The article repeats the time-worn mantra about how the Palestine solidarity movement needs to be concerned about 'anti-semitism'. This article is a perfect example of crypto-Zionism, and concisely expresses the attitudes which have made Palestine solidarity so ineffective compared with anti-apartheid. Unfortunately, comments are closed.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/sep/25/gilad-atzmon-antisemitism-the-left

The problem is not a paranoid theory about a Jewish plot for world domination, it is paranoia about confronting and undermining real Jewish power, spread by politicians and the media. During the anti-apartheid movement, the Guardian did not publish articles about the danger of anti-whiteism.

"The trouble is that Atzmon has often argued that the Zionist oppression of the Palestinians is attributable not to the bellicose politics of the Israeli state, but to Jewish lobbies and Jewish power."

Note the false dichotomy. Andy Newman says that the Palestine solidarity movement must not oppose 'Jewish lobbies and Jewish power' otherwise it will be anti-semitic. In other words, he wants it to continue to avoid the overwhelming evidence that the reason for unconditional Western support for Israeli aggression is the power of Jewish lobbying. It's not imperialism, nor the ruthless defence of capitalist interests. It's the Lobby. By trying to blackmail us into avoiding that issue, Newman is trying to ensure that Palestine solidarity continues to fail.

The article slanders Alison Weir (in fact she produced solid evidence from researchers at Berkeley about Israeli organ trafficking) and praises Richard Seymour of the SWP, failing to mention how the SWP abandoned Atzmon under pressure.