Behind the humanitarian mask

[Moledet]

Behind the Humanitarian Mask: The Nordic Countries, Israel and the Jews.


When Scandinavia is mentioned, we instinctively conjure up images of decent people who are our friends. We associate them with the king of Denmark's refusal to implement the Nazi racial laws, the rescue of 7,000 Danish Jews to neutral Sweden and noble humanitarians like Raoul Wallenberg, the Swedish diplomat in Hungary who emerged as the role model for Righteous Gentiles. Many of us also remember Per Ahlmark, the former Swedish deputy prime minister and leader of the Liberal Party, who was a stalwart campaigner against anti-Semitism and probably the first non-Jewish statesman to publicly proclaim that hatred of Israel was being exploited as a surrogate for traditional anti-Semitism.

Yet regrettably, this beatific image of philo-Semitic Scandinavians is a far cry from reality. Despite the presence of only minuscule Jewish communities in the region, Scandinavian countries are today at the forefront of promoting the most vicious expressions of the new anti-Semitism and are at the vanguard of the global campaign to demonize and delegitimize Israel. What makes their application of double standards and virulent bias grate even more is the sanctimonious manner in which they cloak their venom against the Jewish state and Jews in general.

For the first time, this subject has been comprehensively encapsulated in a book of 13 essays and interviews edited by Manfred Gerstenfeld, published jointly by the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs and the Simon Wiesenthal Center. It opens with a foreword by Gert Weisskirchen, the personal representative of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe's chairman, on combating anti-Semitism. Weisskirchen does not hold back and stresses that the demonization of Israel, especially the bracketing of Jews and Nazis, represents one of the most obvious manifestations of the new anti-Semitism that dominates political discourse on the Middle East even among liberal politicians and the mainstream press.

The book demonstrates that far from being a new phenomenon, anti-Semitism has dominated the region for centuries, and originates with hostility against Jews coming from the predominantly Lutheran affiliation of Scandinavians. It is not coincidental that Jewish ritual slaughter was banned in Norway even before Hitler's ascent to power, despite the fact that Norwegians regard hunting as a national pastime and Norway remains one of only three countries in the world in which whaling is still permitted.

The book contains chapters by Danish scholars who unmask the pretence that philo-Semitism prevails and demonstrate that despite the rescue of Danish Jews in 1943 (which according to recent disclosures also incorporated some seamy aspects), there were other aspects of Danish behavior under the Nazis that were despicable. For example, 6,000 Danes voluntarily joined the Waffen SS, Danish industry collaborated enthusiastically with the Nazis and Jewish refugees were expelled and handed over to the Nazis between 1940 and 1943. Efraim Zuroff, the Nazi hunter, provides a chapter that demonstrates that successive postwar governments prevaricated and displayed great reluctance in prosecuting war criminals and in some cases even assisted Nazis to escape.

In the contemporary context, it was the socialist Swedish prime minister, the late Olof Palme, who under the guise of promoting human rights, became the first European leader to inverse Holocaust denial by accusing Israelis of behaving like Nazis toward the Palestinians. It was also Archbishop Karl Hammar, head of the Swedish Lutheran Council, who became one of the first to call for a boycott of goods from Israel. Mainstream media caricatures of Israelis in the region are among the worst in Europe, especially in Norway, where they were so offensive that they were equated with the anti-Semitic cartoons which appeared in Der Stürmer.

The aggressiveness and power of Muslims who have immigrated to the region in recent years was dramatically highlighted during the violent onslaught against the Danish media when one of its dailies, Jylland-Posten, published 12 cartoons displaying caricatures of the prophet Muhammad. Ultimately, most of the media, together with the government, cravenly capitulated in the face of local and international Muslim threats of violence.

One of the most fascinating chapters in the book is the interview with Zvi Mazel, a former ambassador to Sweden, who describes his trials and tribulations within the context of bizarre anti-Israeli and anti-Semitic onslaughts emanating from the government and NGOs and constant death threats expressed publicly by Muslim imams. Mazel also describes the hysterical media responses after he personally disconnected the electricity to an obscene art exhibition glorifying suicide bombers, created by a demented Israeli living in Sweden.

The overall situation is encapsulated in a brilliant summary by Gerstenfeld, chairman of the Board of Fellows of the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs, who traces the history and provides a chapter-and-verse account of the double standards, bias and naked anti-Semitism which pervades the region. His most devastating depictions are a country by country outline of Nordic responses to the Second Lebanon War. They display incredible hostility against Israel largely based on ignorance and falsehoods promoted under the cloak of purported humanitarianism.

The book is a pioneering study of how in our times, even in regions in which few Jews reside, organizations purportedly promoting human rights have been hijacked by anti-Semites who promote demonization of Israel as a vehicle to besmirch Jews. Indeed, it illustrates that in Western Europe the Scandinavian countries have assumed a vanguard role in applying bias and distortions against Israel in a manner that has never been applied against any other nation. It demonstrates how traditional anti-Semites, radical leftists, Muslim immigrants and the media have colluded in shamelessly promoting the world's oldest hatred. Hopefully, it will lead to soul searching and analysis in the region and promote a backlash from decent Scandinavians who have hitherto resisted participating in the ongoing hate fest against Israel and the Jewish people.

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1225910049068&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

Video of Amb. Zvi Mazel, Dr. Efraim Zuroff, and Dr. Manfred Gerstenfeld discussing the Issue:
http://www.jcpa.org/JCPA/Templates/showpage.asp?DBID=1&LNGID=1&TMID=723&FID=700&PID=0

[The Dane]

Yawn... repost and a pretty pathetic one..

[Moledet]

Yawn... repost and a pretty pathetic one..
Watch the video.




P.S. I tried the search but found nothing.

[Mr Gently Benevolent]

The Nordic countries have for a long time taken the side of the oppressed and this time it is an enemy of Israel so they are now wicked anti-semites of the first degree. You would have thought the Swedes would have learned their lesson back in 1948 when Folke Bernadotte got rubbed out for trying help everyone in the region rather than take sides.
What a waste of a great mans life, a man who helped free over 30,000 people from the Nazi death camps.

[Moledet]

The Nordic countries have for a long time taken the side of the oppressed and this time it is an enemy of Israel so they are now wicked anti-semites of the first degree. You would have thought the Swedes would have learned their lesson back in 1948 when Folke Bernadotte got rubbed out for trying help everyone in the region rather than take sides.
What a waste of a great mans life, a man who helped free over 30,000 people from the Nazi death camps.
I think caricatures do a good job of telling about the news outlets in each country.

http://www.jcpa.org/phas/image1.jpg
Image 1: Poland, 1938 (Propagandowy Kalendarz Poznan; a propaganda calendar from the city of Poznan).

http://www.jcpa.org/phas/image2.jpg
Image 2: "Under the Jewish Pressure" (caricature by Inge Grødum, Aftenposten, 5 December 2001).

http://www.jcpa.org/phas/image4.jpg
Image 4: "The Seven Synonyms of Death" (caricature by Dave Coverly, Dagsavisen, 7 January 2004).

http://www.jcpa.org/phas/image6.jpg
Image 5: Austria, 1920 - "Juda" (Karl Paumgarten, Graz).

http://www.jcpa.org/phas/image5.jpg
Image 6: Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon rules the world (caricature by Herbjørn Skogstad, Oppland Arbeiderblad, 18 September 2003).

http://www.jcpa.org/phas/image7.jpg
Image 7: "Land-Robbers Grab Every Single Bit" (with an untranslatable pun on "Semite"; caricature by Morten M. Kristiansen, Verdens Gang, 25 March 2004).

http://www.jcpa.org/phas/image9.jpg
Image 9: Germany, 1943 - "Satan" (Der Stürmer, No. 9).

http://www.jcpa.org/phas/image10.jpg
Image 10: The Devil and the Jew (caricature by Oddmund Mikkelsen, Hamar Arbeiderblad, 12 July 2003).

http://www.jcpa.org/phas/image11.jpg
Image 11: Vienna, c. 1900 (Kikeriki)

http://www.jcpa.org/phas/image12.jpg
Image 12: "The Middle East Not Quite Before the Storm" (caricature by Siri Dokken, Dagsavisen, 4 March 2003).

http://www.jcpa.org/phas/image13.jpg
Image 13: Germany, 1933-1945, "The Jew: The Initiator and Prolonger of War" (German Federal Archives, Koblenz, 1933-1945).

http://www.jcpa.org/phas/image14.jpg
Image 14: "With a Roadmap for Peace" (caricature by Roar Hagen, Verdens Gang, 30 May 2003).

http://www.jcpa.org/phas/image15.jpg
Image 15: The Star of David over Bethlehem (caricature by Inge Grødum, Aftenposten, 18 May 2002).

http://www.jcpa.org/phas/image16.jpg
Image 16: Israeli tanks firing at the Star of Bethlehem (caricature by Inge Grødum, Aftenposten, 05 April 2002).

http://www.jcpa.org/phas/image17.jpg
Image 17: "Christmas in Bethlehem" (caricature by Inge Grødum, editorial, Aftenposten, 27 December 2001).

http://www.jcpa.org/phas/image18.jpg
Image 18: The Jewish plan on the Christian New Year's Eve: Kill a Muslim (caricature by Inge Grødum, Aftenposten, 31 December 2002).

http://www.jcpa.org/phas/image20.jpg
Image 20: Sharon the Nazi (caricature by Finn Graff, Dagbladet, 4 April 2002).

http://www.jcpa.org/phas/image21.jpg
Image 21: Olmert the Nazi (caricature by Finn Graff, Dagbladet, 10 July 2006).

http://www.jcpa.org/phas/image22.jpg
Image 22: "The Extremists' War" (caricature by Inge Grødum, Aftenposten, 15 July 2006).

http://www.jcpa.org/phas/image23.jpg
Image 23: Russia, 1907 - "The Radical" ( Pluvium, St. Petersburg).

http://www.jcpa.org/phas/image24.jpg
Image 24: Norway, 2003 - "Dance Macabre" (caricature by Inge Grødum, Aftenposten, 13 April 2003; Sharon says: "Who dares to throw the last stone?").

http://www.jcpa.org/phas/phas-050-uriely.htm

All perfectly normal.

[Mr Gently Benevolent]

I find the recent cartoons from mainstream Nordic sources non offensive including the Danish cartoons that got most of the Middle East inflamed I guess you guys have no sense of humour. You did build a big bloody wall with watchtowers and machine guns so you can't get touchy about the cartoon comparisons.

[Moledet]

I find the recent cartoons from mainstream Nordic sources non offensive including the Danish cartoons that got most of the Middle East inflamed I guess you guys have no sense of humour. You did build a big bloody wall with watchtowers and machine guns so you can't get touchy about the cartoon comparisons.
Maybe I have no humor, but I don't find this caricature from the largest daily in Norway funny:
http://www.jcpa.org/phas/image7.jpg

P.S. Aftenposten is the second largest.

More can be read here:
http://www.jcpa.org/JCPA/Templates/ShowPage.asp?DBID=1&TMID=111&LNGID=1&FID=624&PID=0&IID=1919

[Ozzy[NO]]

http://www.vg.no/mortenm/bilder/28c4ae86398bb3e2.jpg
http://www.vg.no/mortenm/bilder//28c4a0a8398bbe04.jpg

These two are from the biggest Norwegian newspaper, 10th and 8th of January. I find the first one quite funny(A girl named Stina is standing on a pallet), but the second one....

[signatory]

Some people just like to whine. Even if it means having to find the bits and pieces for it all the way from Scandinavia.

[Fenrir]

Hm damn the secret is out folks..it wasnt the germans..it was us scandinavians all along..jeez

[Photographic]

Although far from being as homogeneous in our views of Israeli politics as the article tries to convey, I belive the lionshare of the anti-israeli views are to be found in the strong leftist political tradition we have. As far as Kosher slaughter being prohibited I belive they are way off, we have atleast a thousand year old tradition of stunning animals before slaughter.

[caleb]

Oh my, talk about the Nazi-Hammer.

Anybody who isn't pro Israel must certainly be an anti-semite. There is absolutely nothing in between, just a big black abyss of nothingness.
It's always the same, any individual or any group of people that questions or even dares to critisize Israels morale highground or the way it handels its' little Palestinian problem is in immediate danger of being labeled closet Nazis.

Sad as it is, it's a brilliantly failsafe tool, as it undermines any constructive discussion that may turn out to be unfavourable for certain parties and their interests.
I find it boring and uninspired, as I favour freedom of speech and intelligent and constructive discussions that require the acceptance of critizism instead of muzzling and bigotry.

But you seem to prefer dwelling in the depths of ignorance, sheltered from self-reflection and instead dig up ghosts from a past that seems equally savage as the present. You even go so far as pulling out an article suggesting that the Scandinavian people as a whole share an anti-jewish mindset, complete with Nazi propaganda from the 40's. That's a new low, I hope you're proud of your accomplishment Moledet.

[The Dane]

Watch the video.




P.S. I tried the search but found nothing.

http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/showthread.php?t=145638

[Ozzy[NO]]

Speaking for Norway I'd say there ain't much anti-Semitism here. The people, and the media for the most part is pro-palestine/anti-Israel though. One of the political parties in our coalition government wants full boycott of Israel, they want to throw out the Israeli ambassador and cut all the diplomatic relations, but on the other hand they want to negotiate with Hamas...
If I were to take with me an Israeli flag to one of the many "peace-rallies" I'd most likely get verbally threatened, maybe even physically.

[Hollis]

Oh my, talk about the Nazi-Hammer.

Anybody who isn't pro Israel must certainly be an anti-semite. There is absolutely nothing in between, just a big black abyss of nothingness.
It's always the same, any individual or any group of people that questions or even dares to critisize Israels morale highground or the way it handels its' little Palestinian problem is in immediate danger of being labeled closet Nazis.

Sad as it is, it's a brilliantly failsafe tool, as it undermines any constructive discussion that may turn out to be unfavourable for certain parties and their interests.
I find it boring and uninspired, as I favour freedom of speech and intelligent and constructive discussions that require the acceptance of critizism instead of muzzling and bigotry.

But you seem to prefer dwelling in the depths of ignorance, sheltered from self-reflection and instead dig up ghosts from a past that seems equally savage as the present. You even go so far as pulling out an article suggesting that the Scandinavian people as a whole share an anti-jewish mindset, complete with Nazi propaganda from the 40's. That's a new low, I hope you're proud of your accomplishment Moledet.


I find it that people who bring up the misuse of being called a antisemite, are using it as a smoke screen for their antisemitism.

We don't hate the juice only the evil zionists. BTW, just because someone calls another a antisemite, does not mean they are pro-Israel.

So the purpose of your post is what? To say antisemitism does not exist?

[alexz]

I don't know about the rest of you but I prefer being feared then being respected any day. In most places on earth and specialy the middle east there is no respect if you are not feared. Same goes for the anti semites, they won't go away but I'd prefer they do their hating from their parents basement knowing the mossad could give them a visit or something equaly scary as the Golem from Parague.

[Big Lebowski]

I find it that people who bring up the misuse of being called a antisemite, are using it as a smoke screen for their antisemitism.
Wow... So lets say i would call you a racist. Would you have a problem with that? Cause if you do, you clearly must be. :roll:

Sorry, but I disagree.

[The Dane]

Well not sure what a antisemitis is..?.. i don't support Israels offensive in Gaza.. does that make me one ??

[The Dane]

Maybe I have no humor, but I don't find this caricature from the largest daily in Norway funny:
http://www.jcpa.org/phas/image7.jpg

P.S. Aftenposten is the second largest.

More can be read here:
http://www.jcpa.org/JCPA/Templates/ShowPage.asp?DBID=1&TMID=111&LNGID=1&FID=624&PID=0&IID=1919

Buhu... you can always burn down some embassies.. :)

[caleb]

So the purpose of your post is what? To say antisemitism does not exist?


No not all, I'm a 100% sure that anti-semitims is alive and well in western societies and I even agree with the points you made. I feel however, that a lot of legitimate criticism regarding the humantiran situation in Gaza and the Israeli approach to the threat posed by the Hamas is being neglected and written off as masked anti-semitism by the pro-Israel crowd.

It is no coincidence that Moledet chose to post this article at a time where criticism and international pressure on Israel is high, he tried to further his agenda by means I can not condone.
It is a cheap trick used all too often, and I'm tired of it, it does not contribute to a civil and honest discussion about the subject, it achieves the opposite. It deapens prejudice and ignorance among the members of this board. The history of the Scandinavian (and Germanic) nations has absolutely nothing to do with the current situation in the middle east.

I just felt I had to step in, as I, and many of my fellow German members have many times been unjustly hit with the Nazi-Hammer in political discussions on this board.

[gazell]

Well not sure what a antisemitis is..?.. i don't support Israels offensive in Gaza.. does that make me one ??

Oh, yes, it might well do so...it doesn't take much these days.p-)

Interesting fact to ponder on where this world is coming to, the few hundred people protesting for Gaza cause in Hungary were mostly the ultra right wing neo-nazi party - who also entertain the thought of walling off the roma just like the palestines are otherwise - topped with ultra left and some muslims. What an allience and how it undermines the political value of any meaningful protest.

[Moledet]

No not all, I'm a 100% sure that anti-semitims is alive and well in western societies and I even agree with the points you made. I feel however, that a lot of legitimate criticism regarding the humantiran situation in Gaza and the Israeli approach to the threat posed by the Hamas is being neglected and written off as masked anti-semitism by the pro-Israel crowd.

It is no coincidence that Moledet chose to post this article at a time where criticism and international pressure on Israel is high, he tried to further his agenda by means I can not condone.
It is a cheap trick used all too often, and I'm tired of it, it does not contribute to a civil and honest discussion about the subject, it achieves the opposite. It deapens prejudice and ignorance among the members of this board. The history of the Scandinavian (and Germanic) nations has absolutely nothing to do with the current situation in the middle east.

I just felt I had to step in, as I, and many of my fellow German members have many times been unjustly hit with the Nazi-Hammer in political discussions on this board.
I don't have a beef with you or any other user or Norwegian for that matter, my problem is your media and to some extent your government. They seem to resemble more the media in dictatorship Arab countries than democracies like Israel. This in turn fuels the public with partial information (and sometimes false) that is then turned against Jews.
We've seen it in Oslo this week, molotov cocktails and rocks were thrown at Israel supporters. The police did a very good job and that way injuries were avoided but this hate toward the Jews and Israeli supporters in that demonstration doesn't come from nowhere and isn't solely Israel's fault.

[Hollis]

Wow... So lets say i would call you a racist. Would you have a problem with that? Cause if you do, you clearly must be. :roll:

Sorry, but I disagree.


Big, my thoughts and maybe I did not explain them well, is when a person starts off with a counter argument or a defense before the argument. I could be wrong.


If you called me a racist, I would like to know why. Because when you called me a racist it means only one thing, "you called me a racist". That does not say I am or am not. If the first thing a person had to say was to put up a counter argument based on what they would perceived to be someone reaction to their statement, why? Kind of like ducking when as a person makes a statement. If they perceive the statement may cause a hostile reaction why not rephrase it. BTW, I don't see Israel as a Jewish issue, it is a Israeli issue. Almost 1/3 of the Israel are not Jews compared to 3/4 of the US are "Christians", which is a more of a majority than 2/3s.


As I stated, not in defense of Moledet assertions, Why would a person place a defense of a argument before the argument.

Again, kind of like, someone saying, "I know you will find this stupid, but I need to say it." statement. My response would be why say it?

If Moledet is blowing smoke, thn call him on it. What happened over 60 years ago is not today. Every country has all kinds of people especially in Western countries where people are able to express themselve in realitive freedom. If one finds a offending view, C'est La liberte'.






Caleb, thank you for the response. I am not going to speculate why Moledet posted the article. There are plenty of bigots in every society to go around. Also in Israel there are plenty of them chastising Israel for going into the Gaza.

I think legitimate criticism of Israel should be out there as with any country.

Moledet, and your purpose was too?

[caleb]

I don't have a beef with you or any other user or Norwegian for that matter, my problem is your media and to some extent your government. They seem to resemble more the media in dictatorship Arab countries than democracies like Israel. This in turn fuels the public with partial information (and sometimes false) that is then turned against Jews.
We've seen it in Oslo this week, molotov cocktails and rocks were thrown at Israel supporters. The police did a very good job and that way injuries were avoided but this hate toward the Jews and Israeli supporters in that demonstration doesn't come from nowhere and isn't solely Israel's fault.

Oh common, now it's our muslim appeasing media? resembling that in Arab dictatorships? Our gouvernments? Are you serious?
Some pissed off muslim immigrants attacking Israel supporters proves what exactly? Muslims always throw a hizzy fit when it comes to Israel, they don't need "disinformation" by our media to inflame them. Your claims are boderline ridiciulous.
You base your opinion on badly-researched Israeli news stories. Or are you seriously trying to tell me that you follow the Scandinavian media coverage?

And as far as my country is concerned, I am deeply offended by your remarks, the German media as a whole is very neutral if not pro-Israel and our post-war gouvernments have long had friendly and supportive relationships with Israel.

[Fargin]

I just think it's exellent that the article claims, Danish Goverment bend over for muslim pressure regarding the cartoons. I believe it's either a reflection of incompetence or a deliberate falsification to discedtit whatever little criticism Israel can expect from the Danish goverment.

for once I agree with Danskeren, utter garbage.

[Lau]

We've seen it in Oslo this week, molotov cocktails and rocks were thrown at Israel supporters. The police did a very good job and that way injuries were avoided but this hate toward the Jews and Israeli supporters in that demonstration doesn't come from nowhere and isn't solely Israel's fault.

Nope. Perhaps some of the protesters turned on their TV and saw the number of civilian casualties the Israeli campaign caused, and perhaps they got a little upset. We are really sorry. in the future, we will ban everything criticising the holy people of Israel and their actions. After all, if we shed a little light on the wrong doings of Israel, the next day the first concentration camps will surely open....

Good god I'm so sick of Middeleeastern whine!

One day we are all anti-muslim, the next anti-semitic. :roll:

[Basillicus]

I think a lot of people here don't support the way how Israel is dealing with things. This doesn't make them anti-semites though, just like critizing Bush doesn't make you "anti-christian". You guys just have this religious identity stuck so deep in you arse that it's the only thing you see. In reality nobody gives a damn about your religion in here.

In a way I could see critizism towards Israel sort of praise also. It means that people consider Israelis as basically civilized western people who could be expected to deal with things in a better way that they are. Although it's rarely expressed, I think most people subconsciously consider Palestinians as "crazy ragheads" and cilivized behaviour cannot be even expected of them and therefore critizing them is waste of time.

[timetraveller]

I don't have a beef with you or any other user or Norwegian for that matter, my problem is your media and to some extent your government. They seem to resemble more the media in dictatorship Arab countries than democracies like Israel. This in turn fuels the public with partial information (and sometimes false) that is then turned against Jews.
We've seen it in Oslo this week, molotov cocktails and rocks were thrown at Israel supporters. The police did a very good job and that way injuries were avoided but this hate toward the Jews and Israeli supporters in that demonstration doesn't come from nowhere and isn't solely Israel's fault.


Have you ever been to Norway , Denmark or any of the Scandanavian Countries ..

Ever spoken any people from, that region in Person ?

[Fenrir]

Have you ever been to Norway , Denmark or any of the Scandanavian Countries ..

Ever spoken any people from, that region in Person ?

Of course he hasnt we are all anti semites you know.