Rating: 
Summary: About time somebody spoke up about it
Review: I don't always agree with Phyllis Chesler, but I agree with a lot of what this book says. I've experienced very minor anti-Semitism myself, but enough to convince me that it's very real. Whenever I speak up for Israel or for Jews -- in my church (I'm a born-again Christian), in the newspaper, to friends -- the assumption is always made that it's genetic; that because I have a Jewish name I must be psychologically unable to do anything but support "the Jewish agenda" -- I can't possibly have arrived at my conclusions logically. God bless Phyllis Chesler for telling it like it is. You go, girl.
Rating: 
Summary: Needs extensive editing
Review: I had high hopes for this book, but the white heat Miss Chesler claims to have written it in apparently resulted in a poorly-written, disorganized, and sloppy work. While there is some interesting information here, it is almost lost in the fevered, jumbled prose. Assertions are made and left unsupported; a long passage is quoted in one chapter, the author apparently not realizing that it appeared earlier in her book. Moreover, Chesler fails to convince that much of what she cites as antisemitism is in fact that, and that there is anything new about the anti-Jewish prejudice that does exist today. I understand and sympathize with Chesler's disturbance at the disprtoportionate amount of criticism Israel receives, but she herself gives a good explanation for this which does not at all involve antisemitism: Israel, as an American client state, is a useful proxy for those who wish to attack America but for one reason or another cannot do so. To call this "antisemitism in effect" is silly; it is anti-Israelism in effect, to be sure, but doesn't necessarily translate into hatred of Jews.
Rating: 
Summary: Joanna come lately
Review: I picked this up the day after the European Union's tried to shelve its (in)famous report on anti-Semitism. That afternoon one could peruse a copy on the Internet. What upset the powers that be was the conclusion that the familiar centers of anti-Semitist - Slavic regions and rightwing folks - had been displaced by a new force that has considerable staying power. One of the most politically important developments lately is the alliance between Islamic radicals and the Left. Several nations including France, Germany and the Netherlands have succumbed to internal Muslim pressure in the areas of policy and the future appears only more of the same. The EU report notes that both of these groups have contributed to the current wave of anti-Jewish feelings sweeping the continent. What started out as legitimate concern about the plight of Palestinians developed over time into an open advocacy of the Palestinian agenda which, if implemented, would mean the dissolution of the state of Israel. The author assures us she is a feminist and a liberal. As such, her recognition of long-familiar events seems somewhat delayed, as if they were crossing her landscape for the first time. How long has academia been advancing toward a monolithic radical world view? How long has the European Left promoted the Arab cause? How long have Arab governments actively supported the notion of Jewish genocide? It's difficult retaining an ideology that embraces concern for the undertrodden while at the same time passionately embracing not only Israel's right to exist but her right to defend herself. But this is the task the author has set for herself. She includes a history of sorts that is mixed with occasional outrage and more than a little soul-searching. It's difficult to hide the fact that Israel's support comes mainly from the right (in the US) while its former backers - the Left, academia, Europe - have turned their back and are leading the charge against "Zionism". And what is the solution? The answer is reminiscent of comments by the talking heads post 9-11 on the "real" reasons behind the attack. We read all the buzz words - education, health care, removal of violence, poverty, etc. But these are insurmountable problems without freedom of expression and a change in outlook. Think of the interminable African food disasters and the one-time solutions that fail to address the central problems. Missing from the discussion is the observation that the Middle East is not as bad off as many areas in Africa and Asia but terrorism hails primarily from this area. It is not true that all Muslims are terrorists but it is true that almost all terrorists today are Muslims. What is most disturbing is that academia and other "progressive" voices have alligned themselves with the most regressive elements on the planet. And those for whom they advocate would be be the first to deny them the freedom they possess in the West...and in Israel. This book offers admirable history and analysis but ultimately fails to deliver more than pablum.
Rating:
Summary: A Great Book; A Book for the 21st Century
Review: I picked up this book almost by accident and was amazed by its content. I usually avoid contemporary books on politics. By one season later, they are usually outdated and short sighted. As new information comes in, our views on contemporary situations change. So it was a great surprise to me when I picked up this work on the New Anti-Semitism and was thuderstruck by the content, the documentation and the insights. Chesler, no Jane-come-lately to the political scene, has managed to write a passionate and at the same time insightful book about contemporary anti-Semitism. It is a hair-raising work because it shows that a major past ally of all oppressed peoples, the American left, has seen fit to support every government, every spokesperson, every petty dictatorship and every military movement so long as they comdemn Israel. Chesler does not stop with an analysis of Middle Eastern warfare and the Arab Nation's desire to push Israel into the sea, she takes on global anti-Semitism as it exists in Asia, Africa and America. She documents its reemergence in Europe. All in all this is a scary book. Unfortunately, it appears to be accurate. Unlike most authors, Chesler actually gives some suggestions, (at the book's end), of what people can do about anti-Semitism. This is not an easy read. While it is written in clear, understandable language and is easy to access, the message is at best grim and at worst catastrophic. This is an important book and my be her best.
Rating:
Summary: Depressing but true
Review: I should start by saying that while I'm not Jewish, I was raised in a part of New Jersey with a heavy Jewish influence. Due to my early friendships with Jews, anti-Semitism has always been a concern of mine. The main thesis of this book is that an episode of European history (the build up of anti-Semitism prior to the Holocaust) is repeating itself on the world stage. Just as a significant number of Europeans once projected their own sins onto their Jewish minorities, so do modern leftists in Europe and, to a lesser extent, the U.S., project their nations' present and former sins onto Israel. Thus, they root for Israel's destruction, for only then could Israel fulfill the duty of the scapegoat, which is to die in order to absolve the sins of others. Personally, I believe her assessment is dead-on. How else can we explain why Western intellectuals crucify Israel for relatively minor human rights abuses while routinely pardoning Arab nations for abuses far more severe? To her credit, Chesler is a clear and efficient writer. I've been spoiled, however, by women writers like Camille Paglia, and so I was a bored at times while reading this book. Also, Chesler doesn't penetrate deeply enough into the anti-Semitic psyche for me to give her book four stars. I was left wondering why: Why does so much hatred follow the Jews in particular? Why is anti-Semitism raising its hateful, deformed head in the West now, after decades of latency? And why do we have self-described queers marching for Palestine, a future-state whose people regularly torture and murder homosexuals, and against the very nation where Palestinian gays regularly seek refuge? This book is necessary (unfortunately) but it is not the definitive book on this subject. The rise of leftist anti-Semitism requires further exploration.
Rating:
Summary: Enormously important & desperately relevant. Please read it.
Review: I studied this thoroughly researched and well written book with a heavy heart. Having researched anti-Semitism (hatred of the Jews) for many years, my heart ached as I analysed this timely and relevant investigation which addresses a modern day, malevolent hostility thought by many to have been assigned to the history books. A subject addressed so eloquently and intensely that I found the book difficult to put down. The book describes how the state of Israel has itself become the "Jew of the World"; scorned, scapegoated, demonised, ghettoized and isolated as Jews once were in Europe and also whilst living under Islam. An attitude which is portrayed as having escalated since the Islamic terrorist attacks of September 11 2001 and which continues to fester due to political and media approach to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. The reader is provided with evidence that pulls no punches as to how this "new anti-Semitism" is cloaked under many different guises such as "anti-Zionism" and/or "anti-Israelism". However, when closely examined the study proclaims that the same hatred is discovered at it's core. A hatred, which includes all of it's ancient loathing, but is now found under new, more "politically correct labels". The book describes in considerable detail an attitude which is shown to saturate most media reporting of the Arab-Israeli conflict where Israel is condemned for daring to defend itself in accordance with the right afforded every Sovereign nation, whilst the same media entities simultaneously downplay or are silent about the suicide attacks and massacres of innocent Israeli civilians. On page 117, the source quotes former British leader Winston Churchill who stated, "A lie gets halfway around the World before the truth has a chance to get it's pants on". The reader is shown from the text how the media has pandered to the agendas of Palestinian extremists who in turn are cited as seeking exploitation of the media & preying on the fears of the public in order to alter their perception of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict through a series of half-truths and selective headlines where the State of Israel is frequently de-humanized whilst Palestinians are depicted as victims. Reference is also made early in the book to the public lynching of two Israeli reservists in Ramallah during 2,000, where Palestinian crowds were shown cheering in the street when those responsible for the atrocity proudly displayed their hands smeared with the blood of the Jewish victims. The reference highlights the utter lack of condemnation from the International media, intellectuals and International "human rights" groups. The study further addresses what are described here as the lies of this new anti-Semitism along with the partial truths, diabolical distortions and the underlying bias/hatred of most media entities which are specified as so permeating society that even learned scholars and journalists are shown to selectively use or distort facts to fit their own ideologies. An attitude that is characterised in this study as the "political equivalent" of the AIDS virus being unleashed in the World. This study further proclaiming a heartfelt fear from the source that if the daily violence and associated propaganda against the Jewish people is not effectively countered, then the Jews may again be sacrificed to a World again "gone mad" in pursuit of a "sacred scapegoat". From the text the reader is also shown how the Arab/Palestinian realm have as a more effective way of swaying World opinion now adopted "humanitarian terminology" in support of the "demands" of the Palestinians to replace former proclamations of carnage and obliteration, with the World press being described as functioning as Yasser Arafat's "private public relations firm". In comparing the attitudes of the media and the International Community in relation to other similar issues, the book also addresses how during the last decade whilst the Irish, Indian, Kashmiri and other "troubles" have continued to simmer, along with the genocidal atrocities in Iraq and the former Yugoslavia, these International political and media entities have not in the slightest way demonised the British, Irish, Hindus, Muslims, Hutus or the Serbs in the virulent manner focussed on the Jewish State of Israel. The reader may not agree with all the personal opinions of the source, but it is difficult not to grasp and appreciate the importance/magnitude of the fundamental issue at the core of this essential study. I would respectfully recommend the following books to those interested in this issue; "The Case For Israel" by Alan Dershowitz and "Peace; The Arabian Caricature. A Study of Anti-Semitic Imagery" by Arieh Stav.
Rating: 
Summary: What does a "no" vote really mean?
Review: I'm amazed by the extreme reactions this book has elicited.
Some reviewers don't seem to have read Chesler's book carefully; or maybe they chose to read the book they wish Chesler had written.
No, Chesler does not say she hid in a bunker after 9/11.
Nor is she wrong in claiming that Jews from India settled in Israel after 1948.
And no, this book is not in need of extensive editing. It's as taut a piece of writing as you'll ever find.
Most disturbing of all are the dozens of negative votes for the 5 star reviews. The question "Did you find this review helpful?" does not seem to be on readers' minds. What are readers voting against? Chesler's book? Or are people voting against the reviews themselves? ("How dare anyone give 5 stars to a pro-Israel book! I'll show them!) The positive reviews (4 or 5 stars) strike me as articulate and thoughtful, while the one star reviews seem incoherent and hateful.
Whether or not you agree with all of Chesler's claims, this book is still worth reading if only to find out what all the fuss is about.
Rating: 
Summary: Shrill Beyond Belief
Review: If you want a good idea what kind of slipshod research went into this book, check out the claim by Chesler that India is an Arab country. She also claims Burma is Muslim. Of course if you're advancing a crank theory (that anti-Semitism is on the rise in Europe), you need crank "facts". The Pew Center (a highly regarded public opinion survey group) did a study over the past couple years and found that anti-Semitism is substantially less today than a decade ago. Of course, Pew didn't poll the inhabitants of Arab India or Muslim Burma.
Rating:
Summary: True Bravery
Review: In a world of denial, Phyllis Chesler is my hero for telling the plain truth. Jew hatred is alive. The beast has risen from the grave which we thought contained it. And much to our surprise the prince whose kiss awakened it from its slumber is the Left and well meaning liberals. Ms. Chesler documents the rise of this new Jew hatred (which is in reality old wine in new bottles) in an engrossing account enlivened by the tale of her personal hegira from a "normal" leftist position to that of openness and realism. I could not put this book down, as horrified as I was by the dreadful news it conveys. A must read for Jews and non-Jews.
Rating:
Summary: courageous book
Review: In this book, Phyllis Chesler shows us that what too many call new anti-Zionism or legitimate criticism of Israel is really nothing other than good, old-fashioned anti-Semitism of the worst kind. Jews are murdered, cut up, their murderers dip their hands in their victims' blood and the media says nothing, nothing at all. A writer of Phyllis Chesler's stature, a woman who virtually created a strand of feminism, writes a book sympathetic to Jews and to Israel and she is shunned by her colleagues; dis-invited to lectures; her books no longer sell. All this because she, a woman who learned her feminism while married to an Afghani in Afghanistan wrote a book on anti-Semitism. Because she broke a taboo. These are chilling examples. But perhaps the most troubling (to me at least) chapter in this brilliant book was entitled "Modern Anti-Semitism before 9/11". Most of this chapter is a list really. Part of it for, example reads "On September 5, 1995, a terrorist broke into Daniel Frei's house in Ma'aleh Michmash. He was only 28 years old.... On November 13, 2000, two bombs exploded .... On January 22, 2002... Danny Pearl...." This chapter is 47 pages long. It covers terrorist attacks against Jews from 1920s till September 2001. These atrocities took place all over the world. And no-one said anything. Why? Because these attacks on Jews were not called pogroms; they were called attacks on Zionists. They were and are the new anti-Semitism. And the world's reaction is the old silence and consent.
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