Anti-Defamation League: PsuedoTolerance

One has to watch this video of Anti-Defamation League president Abe Foxman. I have read many of his statements before, but this was the first time I really heard him speak. He's even more of a crying wolf and obnxious person in real life than in print, and that's saying something.

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Foxman talks about anti-Semitism in wake of Israel's offensive in Gaza. While Foxman is right that there were anti-Semitic attacks during the conflict - most notably in Venezuela - and anti-Semitic language, such as in Turkey. Abe is in no position to pose as some sort of moral paragon.

First, Abe didn't find what Israel did in Gaza the slightest big objectionable. His organization opposed a cease-fire when the conflict broke out and the ADL then and Abe now has nothing to say about the over 400 children killed. A decent individual may support Israel's attack and term is self-defense, but he would also be moved by the pictures and recognize that their is such a things as proportionality; a concept Abe dismisses.

Second, in light of the recent electoral success of Israeli neo-fascist MK Avigdor Lieberman and his platform to force Arab-Israelis to sign loyalty oaths, a racist agenda, one would expect an organization that claims to stand up against hate would criticize Lieberman. The cowardly way would have be to at least stay silent. But, no, Abe actually said that he didn't find Lieberman's plan objectionable, because, well, what's the matter with loyalty oaths after all. One can only imagine how the ADL would respond if the American government forced loyalty oaths on Jews.

Thirdly, the ADL has known to have engaged in secret information collection against people and organization deemed hostile to Israel. So this institution is hardly a noble one, but, rather, has at least a nefarious past if not present.

And, lastly, the ADL refuses to recognize the Armenian genocide. Over one million Armenians were killed in the wake of the collapse of the Ottoman Empire. It has been recognized as a genocide by most historians. But this so-called noble organization refuses to pay respect to Armenians simply because it values Turkey's relationship with Israel more than the truth.

The ADL does some good work, but it is a institution that is sorely lacking when it comes to applying equal justice and equal rights.