-Caveat Lector- http://www.totallyjewish.com/news/stories/?disp_type=0&disp_story=4SaOxZ
Insult To Star Of David by Richard Ferrer - Jan 19 New Statesman magazine has admitted its decision to publish a front-page cover featuring a gold Magen David above the slogan ‘A Kosher Conspiracy?’ may have been misguided. The illustration, which appeared in last week’s edition of the current affairs magazine, showed the Jewish symbol on top of a Union Jack, while three damning reports inside attacked Israel and Jewish organisations in the UK. The first article, by Dennis Sewell, claimed a Zionist lobby is secretly “peddling the big lies of Israeli propaganda” to the media, while the following page carried a piece by author John Pilger, accusing Tony Blair of cronyism in his “shameless” appointment of Lord Michael Levy as his special envoy to the Middle East. The article also accused the prime minister of “unquestioning backing of Israeli military policy”. Strike three came in the shape of a sympathetic centre spread about what drives Palestinian women to become suicide bombers. Editor Peter Wilby conceded that this coordinated coverage upset some readers, but insisted it was not his intention to offend. He said: “Covers and symbols are difficult, tricky things. Maybe we didn’t think carefully enough about this particular one. The Star of David, along with the Union Jack, are two very clearly recognisable symbols. When people see it they have a clear idea of what’s going on. “But I certainly wouldn’t wish to give the idea that we’re anti-Semitic, nor indeed that I’m anti-Zionist. This was a serious piece. We’re not anti-Zionist. We ask the question, is there a conspiracy? Then we answer it, saying no, not much of one.” Sewell’s contentious cover story takes a sideways swipe at organisations at the heart of Anglo-Jewish life, such as the Board Of Deputies, Zionist Federation (ZF) and the Britain Israel Communications and Research Centre (Bicom), which is charged with “spinning Israel’s case to the media”. Sewell wrote: “That there is a Zionist lobby and that it is rich, potent and effective goes largely unquestioned on the left. Big Jewry, like big tobacco, is seen as one of life’s givens. According to this view, Israel has the British media well sewn up.” Sewell goes on to attack Israeli Embassy press attaché David Schneeweiss, who “can be on the phone to every news editor at once, while simultaneously schmoozing their proprietors”. The article concludes that while such a lobby exists, “one is struck not by their cohesion so much as their fragmentation. Few are much more than a two-men-and-a-dog operation located above a shop. The truth is the ‘Zionist lobby’ does exist, but is a clueless bunch”. Jewish leaders have been quick to hit back. ZF president Eric Moonman, who is accused of coordinating a “vituperative” letter and email writing campaign aimed at critics of Israeli policy, charges the New Statesman with carrying out a hatchet job. He said: “There is no balance in any of the articles and they demean British Jewry. I am personally mentioned as being responsible for the ZF’s media response group and I have always acknowledged that openly. "There is nothing sinister in responding to the media’s attacks on an ethnic or religious group. The prejudice of the magazine is clearly to be found in this co- ordinated approach, which I feel is unforgivable. “As someone who has worked for many years in both newspapers and radio, I can only say I have never worked for an editor or station manager who would have given this approach the OK.” The Board’s public affairs director Fiona Macaulay, who was named in Sewell’s piece, said: “The author’s disappointment at his inability to prove the existence of a world Jewish conspiracy is almost tangible. One can only assume his distress was responsible for the fact that the article was poorly constructed, confusing and misleading. “As the elected representative body of British Jewry, the Board will continue to express the community’s overwhelming sense of solidarity with the State of Israel and its people.” A spokesman for Bicom added: “Articles of this nature are common and part of the rough and tumble of the media game.” Wilby, the New Statesman’s editor, said he received as many complaints from the Jewish community as from Muslims last month when his magazine ran the front-page headline, ‘The Koran Con Trick’. He said: “We used an image of the Koran, which is not as wildly emotive as the Star of David. In terms of protest from both communities it’s probably neck and neck at the moment.” Criticism has also come from outside the community. In its leader last Friday, The Sun labelled the New Statesman “racially insensitive”, and hailed Israel as a “brave, democratic nation surrounded by forces intent on its entire destruction. Israel’s enemies are enemies of Britain. To pretend otherwise is dangerous folly”. Elsewhere, Jewish readers have been publicly demonstrating their disapproval. One Edgware newsagent said: “Normally, I only sell two copies of the New Statesman each week, but so far I have sold about 30. However, some people are coming into the shop, buying the magazine and ripping out the offending pages. Some have even told me, ‘you shouldn't be selling this filth’.” © Totally plc 2001. All rights reserved. <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/";>www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substance—not soap-boxing—please! 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