Thank you Mark Anthony Falzon for rebutting the anti-Semitic comments posted on Facebook by Charlie Azzopardi, a far more decent stance than that of Family and Social Solidarity Minister Michael Farrugia, who simply stated the views were not his and he should not get involved in someone else’s opinion.
As one at the butt of Mr Azzopardi’s remarks I naturally take offence but, as is so often the case, I suspect they are made out of ignorance of the facts and are a knee-jerk reaction to one-sided reports he has seen in the media.
If Malta were surrounded by enemies with a combined population exceeding 36 times its own, who continually fire rockets and send suicide terrorists onto the island to kill and maim innocent civilians, what reaction from his government would Mr Azzopardi expect?
As one of a mere 16 million Jews worldwide – yes, less than 0.02 per cent of the world’s people are Jewish – and having lost six million souls in the Holocaust, Mr Azzopardi’s statement that “this is the cruelty by people who are supposed to know what genocide is” is both insensitive and factually incorrect.
The Jews in Europe were killed as a deliberate policy of genocide. Israel’s actions in Judea and Samaria are a legitimate response to terrorist provocation. The recent atrocities in Tel-Aviv are a further example. Four innocent people were shot dead, bringing to 34 the Israeli lives lost in the past year alone from terrorism emanating from the Palestinian territories.
Mr Azzopardi’s statement that “wherever they (the Jews) go there is bloodshed and war” is insulting and inflammatory. Firstly, for the past 2,000 years or so since the expulsion from their historic homeland in Israel the Jews had never had an army, and indeed have been one of the most pacifist of nations. Usually we are found at fault for not having put up greater resistance to the Holocaust far from being cast in the role of aggressor.
Now, thank heavens that we are restored to our homeland, an act voted upon by the United Nations in 1948, giving Israel the same legitimacy as any country in the world, we do have an army to protect worldwide Jewry. I am proud to say they have the reputation of being one of the most careful armies in avoiding civilian collateral damage. They go out of their way to publicise future raids by dropping leaflets and other means, putting their own troops at risk.
Shakespeare’s Shylock, another anti-Semitic canard, famously said: “If you prick us do we not bleed and if you wrong us shall we not revenge?” The truth is, unlike many a people, for thousands of years now we have not sought revenge but quietly suffered the humiliation of anti-Semitism. Israel and the Jews are peace-loving and nothing is closer to their hearts than to live in harmony in their small ancient homeland. Mr Azzopardi needs to learn the distinction between self-protection and aggression, and then he needs to show greater sensitivity towards those he insults.
Malta has a historical record of great kindness to the Jews and it is disappointing to see this blemished by the intemperate remarks of one misinformed individual.