The West’s deflections over Bondi are obscene

Spiked : You might have thought that the anti-Semitic massacre on Bondi Beach last Sunday would finally prompt some kind of self-reflection on the part of Western politicians, pundits and ‘anti-Zionist’ activists.

That they might start wondering if their treatment and, in some cases, obsessive demonisation of the world’s only Jewish State might be fuelling a violent hatred of Jews. But sadly that has not been the case. Instead, from those gently critical of Israel to Keffiyeh-wearing activists, we’ve seen denial, hedging and cognitive dissonance.

Take Britain’s prime minister, Keir Starmer. Having said nothing about the Islamic fundamentalists and their fellow travellers screaming ‘globalise the Intifada’ on Britain’s streets throughout his 16 months in power, he was among the first to dish out thin platitudes to Australia’s Jews. ‘The news that the Bondi beach attack was an anti-Semitic terrorist attack… is sickening’, he said. ‘The United Kingdom will always stand with… the Jewish community.’

This, remember, was the same Starmer who, just three months ago, rewarded Hamas for the rape and slaughter of hundreds of Jews on 7 October 2023 by officially recognising a Palestinian state. The idea that Britain’s Labour government can be counted on to ‘stand with the Jewish community’ is absurd.

Others followed Starmer’s bland statement. Home secretary Shabana Mahmoud said she was ‘appalled’ and ‘horrified’. Deputy prime minister David Lammy offered his ‘prayers’ and reassured Jews that they ‘are not alone’. Neither made any mention of the likely Islamist motivation for the attack beyond vague talk of ‘anti-Semitism’. 

London mayor Sadiq Khan, in charge of a city that endured a record number of anti-Semitic incidents in the months following 7 October, offered his thoughts and condolences on X. The day before, he was warning about the alleged dangers of Donald Trump, whose rhetoric has supposedly normalised a ‘massive increase of anti-Muslim’ sentiment. Of course, Khan has never once condemned the ‘anti-Zionist’ hate marches on his own doorstep.

Read it all here.....