An academic recently mentioned to me of a conference he attended some twenty years back. Also attending the conference was Australia's foremost academic historian of Islamic history, the late Professor Syed Athar Abbas Rizvi of the Australian National University.

The academic told me of the respect shown to Professor Rizvi by all except one person at the conference.

"Rizvi is such a humble and quiet old chap. We were all listening attentively to his workshop. But there was this fellow named Israeli who was terribly rude to Rizvi, badgering him at every available opportunity."

Twenty years later, Professor Raphael Israeli of Hebrew University in Jerusalem is again ruffling the feathers of Australians. This time, Israeli's antics have managed to get even the most die-hard supporters of Israel off side.

Israeli was invited to be scholar-in-residence by the Shalom Institute, a respected Jewish educational body attached to the University of New South Wales in Sydney. Part of his role was to deliver a series of lectures on Islamic history. He made the headlines of one sector of the Australian print media after he was cited in the Australian Jewish News for making grossly Muslim-phobic remarks during an interview.

Immediately following the publication of his remarks, Jewish community leaders acted swiftly to disassociate themselves from Israeli. The Australia-Israel Jewish Affairs Council (AIJAC), a prominent pro-Israeli lobby group, was co-hosting many of Professor Israeli's programs. They immediately issued a press release stating they would no longer be co-hosting Israeli's future engagements.

The CEO of the Sydney-based New South Wales Jewish Board of Deputies, Vic Alhadeff, also acted swiftly to condemn the remarks, though his organisation's President provided some guarded defence to Israeli in a letter to the Sydney Morning Herald.

Some Jewish organisations continue to support Israeli's tour, citing academic freedom and freedom of speech concerns. However, it would be grossly unfair to suggest Israeli has the support of the majority of Australian Jews as he claims. When it comes to Islamophobia, Jewish opinion seems strongly divided.

Muslim responses were generally muted, with many Muslim leaders apparently hoping the issue would be buried as soon as possible (more on that later). Islamic Council of Victoria spokesman and Melbourne lawyer Waleed Aly elegantly disentangled Israeli's argument in the Melbourne Age on 19 February 2007.

Outside the semi-official Muslim leadership, some were comparing the relative silence (if not support) of a number of prominent News Limited papers in relation to Raphael Israeli's remarks to their overblown reporting and commentary on the offensive remarks on Sheik Hilaly.

Also worthy of comparison was the relative silence of some Australian politicians quick to hold Australian Muslims collectively accountable for Hilaly when so many Muslims (leaders and otherwise) condemned his remarks forthrightly.

Some Australian politicians are adept at using even the most minor incidents to take cheap shots at Muslims for short term electoral gain. They are frequently joined by regular contributors to some of Rupert Murdoch's News Limited papers.

Yet these same politicians are happy to join forces with just about every wacky fringe group preaching hatred in the name of Christianity. It isn't uncommon for people to compare John Howard's attacks on Muslims who allegedly don't integrate to his government's support for the Exclusive Brethren sect whose religion regards such integration as sinful.

The entire Israeli incident also brought out the conspiracy of silence among many peak Muslim organisations in Australia. It was ironic that Muslims could look to Jewish leaders and Jewish community media for more leadership than to imams or mosque presidents. Most Muslim organisational heads were much too occupied with getting their dirty hands on the halal meat certification dollars that would flow following the elections of the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils (AFIC).

(Readers will remember that AFIC is the peak Muslim body in Australia. It is a federation of state and territory Islamic councils, and derives a fair portion of its income from halal meat certification and export. AFIC was the body which appointed Sheik Hilaly as Mufti of Australia & New Zealand, without bothering to consult the New Zealand peak Muslim body, the almost equally media-unsavvy FIANZ, Muslim communities were left open to criticism because AFIC was unable to sack Hilaly due to it being under a court-appointed administrator.)

Sadly, some online Muslim discussion on the Israeli affair has shown that some young Muslims lack the political and media sophistication required to deal with these issues. Sadly, these were the same young Muslims who formed the vanguard of Sheik Hilaly, defending Muslims at all costs and even for the wrong reasons. Sadly, things don't get much better with each generation.

I read the AJN article to which you linked, and extracted this quote from Prf. Israeli: "For example, in France, already 10 per cent of the population is Muslim, and maybe there itís already at the point of no return ñ what can they do with six million people... they control whole sections of the economy, there are areas in France where you cannot be elected to Parliament without the support of the Muslims and so on. And therefore, by increasing their numbers they start to have an impact on the social, economic, and political and cultural nature of the country."

First of all I don't like him. As a Jew, he should be much more sensitive to phrases in the above passage, like "at the point of no return" in reference to "what can they do with six million people." For god's sake, they can learn to live with them! What does he envision, expulsion? Worse?

Secondly, speaking of "whole sections of the economy" and the political power of the constituency, he should know that these comments are equally apt to describe Jews in America and many Western nations. Essentially, his rhetoric is xenophobic and easily transferrable to any minority presence by any reactionary, 'maintstream' voice.

Nice comment, Jakey.

I know it can be surprisingly difficult to transcribe an interview exactly, but I'd like to see the whole transcript, since the interviewer obviously had trouble (perhaps it was the accent?) understanding Israeli's responses. Assuming the transcript is correct and the entire "relevant" portion, I'll continue:

1) The suffix label "-phobic" is generally applied to people who suffer from unreasonable fears. Israeli, however, backed up his fears with facts that remain unchallenged and suggestions that remain unanswered. The only reply seems to be that by saying what he did, the man was somehow being rude.

2) I note carefully that in contrast to the panic-stricken AIJAC press release, Israeli never said the Muslim community "as a whole" was a threat or danger, rather that the extremists can melt into the Muslim community and then cannot be located, so the entire Muslim communities become subject to distinctive security restrictions. (He speaks only of the present, but since he's a historian, he probably has past examples in mind.)

Therefore it seems condemning Israeli for these remarks is unjustified, and only makes sense in the culture of "political correctness" - something AIJAC feels the need to adhere to.

3) The reason for the "conspiracy of silence" issue is not made clear. In Muslim cultures where militants are active, one holds one's tongue out of fear for one's life, property, or family. I don't think that's the case in Australia. I speculate that the reason for the silence has more to do with the confusion of the ideological battle Muslims themselves are experiencing. I'd like to know what Yusuf meant when he wrote that phrase.

4) Yes, I'm sure there is good money in food certification. Jews and Muslims typically cooperate on kashrut matters, and kosher certification organizations have been around a lot longer that halal ones, so it is only natural for imams to consult with "Jewish leaders" (probably rabbis who specialize in kashrut) about establishing fully separate halal certification.

5) I see no evidence in the linked article to support the assertion that "young Muslims lack the political and media sophistication".

Since Yusuf's concerns appear unreasonable, isn't he the one who is guilty of Islamophobia? Not only in the sense of fear of the religion's practices, but of Muslims themselves?

Unfortunately this Raphael Israeli character sounds downright tame compared to the typical nutjobs in the jewish community.
Mark Steyn, another jew has proposed a "final solution" for Muslims in Europe. Somebody seems to have forgotten the aroma of gas chambers....

BushTerrorWarForMakeBenefitGloriousNationOfIsrael, aside from the fact that you have a hilarious alias, how would you feel if someone used the phrase "typical nutjobs in the Muslim community?" How would other mulsims on this site feel? Let's try and elevate the discourse.

Solomon2, I'm having major trouble understanding how you can reason that Yusuf is actually guilty of Islamophobia. I disagree with your assertion in point 2, that Israeli does not refer to the community "as a whole," but at least I understand that one. I'm drawing a blank about Yusuf being an islamophobe.

>BushTerrorWarForMakeBenefitGloriousNationOfIsrael, aside from the fact that you have a hilarious alias, how would you feel if someone used the phrase "typical nutjobs in the Muslim community?" How would other mulsims on this site feel? Let's try and elevate the discourse.<

There are plenty of nasty things being said about Muslims, especially from people of Mr.Israelis creed. The difference is jewish extremism and racism is mainstream and accepted as part of what pases for discourse, while the Muslim equivalent isnt. Thats the difference and gist of this article.

Jakey, I think Yusuf is scared of Muslims, specifically Muslims who have contacts with religious Jews and young (how does he know their age?) Muslims who he deems aren't "sophisticated" enough to deal with Israeli's issues the way he wants. These are his justifications for accusing "peak Muslim organizations" of "the conspiracy of silence" [emphasis added].

Maybe it isn't a "phobia". Maybe Yusuf is simply envious: of the opportunities available to Muslim youth and the possible future wealth of imams as skilled in food science as they are with the Koran and hadiths.

But he would never admit to envy now, would he? So he accuses these people of being dirty, of ignorance, and participating in some dark conspiracy instead.

Look carefully and you'll see that Yusuf offers no evidence to his readers of these things; he just expects his words to be accepted, because it will make those who aren't as rich or fortunate feel better. Our Muslim Borat's words above are penned in nearly the same spirit.

>Our Muslim Borat's words above are penned in nearly the same spirit.<

I checked your blog out Soly, and I must say, it sucks out loud. Lame even by neocon standards. Anybody devolved enough to link to the likes of Michelle Malkin and the self proclaimed terrorist "American warmonger" would have to admire this Raphael character and card carrying extremist jewish nutjob this side of Meir Kahane.
Otherwise your repeated shilling for this bigot and attacks on the author are pathetic, if not laughable.

See what I mean, Jakey? (I swear I didn't put Borat Boy up to this!) He thinks arguments should be won on the basis of his personal attacks upon the delivery boy and his associates, not the content of the message.

>He thinks arguments should be won on the basis of his personal attacks upon the delivery boy and his associates, not the content of the message.<

The above statement describes your attacks on Irfan Yusuf very well. You should be a comedian when you aren't being a supporter of terrorism.
Perhaps even look at the mirror once in a while but I doubt there would much of a reflection.

There is a difference. I used evidence and reasoned argument to analyze and question Yusef's opinions. I did not apply any labels blindly, without presenting facts to support them, as you have done.

In Borat Boy's approach, as well as Yusef's, they rely on accusations of ignorance to hide the fact that they are the ones guilty of promoting ignorance - by denying their readers facts!

(The one part of Borat Boy's rant I liked was when he accused me of being "devolved". That was cute! If I was still in college I'd show it to the girls, thump my chest, and they'd be sure to swoon over me! :) )

>I used evidence and reasoned argument to analyze and question Yusef's opinions. I did not apply any labels blindly, without presenting facts to support them, as you have done.<

Do tell. You haven't shown us anything but your third rate hit job on the author of this piece. You're just upset that yet another one of your jewish extremist comrades has plainly said what you all think anyway. Whats the matter? Afraid of losing that image of a tiny beleagured minority suffering from perpetual bouts of victimhood? What a predictable neocon crybaby.


>I'd show it to the girls, thump my chest, and they'd be sure to swoon over me! <

I didn't know South Park was still on TV.

BB, am I talking about Jews? I'm defending the Muslims whom Yusuf is degrading!

(Don't know anything about South Park, sorry.)

>I'm defending the Muslims whom Yusuf is degrading!<

Oh come of it SoloMOAN, Yusuf isn't degrading Muslims at all. He's calling bulls*** on Israeli's comments which even pro-Israeli groups have condemned.
You're here for damage control, and doing a rather lame and forced job of it.

Solomon2, I mix with many people of Jewish faith/background/heritage, both in professional and personal capacities.

I fail to see how you could conclude Israeli's hysterical remarks were not intended toward all Muslims. Perhaps you might read the letter he sent to the fruitcakes from JihadWatch.com in which he referred to "the Muslim thugs".

BTWFMBGNOI, Mark Steyn is in fact NOT Jewish. His father was Jewish but not his mum, and he attends a church regularly in the United States.

irfy, please be specific. Which remarks were "hysterical", exactly? If the JihadWatch stuff was so important, why didn't you mention it in this article?

>irfy, please be specific.<

How about you quit beating around the busg and come out and say it, you support Raphael Israeli's extremist views.

NO one beside Solomon2 is making any factual posts or detailed rebuttal in this string.

>NO one beside Solomon2 is making any factual posts or detailed rebuttal in this string.<

Only a jewish extremist like you would find any sense in solomoan's nonsense, AbuIthinkiamsocleversogooglemydeepandmyirreleventname.