Does Israel Cause Anti-Semitism, or Does Anti-Semitism Cause Hatred of Israel?

Feb. 18 2015

The answer is undoubtedly the latter, according to Eve Garrard. Pointing to Israel as the root cause of anti-Semitism, she writes, is like pointing to “immigration as the root cause of all social unrest in the UK”: a way of ensuring “that the blame for the problem lands exactly where the observer has already decided it belongs.” Rather, anti-Semitism is better understood as a deep-seated tool for explaining every problem under the sun:

[The] long tradition of appealing to the idea of Jewishness to explain the world’s troubles, and in particular the wickedness of [one’s] enemies, persists today, both in the West and in the East. It means that such [an] appeal has the deep attractions of tradition. There’s a Jew-shaped space, and not a pleasant one, in Western culture, and placing actual Jews, both inside and outside the Jewish state, into that space seems obvious, familiar, and natural—they seem to fit the space so remarkably well, especially once their actual activities have been reconstructed to conform to a deeply hostile picture of them. . . .

Read more at Fathom

More about: Anti-Semitism, Anti-Zionism, David Nirenberg, Holocaust, Israel & Zionism

 

Kuwait Should Be the Next Country to Make Peace with Israel

Feb. 13 2025

Like his predecessor, Donald Trump seeks to expand the Abraham Accords to include Saudi Arabia. But there are other Arab nations that might consider taking such a step. Ahmad Charai points to Kuwait—home to the Middle East’s largest U.S. army base and desperately in need of economic reform—as a good candidate. Kuwaitis haven’t forgiven Palestinians for supporting Saddam Hussein during his 1990 invasion, but their country has been more rhetorically hostile to Israel than its Gulf neighbors:

The Abraham Accords have reshaped Middle Eastern diplomacy. . . . Kuwait, however, remains hesitant due to internal political resistance. While full normalization may not be immediately feasible, the United States should encourage Kuwait to take gradual steps toward engagement, emphasizing how participation in regional cooperation does not equate to abandoning its historical positions.

Kuwait could use its influence to push for peace in the Middle East through diplomatic channels opened by engagement rather than isolation. The economic benefits of joining the broader framework of the Abraham Accords are overwhelming. Israel’s leadership in technology, agriculture, and water management presents valuable opportunities for Kuwait to enhance its infrastructure. Trade and investment flows would diversify the economy, providing new markets and business partnerships.

Kuwaiti youth, who are increasingly looking for opportunities beyond the public sector, could benefit from collaboration with advanced industries, fostering job creation and entrepreneurial growth. The UAE and Bahrain have already demonstrated how normalization with Israel can drive economic expansion while maintaining their respective geopolitical identities.

Read more at Jerusalem Strategic Tribune

More about: Abraham Accords, Kuwait