On Democracies and Death Cults: Israel and the Future of Civilization

by Douglas Murray

As Grossman writes: “States look to the imaginary intrigues of World Jewry for explanations of their own failure.” This was as true at the dawn of capitalism as it was during the industrial revolution, the atomic age, and the age of revolutions. Finally, he says, there are three different levels of anti-Semitism. First is the “relatively harmless everyday anti-Semitism.” Grossman elaborates. This merely bears witness to the existence of failures and envious fools. Secondly, there is social anti-Semitism. This can only arise in democratic countries. Its manifestations are in those sections of the press that represent different reactionary groups, in the activities of these groups—for example, boycotts of Jewish labour and Jewish goods—and in their ideology and religion. Thirdly, in totalitarian countries, where society as such no longer exists, there can arise State anti-Semitism. This is a sign that the State is looking for the support of fools, reactionaries and failures, that it is seeking to capitalize on the ignorance of the superstitious and the anger of the hungry. He concludes, “The first stage of State anti-Semitism is discrimination. . . . The second stage is wholesale destruction.”44 Seen in Grossman’s light, much that seems inexplicable becomes explainable, and is as relevant in our own day as it was in his. The Arab countries that repeatedly invaded Israel and sought to steal the land accuse Israel of stealing land. Muslim countries accuse Israel of “colonialis...