Rupert Murdoch, the Australian-born CEO of News Corp who owns a range of TV networks and newspapers including ‘Fox’ and the ‘New York Post’, has decried the "ongoing war against the Jews" and demanded an end to efforts to isolate Israel. Accepting an award from the Anti-Defamation League "for his stalwart support of Israel and his commitment to promoting respect and speaking out against anti-Semitism,” Murdoch described the phenomenon of delegitimizing Israel as a "soft war" which he said has now entered a "new phase."
“This is the soft war that seeks to isolate Israel by delegitimizing it," Murdoch told attendees at the New York dinner where he was bestowed the organization’s International Leadership Award. "The battle ground is everywhere – the media, multinational organizations, NGOs. In this war, the aim is to make Israel a pariah.”
Murdoch told participants at the dinner that signs were abounding of rising anti-Semitism, particularly from elements on the Left under the guise of legitimate criticism of Israel. “When Americans think of anti-Semitism, we tend to think of the vulgar caricatures and attacks of the first part of the 20th century,” Murdoch said. “Now it seems that the most virulent strains come from the left. Often this new anti-Semitism dresses itself up as legitimate disagreement with Israel.”
The 79-year-old continued to say: “Some believe that if America wants to gain credibility in the Muslim world and advance the cause of peace, Washington needs to put some distance between itself and Israel. My view is the opposite. Far from making peace more possible, we are making hostilities more certain. Far from making things better for the Palestinian people, sour relations between the United States and Israel guarantees that ordinary Palestinians will continue to suffer. The peace we all want will come when Israel feels secure – not when Washington feels distant.”
Read an edited version of Murdoch’s speech on the website of the ‘Jerusalem Post’.
