It is no secret that columnist, journalist, and self-proclaimed “liberal Zionist” Peter Beinart is an Israel basher. He does it with aplomb, all while arguing that anti-Zionism isn’t anti-Semitism.
But his own mask seems to be slipping, revealing what lurks beneath. And it ain’t pretty.
Beinart tweeted the following to Brigitte Gabriel, a voracious critic of Islam, presumably in the wake of the latest Islamic terror attack in Britain.
hey @ACTBrigitte, I know u think Koran is uniquely murderous + Jews dislike violent texts. But we just celebrated a holiday called Purim…
— Peter Beinart (@PeterBeinart) March 22, 2017
Leaving aside the fact Beinart is wrong to compare what we celebrate on Purim (our salvation from a program of extermination) with Islamic terrorism (pursued to establish an Islamic Caliphate to usurp Western civilization), there is no question he is attacking Judaism here. Not Israel. Not Zionism.
When Brigitte Gabriel points out the absurdity of his comparison, Beinart changes tact, reverting to his Israel bashing.
we do. And luckily, there's nothing violent about a military occupation that denies millions of Palestinians basic rights for 50 years
— Peter Beinart (@PeterBeinart) March 22, 2017
Of course, Beinart is himself Jewish. And he speaks out against antisemitism (while defending Sharia law).
for centuries anti-semites said about halacha what anti-Muslim bigots like you say about sharia. Opposing you is how I honor that memory
— Peter Beinart (@PeterBeinart) March 22, 2017
Does that mean he can’t be antisemitic? Perhaps yes, perhaps not. In any event, there is no doubt his latest comments demonstrate his contempt for Jewish belief – which might very well provide context for his Israel bashing.