There is a great deal of talk about whether this group or that group is “privileged.” One good way to find out which group is privileged is to ask who can blow people up and be excused for doing so. This question came to mind after reading about the new rise of anti-Semitism in Europe.
A German editor writes that the “traditional anti-Semitism” of Europe’s “far left” persists “as a negative byproduct of sympathy for the Palestinian liberation struggle.” All we have to do is give the Palestinians their state, and we can be rid of this anti-Semitism. It’s just a matter of “sympathy.” But why does the “Palestinian liberation struggle” sanctify attitudes in Europe? And how did it happen that so many people, with such deep sympathy for Palestinians, came to live in Germany?
Of course, sympathy for the Palestinian liberation struggle varies from group to group, and from nationality to nationality. The German editor acknowledges this: Describing “a new wave of anti-Semitism,” the German editor points out that “the ugly truth that many in Europe don’t want to confront is that much of the anti-Jewish animus originates with European people of Muslim background.”
After squarely confronting this fact, the editor says nothing about how “European people of Muslim background” arrived in significant numbers to Germany. In keeping with the gospel of political correctness, we are supposed to criticize the doctrine of anti-Semitism while remaining silent about the immigration policy that solidifies the doctrine.
Perhaps some “European people of Muslim background” are converts, but “background” more likely than not means nationality or ethnicity. The question of anti-Semitism in Europe today is truly tied to the issue of immigration, but we’re not supposed to talk about that. And Muslim immigrants have the added benefit of being in two protected categories at the same time.
Immigrants are entitled to the benefit of being exempt from criticism, to a significant degree. Privilege indeed. Not only can the Palestinians blow people up and be excused, but any Muslim who claims to be animated by sympathy for the Palestinians gets a pass for their words and deeds- all the way in Europe! It doesn’t matter if you or your family never set foot in Israel or a refugee camp. For an example of this, simply look to Germany: “European people of Muslim background” are given a pass on anti-Semitism because they’re angry about the treatment of Palestinians. That sounds like another privilege.
Simply consider all of the questions that go unanswered due to this dual privilege: Do individual terrorists actually care about the Palestinians? Why can’t terrorists peacefully organize to improve the lives of Palestinians? Why does a wealthy businessman or a pampered student who has never stepped foot in Israel or in a refugee camp have the moral standing to kill (even if we criticize their violence) Westerners? Are the terrorists going to stop killing if an independent Palestine is created? Are the people claiming to be Palestinian refugees really even Palestinian refugees? Why is it assumed that Muslims who have never set foot outside of Europe, and certainly never had their houses bulldozed, are nevertheless assumed to be on the high ground when they kill or riot? Finally, why would a Western nation admit large numbers of people whose loyalties and doctrines are in many cases so problematic?
These questions should be part of the debate, but they are not. In contrast, nearly anything can be said about the state of Israel; evidently no criticism is too severe. Perhaps that is because we all, left and right alike, understand that Israel can be held to a higher standard. Israel answers to moral appeals. Indeed, some would say that Israel was created on the basis of a moral appeal.