Once again the scale of the worldwide discussion of Israel and related matters – most notably anti-Semitism – makes no sense when judged by standard criteria. Israel is by most objective measures a relative minnow: in relation to its economic output, land area and population. Even in military terms it clearl lags behind Turkey in the region. Yet in many countries around the world there is a frenzied debate about Israel’s actions.
The extent of the debate only seems rational once what could be called Israel’s symbolic value is taken into account. For many movements around the world it has become a cypher for the supposed evils of western civilisation and values. In the minds of its opponents the Jewish state and western modernity are inextricably linked. Opposing Israel means opposing the West and countering western civilisation means rejecting Israel. Meanwhile, Jews in the diaspora are cast as malign agents of the Jewish state unless they explicitly disavow any connection with Zionism.
The review will focus on four key elements of the discussion over the past quarter: the war against Hamas, the accusation of genocide, the situation in Britain and the New York City mayoral race. It will end with a listing of key articles, books, podcasts and reports published since July.