Category Archives: Europe

If only Peter Beinart had heeded my words on the death of liberal Zionism in 2015

Posted on 08/07/2020 by Antony Lerman

Following the publication of Peter Beinart’s article in Jewish Currents, ‘Yavne: a Jewish case for equality in Israel-Palestine’, on 7 July, I was reminded of a panel discussion I participated in with him and Mira Sucharov at the University of Chicago, … Continue reading →

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Flimsy and vindictive: the ‘case’ against Ken Loach

Posted on 24/03/2020 by Antony Lerman

I could have said much more about the accusations, the profound moral and political errors made by those involved in attacking Ken Loach and SRtRC and the utterly misguided motives of organisations and individuals who are acting against the interests of the very people they claim to represent. Continue reading →

Posted in Europe | 8 Comments

Brexit: Britain’s greatest political crisis since 1945

Posted on 01/07/2016 by Antony Lerman

Bitter arguments over the UK’s membership of the EU have disfigured British politics for decades. The referendum held on 23 June was supposed to settle the matter once and for all. Brits voted to leave and that’s that. But is … Continue reading →

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No, it isn’t time for the Jews to leave Europe

Posted on 26/03/2015 by Antony Lerman

“Is it time for the Jews to leave Europe?” is the title of the 11,000-word cover story in the latest issue of the Atlantic magazine written by the American Jewish journalist Jeffrey Goldberg. His answer? “Yes”. Why, while purporting to write … Continue reading →

Posted in Antisemitism, Europe | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Israel’s elections: more bad news for Palestinians and Europe’s Jews

Posted on 18/03/2015 by Antony Lerman

Bibi wins the Israeli elections. I guessed he would. To me, the tight opinion polls, that were even giving a substantial advantage to the Zionist Camp, could not take into account a last minute, knee-jerk return to the Likud out … Continue reading →

Posted in Europe, Middle East | Tagged , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Anti-Jewish hostility provoked by the Gaza offensive: Is antisemitism the right word for it?

Posted on 04/08/2014 by Antony Lerman

With his permission, I am publishing on my blog a Facebook post by Dr Steven Beller, an independent scholar based in Washington DC, which presents an alternative analysis of the anti-Jewish hostility currently being experienced in Europe as a result … Continue reading →

Posted in Europe | 18 Comments

Gunter Grass, antisemitism and the inflation of evil

Posted on 17/04/2012 by Antony Lerman

My post on openDemocracy, published on 16 April 2012: The Israel factor has politicised the business of assessing antisemitism such that the vitriolic disagreement surrounding it has become about far more than just facts, intelligent judgment and expertise. What does … Continue reading →

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A Hungarian Jewish novelist meets the challenge of being different in difficult times

Posted on 26/09/2011 by Antony Lerman

Gabor Szanto is a Hungarian novelist, short story writer, poet, translator and cultural entrepreneur whose Jewish identity informs all that he does. A key figure in the revival of Jewish life in Hungary post-1989, Szanto is the founding editor of … Continue reading →

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The Norway Killings: Jumping the Gun

Posted on 23/07/2011 by Antony Lerman

The herd mentality of pundits and commentators was on display as they fell over each other to immediately blame the Norway killings on Muslim extremists. It wasn’t long before it became clear that the culprit, Anders Behring Breivik, was a blond … Continue reading →

Posted in Europe | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Yale Announces New Program for the Study of Antisemitism to Replace Discredited YIISA

Posted on 21/06/2011 by Antony Lerman

The Yale Provost, Peter Salovey, wrote to friends of the university on 20 June announcing the establishment of the Program for the Study of Antisemitism (YPSA), which will replace the axed Yale Initiative for the Interdisciplinary Study of Antisemitism. He … Continue reading →

Posted in Europe | 6 Comments