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In Support of My Mayor

London.

Ken Livingstone was suspended on full salary as London mayor for a month yesterday for likening a Jewish newspaper reporter to a Nazi concentration camp guard. Once again, some basic human elementary liberties are sacrificed in defence of Jewish dignity. And the question to be asked is why do we surrender our elementary rights so easily? Why did a UK governmental watchdog suspend the adorable Mayor of London just for hurting the feelings of a journalist, who happens to be a Jew?

Indeed the Mayor was absolutely correct when expressing his outrage, “This decision strikes at the heart of democracy. Elected politicians should only be able to be removed by the voters or for breaking the law,” and went on to say, “Three members of a body that no-one has ever elected should not be allowed to overturn the votes of millions of Londoners.” My dearest Mayor, you are probably right, those three individuals do not express the will of the people. British Democracy indeed suffered a massive slam. Yet, as you should have learned by now, Jewish interests and sensitivities are ex-judicial. Moreover, they stand far above any recognised democratic order.

Seemingly, the Mayor was pretty good in his job. Londoners love their mayor, they re-elected him for a second term and probably will do the same for a third. Not only that, the Mayor is absolutely great at his job, as well as a fabulous educator. At a tine when PM Blair does his utmost to advance the so called ‘cultural clash’ into a state of a world war, it is Mayor Livingstone who spreads a message of peace and hope. A few months back, when London was hit by a devastating wave of terror, it was Livingstone who stood up spreading a message of reconciliation and love. Seemingly, it is Ken Livingstone, the one and only UK politician who has managed to internalise the real meaning of multi ethnicity and cultural pluralism. Being who he is, and saying what he says, the Mayor indeed made himself very many enemies within the rapidly darkening world of British politics.

Yet, the mayor enjoys the support of the people. I am totally convinced that Londoners will raise the necessary questions: Why exactly is our mayor suspended? Did he commit a crime? If he did, what exactly was the crime? Those Londoners who are still capable of critical ideological thinking may wonder why do we bin our so called democratic values for one idiotic rude journalist who happened to be a Jew.

While some of my intellectual allies would claim that the late undemocratic act in the heart of British democracy proves beyond doubt that ‘Jewish power’ is winning over, I am left doubtful. I am not convinced that Britain is run by Jews. However, I do believe that defending Jews and Jewish interests is something the British establishment imposes on itself.

I tend to believe that the pro Jewish acts we had witnessed yesterday in London, as well as last week in Austria, are not exactly a manifestation of some genuine pro Jewish feelings. In fact, it is the complete opposite. They are there to cover up some severe antagonism. The more ordinary Westerners disapprove of the Jewish state colonising Palestine, the more they feel contempt towards Zionism, the more they suspect the official Zionist historical narrative, the more they feel guilty about their scorn. To a certain extent, the more we hate inwardly, the more we support and empathise outwardly. Supporting Jewish interests is there to cover up a growing discomfort. This very pattern was rather apparent in Pre Nazi Germany. In case one insists on learning from the past, this is a clear historical lesson.

While British Jewish leaders complain about the emerging Anti Semitism within the kingdom, in general, I would suggest to them to be twice as concerned about their latest victory.

GILAD ATZMON was born in Israel and served in the Israeli military. He is the author of two novels: A Guide to the Perplexed and the recently released My One and Only Love. Atzmon is also one of the most accomplished jazz saxophonists in Europe. His recent CD, Exile, was named the year’s best jazz CD by the BBC. He now lives in London and can be reached at: atz@onetel.net.uk