as the threat to judaism shifts from ANTISEMITISM to israel-bashing, Three events trigger France’s “Jewish Question”
Reprint from the The Jerusalem post, July 7, 2024
Last week’s French elections drama – first the possibility of the country having its first far-Right prime minister since World War II, and then the possibility of having a far-left leader who accuses Israel of Genocide – follows two other acts in the early summer of 2024 that places France’s “Jewish question” front and center:
For the second time in about 80 years, France pledged collaboration with efforts to arrest Jews.
When Germany invaded France in 1940, it demanded that France arrest its Jews. France complied, and thousands of Jews died as a result of its collaboration. France has yet to come to terms with its role in the genocide of its Jews. Generations of French have been indoctrinated with the excuse that France had no choice: Arrest warrants were issued by a strong power that had control of France. It was not France’s fault, it was Germany’s.
Once more, France has been quick to pledge its collaboration with the International Criminal Court (ICC)’s plans to issue arrest warrants against Jews, accusing them of crimes similar to those that Jews have been accused of throughout the centuries, such as the maltreatment of children and other crimes against humanity – although the 2024 version of French anti-Jewish behavior is arguably more explicit than in the 1940s.
Then, France attempted to resist the German invasion, and even after it failed to do so, many in France refused to collaborate with Germany’s efforts to arrest Jews. Indeed, 4,150 French individuals who risked their lives to save Jews are recognized by Yad Vashem and the Israeli government as “Righteous Among the Nations.”
IN 2024, not only has the French government not resisted, but instead has rushed to pledge its collaboration. This, in turn, encourages the ICC to issue such warrants.
Imagine France stating in advance in 1940 that should Germany invade, it would collaborate and arrest its Jews. Such a statement was never issued, but it is possible that the deeply rooted antisemitic ideology in France and throughout Europe factored into Germany’s decision to start World War II. The Nazis likely calculated that they would find sympathizers in the countries they invaded, with the invading enemy, Germany, providing a desired “service” in ridding France of its Jews – helping to end what was then known by antisemites as “Jewish France.”
The ICC-issued warrants against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant have begun to lay the groundwork for the en masse arrest of Israeli Jews – the soldiers who commit the alleged war crimes specified by the ICC and their supporters. In short, all Israeli Jews.
Moreover, it was made clear that such arrest warrants may be issued without prior notice. Netanyahu visiting France to meet President Emmanuel Macron could prompt the ICC to act. France made clear that if an ICC warrant were issued while Netanyahu is in France, it would arrest the Israeli leader. Some international law scholars view such potential French actions as a causus belli, an “act of war.”
From antisemitism to Israel-bashing
THEODOR HERZL, the father of Zionism, who studied French politics for four years from the press balcony of the French parliament, understood that the European opposition to Judaism is chronic, and that it evolves based on changing Jewish and European circumstances.
In Herzl’s time, conventional wisdom held that European Jew-hatred was over because the ideology of opposition to Judaism had been religious-based, Europe had become secular, and the Jews were emancipated. However, in the late 19th century, a new ideology of opposition to Judaism emerged, now directed to the successful emancipated Jew. That ideology was given a new name: antisemitism. A debate arose as to whether antisemitism was a form of Jew hate or merely a legitimate criticism of Jewish behavior. Today, a new ideology of European opposition to Judaism has emerged – Israel-bashing.
By 2024, it has become evident that Israel-bashing is engulfing parts of France and Europe, just as antisemitism did a century ago.
Indeed, the Israel-bashing ideology manifested itself in the second act that triggered France’s Jewish question in the summer of 2024: the exclusion of Israeli companies from Eurosatory 2024, a weapons trade show where they were set to present. This marks an escalation in France’s opposition to Judaism, from collaboration in arrests of Jews to attempts to sabotage the Jewish state’s economy, as Israel’s defense industry is a $12.5 billion industry.
A further escalation came with the deployment of the old “Jews-out” – a staple of European history, this time with a caveat: Israeli Jews would not be allowed, but Jews from other countries would. This is also reminiscent of 19th-century France’s opposition to Judaism, where there was an attempt to separate “good Jews” from “bad Jews” by distinguishing between “juif” and “Israelite.” This did not work then – both “good Jews” and “bad Jews” were murdered by French collaborators and the Nazis – and certainly does not work now.
Making matters worse, a French court originally approved the ban, effectively giving official certification to Israel-bashing in France. The decision was later overturned in a higher court.
And then came the success of the far-Right in the first round of elections, which frightened many Jews. This is understandable, since last century’s attempt to eradicate Judaism came from the far-right.
No matter one’s political views, it is important to recognize that the existential threat to Judaism has shifted.
JUST AS in the 20th century, the existential threat no longer stemmed from a religious-based ideology of hate but from the relatively new hate ideology of antisemitism, today in the 2020s the existential threat no longer stems from antisemitism but from the relatively new hate ideology of Israel-bashing.
As discussed in this column, and in the Judaism 3.0 Think Tank, Israel-bashing is an existential threat to all Jews, including those who bash Israel themselves. During the Gaza war, that ideology has matured and gained structure, organization, massive funding, and credibility. World leaders have been taking part in recycling the same biles heard in Europe throughout the centuries such as: “Jews (in Israel) dehumanize others,” “Jews (in Israel) kill babies.”
Once again, France’s Jewish question projects onto the greater France question. In the early 20th century, that country’s opposition to Judaism destabilized France and then the world, as the country was torn between Dreyfusards – Alfred Dreyfuss supporters outraged by the French government’s framing a French Jewish officer for treason, and the anti-Dreyfus who viewed the affair to be a referendum on “Jewish France.” Today, Israel-bashing is destabilizing global security (see Jerusalem Post article: “Anti-Zionist is a threat to global stability”, December 23, 2023).
Perhaps the summer of 2024 and a new French government – regardless who leads it – is an opportunity for France to finally address its Jewish question, acknowledge its past, change course, and abandon its evolving opposition to Judaism.
The writer is the author of Judaism 3.0: Judaism’s Transformation to Zionism (Judaism-Zionism.com). To read his geopolitical articles, go to EuropeAndJerusalem.com.
Related event: Press release: A revolutionary approach to countering Israel-bashing unveiled at Judaism 3.0 book launch (March 13, 2022)
Related article: Response to antisemitism: Show the world that Judaism has become Zionism (Jerusalem Post, April 12, 2024)
Read the first pages of Judaism 3.0: Judaism 3.0 – Summary
(Preview available for a limited time on Europe and Jerusalem)
Related video: A shift in America’s counter-terrorism strategy (Washington Times’ Bold & Blunt, March 26, 2024)
This article first appeared in the July 5, 2004 Jerusalem Post (click for the PDF):
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Related video: Israeli soldiers are not dying for the State of Palestine (Washington Times video-cast, February 15, 2024)
The Big Picture: Gol Kalev argues that Judaism is going through a historic transformation and Zionism is becoming the anchor of Judaism (Judaism 3.0).
Therefore, age-old opposition to Judaism is now expressed through anti-Zionism and Israel-bashing
Read summary of the Judaism 3.0 Thesis: Zionism is the anchor of Judaism
Watch the recent Judaism 3.0 discussion: Anti-Zionism as the new Anti-Semitism
Judaism is under assault through the port of Zionism
Related: A revolutionary approach to countering Israel-bashing unveiled at the Judaism 3.0 book launch:
Watch more of Gol Kalev’s strategic analysis:
including
The unintended conversation: Two-state solution in Europe?
A shift in America’s counter-terrorism strategy
Another Oslo? Another withdrawal? Israelis united not to make the same mistakes
The Media is an actor in this war:
Related Article: The Day After: The ideological assault on Israel
The Jerusalem Post, January 5, 2023
Abstract: Israel must take into account new interrelated geopolitical realities that will likely emerge from the war.
Post-two-state solution: The Gaza war put a decisive end to the two-state solution. This is not due to Hamas’s attack nor to its 72% support rate among Palestinians. It is also not due to Israeli and Palestinian rejection of the template. The two-state solution died due to Western reaction to Oct. 7.
The two-state solution was based on the establishment of a demilitarized Palestinian state with various restrictions to accommodate Israel’s security needs, such as Israel controlling the Palestinian state’s airspace and border crossings.
The UN, the media, and Western politicians killed the two-state solution when they placed Hamas’s Oct. 7 attacks in the context of the occupation of Gaza. They indoctrinated the world that Gaza was under occupation, in spite of the fact that Israel fully withdrew from Gaza in 2005. If Gaza was under occupation, then certainly the future state of Palestine would be under occupation:
There would be Israeli military presence, settlement blocks, and ample restrictions. Hence, global public opinion would utterly reject the idea of an “occupied” state of Palestine, which is the cornerstone of the two-state solution: Full Article
Scroll down for videos connecting Judaism 3.0 frameworks to today’s situation
Related: The ideological assault that fuels Hamas physical assault
Related: Anti-Zionism is a threat to Global Stability
Anti-Zionism – the contemporary path to eradicate Judaism (Sept. 13, 2023)
Jerusalem Post Special Magazine: Are we in Judaism 3.0?:
Gol Kalev shows how anti-Zionism has turned into an existential threat to Judaism, in a Jerusalem Post article series (2022)
The implications of Judaism 3.0:
This generation’s existential threat to Judaism
Applying Herzl’s thinking to counter Israel-bashing
Occuptionalism: The new form of Colonialism is hijacking the Palestinian cause
Occupationalism is enabled by the Jerusalem-based “Conflict Industry,” known for its lavish parties, insularity, high turnover and its own social hierarchy
European blood libels continue, but now there is a solution
Recognizing that we are in Judaism 3.0 would address existential threats to Judaism, but it would also provide Jewish clarity that would advance humanity
Judaism 3.0: Turning threats to Judaism into enablers of its survival
Like antisemitism in Herzl’s time, today’s Israel-bashing and assimilation of American Jewry also have hidden assets in them
Passover to Shavuot and the American-European divide
How the transition affects today’s geopolitics, the flaws of democracies and the emerging rift: Americanism vs. Europeanism
Threat to Judaism through friends, influenced by Israel-bashing movement
Applying Herzl’s thinking, the threat to Judaism might come through our friends. Such Israel-bashing-light was showcased in the Basel Zionism celebrations in 2022
A broad recognition of Judaism 3.0 would release the Arabs of the Middle-east from debilitating European dogmas that have occupied their true character for the last 100 years
See in Link: Applying Judaism 3.0 to the countering Israel-Bashing
See also The Jerusaelm Report 2022 New Year Magazine: Judaism’s transformation to Zionism – Countering the Israel-bashing movement
Recognizing that Judaism has transformed would rob the Israel-bashers of their starting point: The premise that Judaism is merely a religion.
Summary of above articles:
Gol Kalev shows how Israel-bashing is today’s existential threat to Judaism, having both a populous dogmatic retail component – Occupationalism, and institutional destruction mechanisms that deploy modern-day blood-libels. In such circumstances, Hasbara (Israeli PR) is futile. Yet, a broad global recognition that Judaism has transformed to Judaism 3.0, and Zionism is now its anchor, would dramatically mitigate the threat.
Related. Jerusalem Post Magazine Cover-articles by Gol Kalev:: EUROPE & JERUSALEM
The resurfacing of European Colonialism
Hijacking the Palestinian cause
European opposition to the Jewish state
Time for a new European peace conference
Europe should benefit from Herzl’s vision
For inquiries/comments: info@europeandjerusalem.com
Judaism 3.0 launch: Revolutionary approach to coutnering Israel-bashing
Watch Gol discuss his new book in an i24 interview
Applying the frameworks of Theodor Herzl to today
Judaism 3.0 event: Applying Herzl to today’s strategic issues
Watch Gol Kalev address to the Jerusalem Leaders Summit
Related article: anti-Zionism is anti—humanity
Praise for Judaism 3.0
“A courageous thesis that must be part of any serious discussion of the future of Israel and the Jewish people.”
Michael Oren, historian, former ambassador of Israel to the United States
“Gol Kalev does not just know Theodor Herzl – he lives and breathes Theodor Herzl…This book should trigger the conversation the Jewish community needs about Israel, Zionism, Judaism and Identity. Bravo!”
Professor Gil Troy, author – The Zionist Ideas
ייA remarkable ideas book that is about much more than the state of Judaism…One of the most important books about Judaism, Zionism and global trends of our times.”
Catherine Carlton, former Mayor of Menlo Park, Silicon Valley tech entrepreneur
“This book should play an important role in the discussions about the future of world Jewry and its relations with Israel.”
Natan Sharansky, former Chairman of The Jewish Agency, former Deputy Prime Minister of Israel
“Gol Kalev’s book has the merit to transform the very essence of the State of Israel to becoming an objective expression of Jewish identity“
Dr. Georges Yitzhak Weisz, author – Theodor Herzl: A New Reading
“This book has sparked as much conversation as it has because the premise is so interesting, so counter-intuitive and demand of us that we think many thing anew. That is perhaps the greatest gift a book can give.”
Dr. Daniel Gordis, author – We Stand Divided
“Fresh new thinking about the relationship between Judaism and Israel. Kalev picks up where Herzl left off…A must read for people of all religious and political backgrounds who want to get a deeper understanding of the state of Zionism and Judaism today.”
Fleur Hassan-Nahoum, Deputy Mayor of Jerusalem
About the Author: Gol Kalev is a former Wall Street investment banker who has been researching Herzl and Zionism. Growing up in Tel Aviv and serving in the Israeli army, he then lived in New York and now resides in Jerusalem. He also spent time in various European cities and has traveled through both the American and European countryside, learning about contrasting world-views.
He has been chairman of The AIFL Think Tank since 2011 (now the Judaism 3.0 think tank), which explores the state of Zionism and Judaism, and has been writing analysis articles about Zionism, Europe, global affairs and long-term geopolitical shifts for the Jerusalem Post, Jerusalem Report, Israel Hayom, The Daily Wire, The Media Line, Newsweek and Foreign Policy.
He has been praised for his unique understanding of Judaism by people throughout the political and religious spectrum. In this book, he delivers the state of Judaism as he sees it: Zionism as the anchor of Judaism.
Visit the Judaism 3.0 website: Judaism-Zionism.com
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