I realise that, for all the obvious reasons, many British Jews are now contemplating leaving the land where they were born. For those individuals who for one reason or another do not want to go to Israel or the U.S., I can highly recommend Canada as an alternative: the Jewish community is large (larger than the UK's even though Canada's total population is much smaller*) and growing; Canada's economy is extremely healthy**; anti-Semitism is, for the most part, no longer a problem; there is much support for Israel, especially, and most importantly, in the media and the federal and provincial governments.

* UK Jewish population, 2005: 302,207
Canada Jewish population, 2005: 393,660

Source: Jewish Virtual Library

* UK total population, July 2006 est.: 60,609,153
Canada total population, July 2006 est.: 33,098,932

Source: CIA World Factbook

** UK GDP - per capita (PPP), 2005 est.: $30,300
Canada GDP - per capita (PPP), 2005 est.: $34,000

Source: CIA World Factbook

Sorry Joshua, those pieces were for the British and the pro-Israelis to comment on. However:

1) “Quite obviously you consider such a piece "the most even-handed" because it is the piece that most accords with your own deeply-held prejudices.”
No – because it accords most closely with the reality [not the distorted vision from a Rabbi’s understandably slanted crash course in history, which appears to be your only source].

2) “Ah, if Jews write a history of events in which they themselves have been involved, you suggest, then such a history cannot be trusted - cannot be "even-handed." ”
Well how could it be, in a highly emotive context? This was the whole Richard III debate – whose version was to be believed?

3] “If anything proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that you are an anti-Semite it is your statement above.”
Are you aware that anti-Semite does not mean against Jews? The word you are looking for is ‘antiSemite’, which is what Stephen uses.
Not only are you ignorant of Jewish history [outside of a crash course], your attempt at Yiddish was inaccurate in the other post, you don’t keep the Sabbath, you don’t know that to write the word G-d in full is sacrilegious in an internet context because it affords people the opportunity to cut and paste, you didn’t even recognize the Hebrew I’d included – so what actually do you know about Judaism?
The answer, of course, is zilch.

4] “The most damning quote in the piece comes from Abba Eban who was Israel's most internationally distinguished and respected politicans for many decades. [Your opinion]. ”
Even so – he can’t be taken as unbiased, no matter how distinguished the man might be. This is basic research theory.

5] “I shall be posting more short pieces about the wickedness and duplicity of the British.”
Oh wonderful – and who’ll be reading them apart from me – the last person who bothers with you? Have you considered that you have also passed up your right to remain in Britain, under the terms ‘incitement to religious hatred’?

6] Your employer (given he actually exists) displays an ignorance of history and reality that is truly breathtaking.
Yes Joshua – that’s why he’s in the position he’s in and why he’s visited by western ambassadors [eg. The U.S. in March] to find out the secret of peaceful co-existence. Of course he has his own slant on history – he’s Muslim – but that’s not what I was talking about. I was asking how can he and the government maintain good inter-faith relations over here and people such as yourself and in the Middle-East cannot?

7] Your attempts to vilify me are along the lines of the atheist who posted some time back called himself ‘Indecent Left’. Short on logic and when there were no actual arguments – deny and personally vilify.

To the other commenters – hopefully we can get past this man’s inflammatory remarks designed to destroy good relations with Jewry and acceptance of the Israeli viewpoint and I look forward to reading your rational remarks on the situation. Keep up the good work.

Sorry - in 3] above, it was a typo. It should have read 'antisemite'. Incidentally, have you been to Canada, Joshua? I lived one year in Vancouver, on the north shore. Wonderful climate. shall I send you the immigration forms? I still have some left.

Thought this might interest you [about the Stern gang]:

Kidnappings, beatings, murders and hangings:

http://www.britains-smallwars.com/Palestine/kidnap.htm

The conclusion:

"There are many more recorded incidents like these. It has to be said that the measure of restraint show by the British forces in Palestine, who were faced by these acts of terrorism, was of the highest standards."

I can show you the exact opposite, as well, where the British are the baddies. All it proves is that there are moderates and then there are extremists on all sides, and that history is very, very suspect.

Here's another, written by a Jew:

http://www.spectacle.org/495/deir.html

"A country founded in blood--built on the backs and the corpses of a group of its inhabitants--is badly off-balance and will never recover, if it does not undertake a terrible soul-searching, a flight from violence and lies."

I didn't write it. I don't even agree with it. I said I'm behind Israel and I am. Plus I'm seriously considering going there for a holiday in October with a Jewish colleague of mine. She's asked me, which kind of puts paid to the accusations of antisemitism, doesn't it? Will you join us or will you stay safe in Canada?

James

Interesting posts - thanks.