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Keith Kahn-Harris

By

Keith Kahn-Harris,

Keith Kahn-Harris

Opinion

In the new Trump era, Jews are being used as pawns

November 17, 2016 11:32
Donald Trump greets supporters from Ukip, including Nigel Farage (centre) and Raheem Kassam (far-right), in New York City
2 min read

Despite the appointment of Steve Bannon as an advisor with ties to the antisemitic "alt-right"; despite the use of antisemitic tropes in electoral material; despite the antisemitic attacks on journalists by supporters during the campaign; despite all this: Donald Trump and his team have a ready-made response to accusations of using antisemitism:

"How could we be antisemitic? Look at the Jews who supported us! Look at Ivanka Trump's conversion to Judaism! Look at our strong support for Israel!"

There's something disturbingly familiar here. One of the defining features of the controversy in Jeremy Corbyn's Labour Party has been the meeting of accusations of antisemitism by pointing to his Jewish supporters.

I am not comparing Mr Trump and Mr Corbyn's wider politics and personalities. Jeremy Corbyn is clearly a better human being for one thing.