Readers of LI are well aware that anti-Semitism has been on the rise in the U.S. and across Europe for many years. It seems that the media and politicians are starting to figure it out, too.
As is so often the case, however, they are focused very narrowly on the recent spate of attacks in and around New York City and fail to see the forest for the trees.
An example of this occurred this weekend when New York City mayor Bill de Blasio appeared on Fox News and blamed an “atmosphere of hate has been developing in this country over the last few years.” He went on to note, quite rightly, that a “lot of it is emanating from Washington and it’s having an effect on all of us.”
I doubt, however, that de Blasio means that the “atmosphere of hate” he sees “emanating from Washington” includes Democrats. Back in June, he infamously called anti-Semitism a “right-wing movement.”
The Hill reported at the time:
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio (D) on Tuesday dismissed the suggestion that the left has played any role in the rise of anti-Semitism, calling the issue a distinctly “right-wing movement.””I think the ideological movement that is anti-Semitic is the right-wing movement,” the 2020 presidential candidate said during a press conference about the rise in hate crimes in the city, according to the New York Post.“I want to be very, very clear, the violent threat, the threat that is ideological, is very much from the right,” he added.De Blasio also rejected the notion that there has been any rising anti-Semitism on the left with regard to the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement known as BDS, according to the newspaper.
Appearing on Fox News, however, de Blasio toned down the rhetoric and attempted to appear less partisan.
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio blames an “atmosphere of hate” for the recent increase in anti-Semitic attacks in his city and the surrounding areas, but in a Fox News interview, he passed at least some of the blame to the nation’s capital.De Blasio spoke about the ongoing problem the day after five people were stabbed at a rabbi’s house in nearby Rockland County during a Hanukkah celebration, and at least eight incidents took place in Brooklyn earlier this month.”We are in a crisis right now,” de Blasio said Sunday afternoon, adding, “What we’re seeing is a growth of anti-Semitism in this country that is profoundly dangerous. It is happening in Europe as well.”When it comes to his city, however, de Blasio has taken criticism from those who believe he is not doing enough to prevent the violence, or properly recognizing the problem. He was blasted by conservatives earlier this year when he claimed that anti-Semitism was a right-wing threat – even as members of his party such as Reps. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., and Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., have been hit with accusations of anti-Semitism over their past remarks.. . . . The mayor then shifted, appearing to lay blame at the feet of President Trump’s Republican administration.”An atmosphere of hate has been developing in this country over the last few years. A lot of it is emanating from Washington and it’s having an effect on all of us,” he said.When asked if he was blaming Trump, he said, “not just the president,” but said “we need a different tone, starting in Washington … that encourage this country to actually find some unity and some common ground” that he does not think the country has had in recent years.
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