’ views equated with antisemitism is testimony to their damnably good political spinning skills – but the UK’s apparent acceptance of this conflation is a dreadful indictment of our media, our politicians and many of our community leaders and opinion formers.
It’s a gift, not only to the Netanyahu Government, but also to the likes of Tommy Robinson and others intent on stirring up trouble where no trouble need be found. Small wonder then that many people here in the UK – whether Jewish, Muslim, Christian or other – find themselves bewildered by events and by the confused and confusing rhetoric that accompanies them.
What’s needed to get a grip on all this is to honestly address the two conflated issues for what they are – two quite separate and very different things.
To be against mass slaughter is not to be antisemitic
To be against the mass slaughter of innocent men, women and children is not to be antisemitic. It is to be anti-slaughter, certainly, but not antisemitic. It certainly doesn’t imply “Islamist extremism”. To take to the streets to demonstrate against what’s happening in Gaza, is not to “support terrorism”. In fact, it is a legitimate act of protest against what many see as terrorism on the part of Netanyahu’s IDF.
If our Government can simultaneously entertain courteous dialogue with China and also honestly recognise its shortcomings, surely we can summon up the courage to be honest with the Israeli Government also. No other country in the world has been allowed to use their religion as a human shield against legitimate criticism. Why Israel? Why now?
South Africa’s sports teams were shunned due to its govt’s policy of apartheid
Back to Aston Villa: everyone agrees that, ideally, sport and politics shouldn’t be mixed. Maybe in this case they’re not being mixed or confused. However, in the current to and fro of debate it may be enlightening to examine historical examples where sport and politics were in fact relevant one to another.
There are many who believe that Maccabi Tel Aviv shouldn’t be allowed to come to England to play the match at all. Maybe they’re right. In the days before Nelson Mandela’s election to the presidency, when many countries disapproved of the South African apartheid regime, South African sports teams were unwelcome in many countries because of it.
There are other precedents, of course, but the South African example seems to offer a best fit with the current situation. In that case, no one accused Western governments of racist policies against South Africans. It was clear that the political “interference” arose from a profound disapproval of that country’s apartheid policies.
Israel should moderate its behaviour
It would seem equally legitimate today for governments, and communities, to act on a deep disapproval of the current Israeli government’s policies and actions – in ways that might well affect sporting events in similar ways. It might also help the Israeli Government to see the light and moderate its behaviour. We can but hope ….
