Recently the left became briefly interested in talking about anti-Semitism. But as J Street, a left-wing anti-Israel group reminds us,
1. Most anti-Semitism comes from the left
2. The role of Jews on the left is increasingly to whitewash that anti-Semitism while...
3. Accusing Jews who object to it of using anti-Semitism as a weapon to silence criticisms of Israel
J Street rolls out the same tired old playbook in defense of Keith Ellison, a former Nation of Islam supporter who defended anti-Semitism, who has called Israel an Apartheid State and claimed that Israel had mobilized Jews"to do its bidding in America".
According to J Street, Keith Ellison just made a few "inartful statements from decades in public life." And then mean critics "take them out of context and use them as a weapon to silence responsible and important voices like Rep. Ellison’s."
Tellingly, J Street gives no examples of how any of Ellison's anti-Semitism was taken out of context. It does claim that, "Ellison has been criticized for taking positions, on Iran, Gaza and other issues that are perfectly consistent with the views of the majority of American Jews".
Does that include calling Israel an Apartheid State?
Then J Street's Jeremy Ben Ami jumped in with a "Leave Keith Ellison Alone" article in the Washington Post titled, "Stop smearing Ellison." Once again anti-Semitism is dismissed as a tactic.
Once again J Street shows that it stands with racists and bigots against the Jewish State.