The wages of demagoguery

The Turkish Demagogue-in-chief’s anti-Semitism was planted, and now it’s bearing fruit.

Turkish police have arrested a young man on suspicion of planning to murder rabbis in Istanbul, Turkish daily Milliyet reported Friday. According to the report, the man has already been indicted.

The man, a resident of the eastern city of Kars, was arrested by the police’s counter-terrorism forces. He told his investigators that he “hates Jews” but denied all allegations.

I’m surprised he didn’t use the excuse of being angry about the Mavi Marmara. He’d have gotten a parade and a release. Backlash? Against Jews? Gee, who could have predicted that would happen? But when you cancel planned economic and military projects, reduce diplomatic ties, demonize Israel at every chance, and cover up the fact that the government was complicit in causing the rift (via the IHH connection—you know, the terrorist “activists” that had night vision goggles as part of their humanitarian aid cargo) in the first place, well, it’s not at all surprising that Turks are gunning for Jews. Not Israelis. Jews. Because when people criticize Israel, they like to give themselves cover by saying they’re not criticizing Jews, just the policies of the Israeli state. But when Jews outside of Israel are harmed or killed as a result of something like the flotilla incident or the Gaza war, then Israel’s critics use the excuse that Israel stirs up feelings against Jews. It’s the Catch-22 of Jew hatred. Which of course, is why Jew haters use it and love it.

Anti-Semitic attacks are up worldwide again, and once again, Israel-haters blame Israel—not the people who are actually attacking the Jews. But it’s not anti-Semitism. It’s anti-Zionism. No, really. I swear. Honest!