by Ed Lasky
The Washington Post shamefully allows George Soros to run one of his op-ed screeds in its pages. This one focuses on the tumult in Egypt and sees a promising future of freedom in the Arab world. This is doubtful. A mere look at the history of the region is enough to reveal the overly optimistic cheerleading. When the Shah fell, Ayatollah Khomeini was described as some kind of saint by Andrew Young, America's Ambassador to the United Nations under Jimmy Carter. Elections in Gaza brought forth Hamas. The Cedar Revolution has been left to wither and now Hezb'allah is in control. Aside from this excursion into reality, is there anything else regarding George Soros's column that might give one pause. How about his gratuitous and anti-Semitic slam on Israel and the Jewish supporters of Israel (he takes on Christian supporters of Israel, too). He is preemptively blaming them -- the Jews -- as being the stumbling block for freedom for the Arab world. Always the Jews.
The main stumbling block is Israel. In reality, Israel has as much to gain from the spread of democracy in the Middle East as the United States has. But Israel is unlikely to recognize its own best interests because the change is too sudden and carries too many risks. And some U.S. supporters of Israel are more rigid and ideological than Israelis themselves. Fortunately, Obama is not beholden to the religious right, which has carried on a veritable vendetta against him. The American Israel Public Affairs Committee is no longer monolithic or the sole representative of the Jewish community. The main danger is that the Obama administration will not adjust its policies quickly enough to the suddenly changed reality.
In fact, Israel has all but stayed out of this turmoil in the Muslim world. Would Israel be happy if Mubarak is ousted? No. Egypt has had a cool peace with Israel for three decades -- but at least it has been a cold peace. Mubarak has abided by the agreements signed by his predecessor, Anwar Sadat. Israel would not relish the likely ultimate victors in the battle for Egypt, the Muslim Brotherhood -- for they are viciously anti-Semitic and anti-American. Leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood have called for Egypt to prepare for war. They would likely remove Egypt's blockade of Gaza that has prevented Hamas from arming even more than they already have been able to smuggle in. They would cut off gas supply to Israel. But Israel has sat this one out.
The American Israel Public Affairs Committee, a pro-Israel group that has become Soros's punching bag, has also been quiet. The other groups that Soros mentions that are "representative" of the Jewish community are groups such as J Street and Jews for Social Justice -- both organizations that he funds. In the case of J Street-a controversial group that is not pro-Israel but has taken position antagonistic to those of AIPAC and Israel-he and the leaders of J Street hid his financial support for years.
Who are the real culprits responsible for lack of freedom in the Arab world? Autocratic rulers, outmoded royalty, dictators, and a religious theocracy allied with them. The schools would rather teach hatred than liberal values. The Arab leaders (be they government, religious , military, media and educational) prefer to look at their citizens as subjects to be controlled and manipulated. They choose to divert hatred away from them and towards the West and towards Jews who are blamed for the poverty of the Arab world.
The Arab world is rife with anti-Semitism; the major source of anti-Semitism in the world today comes from the Muslim world (especially from Saudi Arabia and Iran). Those nations propagate and fund it to the rest of the world (Europe, Asia, South America). The Arab world has long blamed the Jews for their immiseration. Now they seemingly have confirmation of their views from a respectable source.
The Washington Post is one of the world's most respected paper[s]. The fact that it is printed in our nation's capital will carry extra weight in the Arab world. Imagine the way the Arab world will translate this op-ed: Washington Post says Jews are the stumbling block for freedom for the Arabs.
The Washington Post should be taken to the woodshed for allowing George Soros to spread his "blame the Jews' variety of anti-Semitism in its pages.
Furthermore, the Democratic Party is beholden to this sugar daddy. He is not only a prominent supporter of many Democratic politicians (and was an early and outsized supporter of Barack Obama) but groups such as J Street also endorse politicians. He is the largest funder of so-called 527 groups (like MoveOn.oRg) who routinely help Democrats. They are being supported by someone who peddles anti-Semitic conspiracy theories.
Will they continue to sup with the devil?
In a word, yes.
Original URL: http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2011/02/soros_blames_israel_encouraged.html
Ed Lasky
Copyright - Original materials copyright (c) by the authors.
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