Something about Drancy:

http://www.jewishgen.org/ForgottenCamps/Camps/DranEngl.html

Stephen, this isn't the first time I've seen you do a post that looked almost identical to one that another blogger had already done. In this case, I think you'll have a hard time convincing me or anyone else that you didn't get this idea either from Adloyada or from whomever gave it to Judy (she hat-tips someone called "MA"; perhaps you saw it there, wherever that is, but you should be similarly correct). Adloyada's post has been up for most of the day, so that's that. The blogosphere doesn't work the way MSM does -- you can't run something that someone already posted elsewhere without acknowledging that. MSM editors do that but bloggers don't. And you don't want to get a reputation for failing to hat-tip. Sure, you added a little something to what's on Adloyada, but nothing substantial enough to make this yours. And anyway, France isn't the most antisemitic country in Europe; the UK is, followed closely by Poland and Greece. The French establishment hates Israel, but no more passionately than do the British civil-service and chattering classes.

I'm the person who sent this item to both Stephen and Adloyada. Invariably I send stories to just one blogger, but occasionally I send them out to a number of different bloggers (very rarely, a story, as here, gets picked up by more than one individual). Stephen had no knowledge I had passed the same story to Adloyada (the delightful A added little to the story apart from a small flourish). He has never hat-tipped me in public and I don't seek such recognition. My only concern is that the story gets out there. In private, Stephen has behaved with the grace and charm that I understand is his personal hallmark.

Incidentally, you are talking almost total nonsense about anti-Semitism in Europe. The kind of murderous anti-Semitism that is only too common in Central and Eastern Europe is almost unknown in Britain. There is much more I could add, but after today's awful news from Israel I just want to go and listen to some Blossom Dearie and chill out.

Paul, the British in general are not anti-Jewish. But the mandarins in the FO - Arabists every one - most certainly are, as are their counterparts at State.

I'm happy to see that both the similarity to Adloyada and the lack of a hat tip are so satisfactorily explained.

As to my observations about British loathing of Israel being "almost total nonsense", I very much doubt they are that but I would rather concede this point than spend any time debating it, so voilà, it's yours if you like. Just one thing - Verity, I didn't mean "the British in general", I mean (as I believe I indicated in some way) the media, the civil service, and other "educated" and influential denizens of London's media-political-cultural complex.

"I'm happy to see that both the similarity to Adloyada and the lack of a hat tip are so satisfactorily explained."

Perhaps this has taught you a valuable lesson. The very next time you think about getting on your high horse to issue ridiculous condemnations to your betters, maybe you will try to find out the facts first.

"As to my observations about British loathing of Israel being "almost total nonsense", I very much doubt they are that"

Your powers of comprehension are almost non-existent.