Answers to Quora Questions by Yair Davidiy (26 December 2017, 6 Tevet , 5778)
How did the British end up being so anti-Semitic?
https://www.quora.com/How-did-the-British-end-up-being-so-anti-Semitic/answer/Yair-Davidiy
The article in question (quoted below) in effect says that the British are NOT anti-Semitic compared to other peoples. It all depends on what part of the article one refers to and emphasizes.
Here are some extracts:
Over a quarter of British people 'hold anti-Semitic attitudes', study finds
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-41241353
By Callum May, BBC News
Extracts:
More than a quarter of British people hold at least one anti-Semitic view, according to a study of attitudes to Jewish people.
The Institute for Jewish Policy Research (JPR) said the finding came from the largest and most detailed survey of attitudes towards Jews and Israel ever conducted in Britain.
But it said the study did not mean that British people were anti-Semitic.
Researchers also found a correlation in anti-Jewish and anti-Israel attitudes.
The study found a relatively small number of British adults - 2.4% - expressed multiple anti-Semitic attitudes "readily and confidently".
But when questioned about whether they agreed with a number of statements, including "Jews think they are better than other people", and "Jews exploit holocaust victimhood for their own purposes", 30% agreed with at least one statement.
Despite this, the researchers said they found that levels of anti-Semitism in Great Britain were among the lowest in the world.
The report said about 70% of the population of Britain had a favourable opinion of Jews and did not hold any anti-Semitic ideas or views.
The last sentence contains the bottom line line:
"about 70% of the population of Britain had a favourable opinion of Jews and did not hold any anti-Semitic ideas or views." We therefore have 30% who are either anti-Semitic or have no opinion. This is not very high especially considering that not all those included in the survey were native British.
In addition, in my opinion, some of the questions defining anti-Semitism were misplaced and misleading. One could believe that "Jews think they are better than other people" and not be anti-Jewish. I personally hold that Jews, on the whole, are better than others.
Is there something wrong with that?
If a Gentile knows what I think and assumes that other Jews think the same does that make him anti-Semitic? or simply a realist?
Most peoples in the world today think their own group are better than others.
So too, concerning the question as to whether one thinks that,
"Jews exploit holocaust victimhood for their own purposes."
What exactly does this mean?
The Jews were indeed victims of the Holocaust. It follows that Jews should be naturally super-sensitive concerning the national security of their fellow Jews and of Israel. Gentiles dealing with Jews or with Israel at times may need to take this into consideration. If a Jew should remind them of this fact does it mean he is exploiting "holocaust victimhood?" Perhaps he is and it may be justified. If a Gentile is aware of this sensitivity does that make him an anti-Semite?
There are however British Statesmen, public figures, and institutions such as the BBC who are prejudiced against Israel and at times anti-Jewish.
On the one hand, one should not ignore one's enemies.
On the other side, there is no need to invent them either.
The Jewish people need not look for adversaries since there already are myriads of such who are eager to find them.