WILL THE ECONOMIC CRISIS FAN THE FLAMES OF ANTI-SEMITISM?

During the great depression, Adolf Hitler blamed the Jews and the "New Jew Order" for the economic collapse. And as ridiculous as that seems, many Europeans bought into it. Now that many generations have passed since that horrific time, are we passed that ignorant rationale as a civilized world? Not so fast.

The Anti-Defamation League said recently that a survey it commissioned found nearly a third of Europeans polled blame Jews for the global economic meltdown and that a greater number think Jews have too much power in the business world. The organization, which says its aim is “to stop the defamation of Jewish people and secure justice and fair treatment to all,” says the seven-nation survey confirms that anti-Semitism remains strong. The poll included interviews with 3,500 people - 500 each in Austria, Britain, France, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Spain.
It says that in Spain, 74 percent of those asked say they feel it is “probably true” that Jews hold too much sway over the global financial markets. That is the highest percentage in the survey. Nearly two-thirds of Spanish respondents said Jews were more loyal to Israel than they were to their home countries.

In Britain last year, 50% surveyed thought British Jews more loyal to Israel than the UK. At the same time, 31% of Americans thought the same about American Jews.

The survey found that so-called “business anti-Semitism” has grown by 5% in France, 6% in Poland and 7% in Hungary since 2007. Only Britain can boast of a decrease in xenophobic and anti-Semitic moods, while the other six countries maintain this trend or have witnessed an escalation of ethnic enmity.

Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director, said: "We know from modern history that whenever there is a downturn in the global economy, there will be an upturn in the level of anti-Semitism and bigotry, and that is what we are seeing now."

Anti-Semitic stereotypes are nothing new for Europe, but what strikes the most is that the meltdown has not entered its worse phase so far, which automatically means that xenophobic sentiments will grow even stronger.

With a deflated Wall Street begging for a lifeline from Washington, small businesses across the country unable to secure needed loans, and average Americans being turned away by mortgage banks, many people are looking for a scapegoat.

“The age-old canards about Jews and money are always just beneath the surface. As we witnessed after 9/11, whenever there is trouble or uncertainty in the economy or world events, Jews become the scapegoats, and ugly anti-Semitic canards are given new life,” Foxman said in a statement.