Friends don’t let friends go annexing

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Esther Solomon

As the world enters another week of the coronavirus crisis, the contamination of political speech and action by racist scapegoating, anti-Semitic conspiracy theories and pandering to hard right tropes grows. Laurel Leff explores her response to watching ‘The Plot Against America’ while bombarded with Trump tweets; Ben Lorber examines the ‘different’ anti-Semitism that targets Haredim, and Avi Shafran accuses liberal Jews of fueling bigotry against them. Flora Cassen dives into the ‘dark net’ to show how far-right theories are breaking through to the mainstream. Israel’s potential West Bank annexation is now an urgent issue for U.S.-Israel relations, and for U.S. Jews’ relations with the Jewish state. Daniel B. Shapiro queries how Netanyahu can possibly keep Trump, Biden and his base content; Blake Flayton calls on Biden to speak out against annexation more loudly; and Guy Ziv writes that being ‘Israel’s friend’ right now requires protesting the move. Fr. Jamal Khader and Rev. Munther Isaac describes annexation as a catastrophe for Palestinian Christians. Anshel Pfeffer  notes that U.S. Jews can complain as much as they like, but for Netanyahu, they’re second-rate Jews and have minimal influence.   And if you’re a ‘Fauda’ fan and missed George Zeidan’s excoriating critique of the show’s anti-Palestinian bias, have a read.

Coronavirus Unmasks Donald Trump's Plot Against America Laurel Leff | 07.05.2020

'Primitive, Diseased Invaders' Threatening America: How Scapegoating ultra-Orthodox Jews for Coronavirus Mirrors Islamophobia Ben Lorber | 05.05.2020

How Coronavirus Sparked an Open Season of Hate for Haredi Jews Avi Shafran | 29.04.2020

'Jews Control Chinese Labs That Created Coronavirus': White Supremacists' Dangerous New Conspiracy Theory Flora Cassen | 03.05.2020

Will the Coronavirus Crisis Accelerate Israel's West Bank Annexation – or Derail It? Daniel B. Shapiro | 23.04.2020

Call Yourself a Friend? Then Stop Israel's West Bank Annexation Disaster Guy Ziv | 06.05.2020

Biden, Show Trump What 'pro-Israel' Really Means. Oppose West Bank Annexation Blake Flayton | 03.05.2020

Donald Trump Is Complicit in a Catastrophe for Christians Munther Isaac, Jamal Khader | 06.05.2020

Benjamin Netanyahu's Second-rate Jews Anshel Pfeffer | 08.05.2020

Will the Coronavirus Lockdown Fatally Weaken American Jewish Life? Eric H. Yoffie | 04.05.2020

The Jews Who Befriended Turkey and Became Genocide Deniers Marc David Baer | 23.04.2020

'Fauda' Isn't Just Ignorant, Dishonest and Sadly Absurd. It's anti-Palestinian Incitement George Zeidan | 24.04.2020

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