An Open Letter to Stephen Fry whose 'Alternative' Xmas Message on 'Antisemitism' Flew in the Face of Everything He Once Stood For
Fry's Message Was an Embrace of the British Establishment’s Support for Genocide in Gaza under the Pretext of Opposition to Antisemitism
Stephen Fry’s Xmas Message on Behalf of the British Establishment
Dear Stephen,
As you are all too aware, ‘anti-Semitism’ is the standard defence, the only defence, that Israel has for its genocide and sadism in Gaza today. ‘Anti-Semitism’ is the stock response to torture, imprisonment and abuse of Palestinian children and the creation of a state which Netanyahu boasts is a state, not for all its citizens but only those who are Jewish.
When I refer to sadism I mean things like Israel’s removal of anaesthetics from aid lorries resulting in over 1,000 Palestinian children having to undergo amputations without anaesthetic. This is what your ‘Alternative’ Xmas Message was condoning.
Fortunately we were privileged to have a genuine Alternative to the Establishment’s Xmas that you delivered and it was by a fellow Jewish comedian, Alexei Sayle.
Alexei had a few choice words for you and it is this that I am pleased to publish. As an aside you mentioned how, as a Gay man attitudes in Britain, especially amongst those you hang out with, have improved immeasurably in the past 25 years. I wonder whether the radicalism that was engendered all those years ago led you to support the Palestinians whereas acceptance by the Establishment of your sexuality has resulted in you turning your back on the oppressed.
Alexei Sayle’s Xmas Message
There has been a trend in recent years for elderly Jewish comedians to bloviate without going through any artistic process on various topics....
Now the other elderly Jewish comedians follow the line that entirely plays into the establishment ruling class narrative. They are an alternative to nothing. ..
One of the elderly Jewish comedians has urged us to stand with the Jewish people. Well fair enough.
The Jews I’m going to stand with are those of the Jewish bloc who I’ve marched with on all the pro-Palestine demonstrations. Over 1000 Jews and we’ve always been greeted with love, kindness and support. ...
We were marching with thousands of people – Muslim, Christian, Atheist, Black, white, brown, gay, straight, trans you name it. Everyone was marching together wanting an end to war and slaughter. In their leaflet the young Jews said ‘instead of looking to Israel to make Jews safe, we look instead to solidarity, freedom, justice and equality for Palestinians and Jews everywhere’...
If you see anybody advocating for Israel on the TV or radio. One of their repellent spokespeople say, then they will be lying because that’s what they do. They lie and they lie and they lie.... So let’s keep Palestine in our hearts and minds this Xmas.
As Caitline Johnson writes concerning the ‘anti-Semitism’ smear against those who oppose Israeli war crimes:
If I saw someone murdering a child, there are many things I might say and do, but the very last thing that would ever occur to me would be to wonder what religion he is. It’s the silliest, most nonsensical narrative in mainstream politics and media today.
Your ‘new’ anti-Semitism has nothing to do with traditional anti-Semitism. Its sole concern is about defending Israel – right or wrong.
Anti-Semitism historically was hostility, prejudice or discrimination against Jews. In 2005 a campaign was launched by Israeli and Zionist academics to redefine anti-Semitism as anti-Zionism and criticism of Israel. The resulting was the IHRA misdefinition of anti-Semitism, a definition which anti-Semites like Victor Orban of Hungary supports. Ctd....The last working-class hero in England.
Clio the cat, ? July 1997 - 1 May 2016 Kira the cat, ? ? 2010 - 3 August 2018 Jasper the Ruffian cat ? ? ? - 4 November 2021