Fierce antisemitism alive in the Arab World

MEMRI published a disturbing article on the ease with which the Gaza war triggered many expressions of antisemitism (i.e., statements against Jews at large) in the Arab and Muslim world, both by Arab leaders and politicians and by columnists. In their statements, they evoked antisemitic motifs taken from both traditional Islamic sources and from European ones. Cartoons featuring similar motifs were published in the Arab media.

The antisemitic motifs taken from the Islamic tradition included allusion to the Jews as "the descendants of apes and pigs," as dishonest, and as domineering, while the motifs taken from the European tradition included, for example, the claim that the Jews aim to take over the world. Some of the writers also alluded to the Jewish tradition, stating that Israel’s policies are based on Jewish religious commandments.

For understanding the Arab World - or parts thereof, good to read this article of MEMRI.