Opinion
Kingdom of hatred
Adi Porat
Published: 25.08.09, 23:57
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158 Talkbacks for this article
1. i can't even read this it's so boring!
leah ,   beersheva, israel   (08.26.09)
2. Hatred of Israel
Cynic #2   (08.26.09)
As a matter of fact, Israel is hated not becasue it is Jewish, it is because it does not practice the teachings of Judaism. It is hated because of its evil deeds against the Palestinians, which it cannot hide or whitewash any more. The whole world is fed up with Israel's antics, Israel has lost its moral standing. If you do not understand this, then you have yourselves to blame.
3. what you left out
DB   (08.26.09)
1. Sweden continues to ban shechitah (left over from the the 1930s, but now with an "ethical" rationale) 2. Sweden severely restricts brit milah
4. Cynic #2 is, in fact, incorrect.
Serge ,   Montreal, Canada   (08.26.09)
Let's be clear. The world is not "fed up" with Israel. It -- or rather, the racist circles of it, in which Cynic #2 wallows -- is obsessed with Israel. It covers Israel the way it covers no other jurisdiction. It applies a standard to Israeli action that it applies to no other place. It infantilizes Palestinians and, indeed, Arabs generally, pretending that they are quite literally incapable of human action and can have no responsibility, in order to reinforce their bizarre obsession with Israel. But Cynic #2 knows all this, even if he does not admit to himself -- for it is his worldview.
5. to cynic #2
Barney ,   USA   (08.26.09)
your kind would only consider Israel to have moral standing if it allowed itself to be decimated. If the IDF would get the job done without concern for morality then this mess would be over a lot quicker. Israel is not going to win any popularity contests anyway so it should dispense of those who work for its demise. Take the heat for it and then live happily ever after. You can live with the moral people who shoot rockets into civilian centers, teach their children to blow themselves up to kill as many Jews as possible, kill their own daughters to preserve their honor and on and on and on
6. #2: Hatred of Israel
Steve   (08.26.09)
You say Israel is hated because she does not practice the teachings of Judaism. If Israel were to practice the teachings of Judaism, there would be no palestinian enemy in the land. Moses - at the word of God - commanded Israel to remove the enemy from the land. You are saying if Israel obeyed the commandments, the world would love us?
7. #1
Steve   (08.26.09)
Mahmed, Ramallah, you really should read this peice. It's really not so bad as you think.
8. Where I disagree with the author.
Steve   (08.26.09)
Adi Porat wrote: "Perhaps people whose relatives never stayed at extermination camps, but rather, lived peaceful lives during the most terrible period faced by the Jewish people can’t understand the difference between genocide and a war between two countries. I wish for them to never learn this difference, but to at least try to understand us. " In a way, I do wish the Swedes will learn the difference. Maybe they they might have a little understanding for what the Jews experienced and continue to experience at the hand of killers. Then again, their hearts may be so hardened, they may not learn to have any understanding. For example, Americans suffered a terrible Muslim-terror attack in September 2001. For a while, Americans - though not President Bush - sympathized with Israel's plight. Bush was callous. Now with Obama at the helm, all that's been forgotten. Americans have no compassion for victims of terrorism anymore.
9. #2 Actually Bibi has put the ball in the paly court,&the
whole world sees ,   them 4 what they are   (08.26.09)
10. Kingdom of hate?
Avi ,   Stamford, CT   (08.26.09)
I grew up in Israel, went to a religious school and served in the army. I was taught continuosly pearls of wisdom such as:" Hatov shebagoyim harog", and that one may deceive a gentile as long as the victim is not aware of his misfortune. I was in the first Lebanon war and saw the cowardly savagery of our army. Sweden is a country that has not started a war agaist anyone for over two hundred years. A country that assisted in saving the Jewry of Denmark and Norway and rehabilitated tens of thousands of holocaust survivors after the war. And THEY are "The kingdom of Haterd"? Frankly, I believe that our Jewish victimhood complex has turned into a full blown psychosis.
11. #2
ga ,   TX/IL   (08.26.09)
Whatever you say... thanks for lecturing.
12. Sweden
Louis Fried ,   Woodbridge, Canada   (08.26.09)
Who cares what the inhabitants of this hypocritical and odious country think. They use the veneer of freedom of speach to mask their very obvious anti-semitism.
13. Well written & true reflection of anti-semitism up North!
Yehudit ,   London   (08.26.09)
Thank you for that and we agree! We lived in and visited countries in Scandinavia, where we found that kind of unjust anti-Israeli attitudes and what we still believe were poor excuses for anti-semitism. Furthermore, as Jews we felt it was unsafe for us to live there and felt we were reduced to cultural and religious silence, e.g. we stopped wearing Jewish religious symbols, did not speak Hebrew in public etc
14. nothing to do with muslims immigration
ronen ,   israel   (08.26.09)
its in their blood. they are very much alike actually,
15. Just my experience
Steve ,   London   (08.26.09)
I remember my shock when a Swedish friend of mine came out with the most horrible cliches about Israel e.g. apartheid, genoicde, killing children etc. etc. And she was someone I had always considered a friend, and was usually quite mild in her views. I realise that this is just one example, but your article does not surprise me.
16. Addressing the predictable responses...
Tahl ,   Ashdod, Israel   (08.26.09)
Dear Swedes, having read so many of your comments here lately, I can pretty much guess what most of your responses are about to say. Here are some popular arguments I've seen you use. Below each one is my own response to that. Maybe this way I could save you from typing? "You can't treat the Palestinians so horribly, deny them basic human rights, commit crimes against humanity, massacre them, blablabla, and not expect any response!" - As the author says about Swedish media: it lacks any neutrality in its coverage of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and it is completely biased against Israel and in favor of the Palestinians. Having fed such poisonous disinformation for so long, no wonder Israel looks so demonic to you. Reality however, tells a different story. "The author doesn't know what he's talking about. Sweden is not antisemitic... It is only expressing its disgust for Israel's apartheid policies!" - Again, as the author says: in many cases, political criticism is merely a veneer for classic antisemitism, still prevalent throughout Europe. Additionally, the great Muslim population in Sweden is an important factor that contributes to the hatred of Jews. The proof is that during Cast Lead, JEWISH targets were hit in Sweden - having nothing to do with Israel. "Stop using antisemitism card all the time! The world is getting sick and tired of you crying "antisemitism" and using the Holocaust every time you're caught committing crimes!" - It has become bon-ton in Europe to denounce Jews for using the words "antisemitism" and "Holocaust", as if they're manipulating these terms to get everything they want. Well, just because people are tired of hearing about antisemitism, doesn't mean it's not there. Unfortunately it is still very much alive and kicking, whether you'd admit it or not. As for the reference to the Holocaust - in this article, it is used wisely and appropriately - to answer those who call us "Nazis". "Stop this wild incitement against Sweden! Not all Swedes hate Israel! One newspaper made a trashy story and Israelis are so hysterical, just like Muslims with Muhammad cartoons..." - I actually somewhat agree here. We have heard too much about this Aftonbladet crap, it's time to move on. Sweden is not our enemy. I've actually seen some very nice Swedes in these talkbacks. I will continue not to shop in IKEA but only for the right reason (price, not politics...) I also think that the title of this article ("Kingdom of hatred") is absolutely horrible and as a Swede I would be offended. However it's not any worse than having Israel called "apartheid state" by the world media, bear that in mind. And I also think that we can take criticism better than Muslims - no riots/death threats recorded from Israelis against Swedes as of yet... "It is against the Swedish constitution for the government to criticize the media" - Actually, as one Swedish newspaper editor said, this is not true. Government censorship is against the constitution, but voicing the government's opinion is not. Isn't your government supposed to practice its own freedom of speech? I believe I covered most of your main arguments. Hejda for now...
17. Why is Israel hated???
Peter Morris ,   New Zealand   (08.26.09)
No other country in the world is hated more than Israel. The initial goodwill and sympathy following WW2 has well and truly dissipated. Until some effort is made to reverse the trend the hatred will only get worse. If I listed all the reasons the post would get censored suffice to say a quick scan at ynet headlines gives some indication.
18. To Cynic #2 from Cynic #3
Jorge ,   Tegucigalpa   (08.26.09)
As always is all Israels fault and also that of the Jews. and now it is even worst, during World War II, Jews were marched into gas chambers in Europe, for no reason at all, Just irrational hate, now Jews fight back, and kill the ones trying to destroy them, so, now there is a valid reason to hate the Jews, and continue with that irrational hate, now made kosher, Because Jews dare to fight back
19. article
zak   (08.26.09)
Totally disagree with first talkback: this is a good and very readable article making an important point
20. #2, Stick to the issue, not "what the whole word thinks"
Jake   (08.26.09)
Allegations were made by a Swedish newspaper, allegations which amount to a blood libel. What is the truth behind it? Nothing. A basic analysis of the allegations reveals they amount to nothing more than a fiction, an abstraction, a made-up hoax. And this is only a microcosm of the campaign being waged against Israel, which is based on similar lies, hoaxes, and made-up fictions, abstractions, and myths that do not stand up to closer scrutiny. Therefore, if as you claim, "the whole world hates Israel", it is only because the whole world was exposed to a lie, before the truth could get its boots on.
21. #1 That is a pathetic excuse for a response
Jake   (08.26.09)
22. Well put
Jonas Skjöldström ,   Stockholm   (08.26.09)
Thank you for a well written piece.
23. God bless christian Sweeden.
alain ,   lebanon   (08.26.09)
24. Fair article except for closing sentence
Shalom Freedman ,   Jerusalem Israel   (08.26.09)
The description of a biased and hostile Swedish media in regard to Israel, is accurate. The last sentence of this piece however is a bit off the mark. First of all the Swedes were not exactly neutral in the Second War. Secondly I would describe the Arab- Israeli conflict as one 'between two countries'. Still on the whole the article is a refreshing corrective to the ignorant advice given in a previous one suggesting Israel should just have pretended nothing happened. In fact the 'blood libel' issue should be used to educate Israelis and Swedes ( If possible) just how biased and malicious the Swedes are in relation to Israel.
25. What utter bollocks.
Daniel ,   London   (08.26.09)
26. Demonizing and delegitimizing Israel.
Ron B. ,   Lod   (08.26.09)
Those who demonize and delegitimize Israel, who say the world would be better off without it, who hold it to standards of perfection no other country is held to, who extol or commiserate with its mortal enemies, who liken it to Nazi Germany and apartheid South Africa, who make it the scapegoat not only for crimes it hasn’t committed, but for those of which it is a victim — yes, such people are anti-Semitic, whether they acknowledge it or not. Islam is preaching anti-Semitisn – it did not creat it. More at : http://xrl.us/kw6hh
27. Peter Morris
Charles ,   Petach Tikva   (08.26.09)
The initial goodwill and sympathy following WWII .......you wrote . Why this sympathy ? i'll tell you , because the world felt some culpability , because we were weak then , we were murdered . Now that we defend ourselve , that we are strong you say : how do they dare to be strong , they have to be the victims , that's their role . Well this was so , but it's over .
28. TALKBACK NUMBER 17.
ORAO STRANKA. ,   TSARIGRAD U SRBIA.   (08.26.09)
WHAT A FOOL THIS IS. No other country in the world is hated more than Israel. The initial goodwill and sympathy following WW2 has well and truly dissipated. Until some effort is made to reverse the trend the hatred will only get worse. If I listed all the reasons the post would get censored suffice to say a quick scan at ynet headlines gives some indication. Peter Morris , New Zealand (08.26.09) THOSE REASONS ARE NOT THE CAUSE OF HATRED. THE CAUSE WHO CLOTHED ITSELF WITH THOSE SELFDECEPTIVE LYING REASONS IS - HATRED AGAINST JEHOWAH, AND THEREFORE AGAINST HIS CHOSEN PEOPLE. THEY ARE JEALOUS OF THEM, AND JEALOUSY COMES FROM THE SPIRIT OF LIE AND SELFDECEPTION. Orao.
29. Very true
Lena Andersson ,   Sweden   (08.26.09)
It's a very objective observation by somebody who obviously has seen the Swedish society from the inside. 40+ years of media propaganda against Israel, sanctioned by our socialists governments, people in general are brainwashed and no matter what you say, Israel is the bad party. With the huge muslim population today anti-semitism is everywhere, but it's also among the native Swedes. The Israeli government did the right thing, and the tone has changed a bit in media now. FYI, it is legally ok for our government both to criticize and condemn articles, our legal authority has confirmed that. Our government should, they owe Israel and the Jewish people that.
30. To the enemies of Israel the Jews would be admired
Roger ,   USA   (08.26.09)
only if they dont defend themselves. They consider any Jew who defends himself, his family and his turf as a Jew without the morals. In other words, they only love a dead Jew.
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