The Government's decision to broaden the terms of reference of the resolution on religious intolerance it is sponsoring at the United Nations Third Committee, by including a specific reference to anti-Semitism, is a welcome and necessary response to a disturbing trend.
European Union foreign ministers have agreed to co-sponsor the resolution following an increase in anti-Semitic rhetoric and violent acts. The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen, agreed that they highlighted the need to give adequate expression to "a particular phenomenon combining elements of both racism and religious intolerance"; up to now the Government has resisted demands for references to specific examples. President Chirac of France declared this week that an "attack on a Jew is an attack on all of France", following the bombing of a school in a Paris suburb. The world is still coming to terms with the suicide bombing atrocities in Istanbul on Saturday, in which at least 25 people were killed and 300 injured at two synagogues.
These remain relatively isolated phenomena. The number of attacks on Jewish targets in France is actually down this year on last, while there has been overwhelming solidarity with the ancient and distinguished Jewish community in Turkey from the other Semitic, non-Semitic and Muslim peoples with whom they have lived peacefully for centuries. There is nevertheless a real need for vigilance because of an increase in anti-Jewish rhetoric around the world, exemplified in a recent speech by the Malaysian Prime Minister, Mr Mahatir Mohamad. It has been echoed in popular Arab and Islamic media and fanned by organisations such as al-Qaeda, which must be opposed by all who value religious tolerance.
Such rhetoric is also fanned by the continuing occupation of Palestinian territory by Israel and daily images of its brutality and injustice. As the Chief Rabbi of Britain, Jonathan Sachs, has put it, "no democratic state is entitled to consider it is beyond reproach, and Israel is a democracy". Some of the most trenchant criticisms of the Israeli government have come from senior officials. Last week, four former chiefs of its Shin Bet intelligence service said that as a result of the Sharon government's policies towards the Palestinians, "we are heading downhill towards near-catastrophe". It is not anti-Semitic to criticise Israel's campaign of helicopter assassinations, bulldozing of houses, land seizures, curfews and tank incursions against the Palestinian rebellion, whatever the provocation of the brutal suicide and other attacks on its troops and civilians. A just settlement of the conflict is the best way to tackle anti-Semitism around the world.