Sunday afternoon drive
Antisemitic and antifemale, too.
A police investigation has been launched after a video was circulated on social media showing antisemitic chants being shouted from a convoy of cars in north London.
Finchley Road, to be exact.
Politicians condemned the footage, which was posted on Twitter and showed the cars travelling through the St John’s Wood area of north London on Sunday afternoon. The cars were covered in Palestinian flags with a speaker blasting out antisemitic slurs and threats against Jews.
Threats against Jews and “their daughters” – which is a telltale way of putting it.
The Metropolitan police said of the incident in Finchley Road:. “We are aware of a video appearing to show antisemitic language being shouted from a convoy of cars in the St John’s Wood area this afternoon. “Officers are carrying out urgent enquiries to identify those responsible. This sort of behaviour will not be tolerated.”
This isn’t cancel culture or no-platforming. Screaming “rape their daughters” is incitement.
The housing and communities secretary, Robert Jenrick, said the video was “deeply disturbing”. He added: “Vile, criminal hatred like this must not be tolerated.”
In a statement, Jenrick continued: “Whatever your view of the conflict in Israel and Gaza, there is no justification for inciting anti-Jewish or anti-Muslim hatred. The incidents of antisemitism we have seen in recent days have been shameful.
Yes but focus. It isn’t the hatred itself, which the law can’t really touch; it’s the driving through a heavily Jewish neighborhood screaming “Fuck the Jews, rape their daughters.” It would be equally shameful and unjustifiable to drive through Tower Hamlets screaming “Fuck the Muslims, rape their daughters.”
Why don’t people understand it is entirely possible to despise the way Israel behaves toward Palestine, and to urge action to deal with it, without resorting to juvenile stunts designed to show your hatred of an entire people? And in this case, people quite a distance from Israel.
I dare say “Fuck the Republicans, rape their daughters” would also be unjustifiable. It is incitement, as you note. Agreement with the first phrase doesn’t eliminate problems in the second.
Someone on Spinster points out that what these men are saying is basically ‘let’s go damage their property.’
Imagine how much faster and severe the response by the police would have been if the men in this convoy had been misgendering TIMs.
Well of course “Fuck the Republicans, rape their daughters” would also be unjustifiable. I’ll go so far as to say “rape their daughters” would be unjustifiable no matter who the “they” is.
My granddaughter was distressed by TV reports and wanted to understand. I gave her a brief rundown from Balfour declaration to 1948. When I moved on to recent history I said did you notice I changed from talking about Jews to Israelis, because I am not blaming Jews, but the Israeli government.
I explained how this latest flare-up was caused by Israelis evicting Palestinians from their homes in Jerusalem. But I wish to never have this conversation again. But as long as American support s the settlements that is but a dream.
Oooh…. how interesting. I have seen various headlines and even glanced at an article or two telling me about the terrible anti-Semitism and how shocked and appalled everyone is, but none of them quoted what was being shouted. It appears the misogyny is completely unremarkable.
@Roj Blake — Israelis are not evicting Muslim Arab Palestinians. That property with six families squatting had always belonged to the Jews. This was confirmed in the court case, which lasted a year. If you wish to educate your daughter, you need to tell both sides of the story. Otherwise that would be indoctrination.
Mo, I don’t think I’ll take a lesson in current affairs from someone who has suddenly appeared, assumes an Arabic Nym, and sounds like a Hasbara Troll.
These recent acts of violence are just the continuation of enmity that began with Israel being imposed on Palestinians without consultation or compensation. Israel has continued to expand its territory, stealing the little Palestinians have left.
If Israel truly desires peace it will hand that land back and end the brutal siege of Gaza.
If the USA truly desires ME peace, it will stop arming Israel.
How do you expect Palestinians to negotiate when Bibi has his Knee on their neck?
“That property with six families squatting had always belonged to the Jews.”
Um, “always”? I bet it only goes back a few decades at most in Jewish hands.
It depends? There were Zionists trying to return when the Ottomans were running things (and even then they tussled with the more recent natives). The bad blood in Palestine goes at least as far back as the 19th century.
There’s no sorting it out though, there’s ample individuals on both sides that would genocide the other so it’s just a matter of time before critical mass is reached in the Israeli parliament/diet/whatever.