Have the anti-Semitism witch-hunters gone too far?
James Ball: He accused a Guardian columnist of anti-Semitism, but in fact it was his claim that was anti-Semitic.
Guardian columnist Aditya Chakrabortty is apparently being accused of anti-Semitism after he tweeted disapprovingly about an article in a different newspaper by Daniel Finkelstein.
The claim seems to be that he is invoking the anti-Semitic trope that “the Jews” control the world’s money with this tweet:
“I’d rather more people died because they couldn’t get essential drugs than a modest redistribution from top earners.” pic.twitter.com/7AZzUZEwFT
— Aditya Chakrabortty (@chakrabortty) September 3, 2019
Journalist James Ball tweeted: “I do not believe for a second Aditya is actually an antisemite but he should delete this and apologise sincerely and profusely.”
What absolute bilge!
And Mr Ball is getting what he deserves from the Twitter commentariat:
https://twitter.com/BarryThatcher8/status/1169256147729158144
You seem to be implying that redistribution of wealth is anti-semitic. In good faith anybody could argue this is just outright stupid but, at worst, you seem to be using an anti-semitic trope conflating Jewishness with wealth. If anybody should be apologising it should be you.
— George Aylett (@GeorgeAylett) September 4, 2019
That goes for all those on that thread that jumped in and accused @chakrabortty of antisemitism. He did no such thing, but they all did by their accusations. More examples of the right wing using AS as a political weapon without any thought on their own failings.
— Dave ✋🏾✋ (@d_r_jones47) September 4, 2019
"Criticising a Jewish person by definition makes you antisemitic".
Bonkers. And by this stage, predictable. https://t.co/HjyF74F0by
— Asa Winstanley (@AsaWinstanley) September 4, 2019
Most of us left wing Jews are first to be called antisemites particularly by non Jews who are totally ignorant of Jewish life and culture other than what has been taught to them by right wing Jews with a political axe to grind.
— BoycottIsraelNetwork (@BoycottIsraelUK) September 5, 2019
But Mr Ball has doubled down on his claim:
https://twitter.com/jamesrbuk/status/1169192986955190274
And again he was slapped down:
Antisemitism is real, and it is frightening. The attempt to conflate even mild social democratic rhetoric with antisemitism is sinister and undermines the fight against this hatred.
And if anyone is undermining the fight against antisemitism here, it is you.
— Owen Jones (@OwenJones84) September 4, 2019
Yes – the attempt to conflate mild social democratic rhetoric with anti-Semitism is sinister. If you want to see how sinister it can be, take a look at my Twitter timeline since Sunday – it’s full of politically-motivated trolls screaming that I’m an anti-Semite, and quoting long-debunked lies by their fellow politically-motivated trolls.
They don’t actually care about anti-Semitism. Their hysterical activities in fact provoke it.
And while we’re at it, what’s all this nonsense they’re stirring up about Ash Sarkar?
Have YOU donated to my crowdfunding appeal, raising funds to fight false libel claims by TV celebrities who should know better? These court cases cost a lot of money so every penny will help ensure that wealth doesn’t beat justice.
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Awful stench of desperation from those wielding that vile weapon. They become more desperate – reckless as they are, watching the dreams whither and turn to ashes in the hands of the clown, no longer “the saviour of brexit”
Who is this person and what, on Earth, is he on about?