A recent survey conducted by the Anti-Defamation League found that anti-Semitic attitudes in seven European countries have worsened due to the global financial crisis and Israel’s military actions against the Palestinians.
Some 31 percent of adults polled blame Jews in the financial industry for the economic meltdown, while 58 percent of respondents admitted that their opinion of Jews has worsened due to their criticism of Israel.
Blaming Jews during financial difficulties is a classic anti-Semitic tendency and must be condemned, though when high-profile Jewish figures such as Bernie Madoff cause pain to a great many people, including Jewish charities, many in society will associate greed with Judaism. I don’t seem to recall the criticisms of Madoff when he was supporting Israel and pro-Zionist groups and “being a good Jew”.
Disliking Jews for the actions of Israel is regrettable but utterly unsurprising. If most vocal Jews don’t separate themselves from the Jewish state, how can others be expected to?
Israeli crimes against the Palestinians affect us all.