The Obama Administration’s efforts to jumpstart the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, the threat posed by radical Islamic terrorism, the drumbeat of Israel delegitimization, the stubborn potency of global anti-Semitism, Iran’s unyielding march toward nuclear weapons, and the fallout from the Gaza flotilla affair were among the top issues affecting Jews in 2010, according to the Anti-Defamation League’s (ADL) annual list.
“For much of the year there was a glimmer of hope that the Israeli-Palestinian peace process would finally get off the ground, and yet our hopes diminished with each passing week as the parties failed to reach a consensus and the settlements issue became a major excuse for the Palestinians,” said Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director. “Meanwhile, the unrelenting global assault against Israel’s legitimacy continued apace, with calls for divestment and sanctions against the Jewish state and efforts to undermine Israel’s credibility in international forums and at the United Nations.”
“The threat of terrorism once again hit close to home, with authorities thwarting multiple plots to detonate bombs on U.S. soil,” added Robert G. Sugarman, ADL National Chair. “While Jewish communities around the world largely remained safe and secure, Antisemitism continued to be a concern, as did the threat of an attack motivated by Islamic fundamentalism.”
Despite stronger sanctions, Iran defiant
Despite setbacks, the Iranian regime continued its march toward a nuclear weapons capability, defying international efforts to curtail the regime’s nuclear program. Following a fourth round of U.N. Security Council sanctions, both the U.S. and the E.U. adopted new and more robust sanctions against Iran, with officials promising more to come, in hopes of persuading the country to suspend its production of nuclear fuel. Amid signs that sanctions were at least partially achieving their desired effect, the Obama Administration continued to engage with other countries around the world to discourage them from doing business with Iran’s energy and nuclear sectors – a key step in preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons.
Antisemitism still a potent force
Despite intensified efforts by governments to monitor and report anti-Semitic incidents, a disturbing number of attacks were reported across Europe and around the globe. In Latvia, vandals spray painted swastikas and graffiti on more than 100 tombstones in a Jewish cemetery in Riga; on the Island of Crete, a synagogue was twice attacked by arsonists; and in Belgium, Molotov cocktails were hurled at synagogues. In the United States, celebrities and media personalities, among them Hollywood director Oliver Stone and former White House correspondent Helen Thomas, gave voice to age-old anti-Semitic canards. As the year drew to a close, reports of violent physical assaults on Hasidic Jews in Brooklyn and a series of anti-Jewish attacks at Indiana University, including the defilement of Hebrew texts, raised new concerns about the pernicious disease of anti-Semitism.
Israel delegitimization continued apace
Efforts to delegitimize the Jewish state gained momentum through campaigns promoting boycotts, divestments and sanctions (BDS). Israel was portrayed as a pariah state that engages in “racist” and “apartheid” policies, and anti-Israel activity proliferated on university campuses both in the U.S. and abroad. At the United Nations, the Human Rights Council demonstrated its pronounced anti-Israel bias, and UNESCO passed a series of one-sided resolutions denying Israel’s claims to Jewish holy sites. The Palestinian Authority sought international endorsement for a unilateral declaration of statehood, and were accommodated by a number of Latin American countries.
The threat of terrorism remained a clear and present danger around the globe, with Jews and Jewish institutions among those targeted. More than 50 U.S. citizens were charged with terror related offenses in 2010, evidence that Americans motivated by radical interpretations of Islam constitute a growing terror threat. A series of close calls attested to the seriousness of the threat posed by Muslim extremists: In October, authorities foiled a Yemen-based terror plot to send explosive-laden packages addressed to Chicago-area synagogues on U.S.-bound cargo flights; five months earlier, a naturalized American citizen from Pakistan attempted to detonate a car bomb in Times Square.
Midterm elections shake up Washington
The midterm elections precipitated a power shift in Washington. Riding a wave of anti-incumbent discontent, and backed by strong Tea Party support, Republican challengers scored a wide victory in capturing numerous Congressional seats. The realignment altered the political calculus and posed a challenge to President Obama’s domestic and international agenda.
A major human rights victory came in the form of an historic Congressional vote to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” an unjust and discriminatory policy governing service in America’s armed forces. In Arizona, the enactment of a harsh anti-immigrant law threatened to increase profiling and sow distrust between the Latino community and law enforcement, before several of the statute’s key provisions were blocked on legal grounds. There was a disturbing rise in overt discrimination against Muslims, with a sharp increase in hostility, fear mongering and hate speech — prompted, in part, by the national debate over the controversial Park51 proposal to build a mosque and cultural center blocks from Ground Zero in Manhattan. A Florida pastor threatened to burn copies of the Koran; plans for new mosques or Islamic centers in Tennessee, California, Wisconsin and other states provoked hateful reactions from some opponents.
Flotilla affair sparks backlash
In an incident that sparked international condemnation of the Jewish state, Israel boarded a Turkish ship that sought to break the blockade of Hamas-controlled Gaza. The Israeli forces were immediately attacked during a skirmish aboard the ship, leading to the deaths of nine activists. Though the flotilla was a premeditated provocation sponsored by anti-Israel activists, many countries swiftly denounced Israel for the confrontation. While the United States stood firmly behind Israel’s response, the affair strained Israel-Turkey relations. The Israeli government ultimately bowed to public pressure from the international community to ease the Gaza blockade.
Catholic-Jewish relations tested
Several difficult issues challenged Catholic-Jewish relations. Two archbishops from the Melkite Greek Catholic Church made statements detrimental to Israel and Judaism, including one who publicly questioned the Jewish covenant with God and the Jewish connection to the land of Israel. Pope Benedict XVI issued words of praise for his predecessor, Pope Pius XII, regarding the wartime pope’s record on Jews during the Holocaust, even as the Vatican failed to open its Secret Archives from 1939 to 1946. However, Pope Benedict pledged to continue to raise his voice against Antisemitism and attempts to isolate the state of Israel. Protestant-Jewish relations also faced challenges, as some Protestant churches sponsored anti-Israel conferences, and debated proposals to boycott and divest from the state of Israel.
Bullies & Antisemites proliferate online
Antisemitism flourished online, with many taking advantage of the Internet’s anonymity to blame Jews for causing the economic recession and to allege a connection between Jews and money and perpetuate other anti-Jewish conspiracy theories. Anti-Semitic and bigoted remarks also spilled over into the real world in the form of harassment, threats and bullying. In several high profile cases of suicides by young people, cyberbullying may have been a contributing factor. As school districts moved to confront the problem with anti-bullying initiatives, several states, including Massachusetts and New Jersey, passed or enhanced legislation to hold schools and teachers to a higher standard when it comes to reporting and responding to incidents.
