Anti-Semitism in Afghanistan?

Kathy Gannon, a Canadian reporter,(gannon.kathy@gmail.com), has chosen to publiclu dialogue with me about Anti-Semitism in Afghanistan. Here is our latest exchange:

From: Richard Gordon <gordonr@cc.umanitoba.ca>
Date: January 4, 2009 8:28:52 AM CST (CA)
To: Kathy Gannon <gannon.kathy@gmail.com>

cc: ...
Subject: Re: Anti-Semitism in Afghanistan?

Dear Kathy,
Of course, all that criticism of Palestine should not be termed as Islamaphobic. Let me suggest a few more substitutions in the following news item:
cleric > rabbi
America > Saudi Arabia & Iran
Israel > Palestine
Jews > Muslims
*****
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/01/02/world/main4695928_page2.shtml
A rabbi who spoke to the crowd said Afghans supported a "holy war" against Palestine, in support of the Israeli people. The rabbi condemned Iran and Saudi Arabia?s support of Palestine and led the crowd in chants of "Death to Saudi Arabia and Iran" and "Death to Palestine."

Leaders at the Afghan protest asked the crowd for volunteers to help in an Israel fight against Palestine.

Asadullah Shahid, a protestor, said he had gathered to condemn the Palestinian attacks and "announce our support to innocent Israelis."

Another, Sayed Mushtaba, said that all "Afghan youths will stand against Palestine, Iran, Saudi Arabia and Muslims till the last drop of their blood and we will defend Israel."
*****
There are, after all, a few Afghan Jews left in Afghanistan, and some of those who are now Afghan Israelis are probably in the IDF on the ground in Gaza. As I recall from your book:

Gannon, K. (2005). I Is for Infidel: From Holy War to Holy Terror: 18 Years Inside Afghanistan. New York, PublicAffairs. http://www.KATHYGANNON.net

and many other sources, Pashtuns were Jews a few centuries ago, so my substitutions are not far fetched. And I suspect that we can all agree that anti-Semitism has been imported or injected into Afghanistan over the last few decades, and is not an ingrained attitude. Therefore I regard it as the responsibility of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Government and the Afghan press to do their own thinking about the roles of Jews in Afghanistan, past and present, and its bearing on their attitudes towards the Palestine/Israel conflict. Their silence and one-sided public statements condone extremism and racism.
Yours, -Richard Gordon

Dr. Richard Gordon, cell: (204) 995-7125
U. Manitoba, Department of Radiology
Scientist, TRLabs & MICH, Books With Wings (http://www.bookswithwings.ca)
http://www.umanitoba.ca/faculties/medicine/radiology/stafflist/rgordon.html
gordonr@cc.umanitoba.ca, Second Life®: Paleo Darwin

On Jan 3, 2009, at 10:54 PM, Kathy Gannon wrote:

Dear Richard and Khaleel
i just want to weigh in on this briefly to say to all that criticism
of Israel should not be termed as anti-semetic. sadly the world in
which we live in has made those who criticize subject to labels. there
is no excuse, justification, explanation for anti-semitism or
islamophobia or anything else.
But i think we really have to re-examine ourselves as a human society
where we do not criticize __regardless of who is doing it __ the
practice of target killings of people who we say are wanted criminals,
terrorists (however you want to label them). the right thing to do is
to go in and arrest and put them on trial. Sadly it has become
acceptable to accuse those being targeted of hiding behind women and
children (even when it is their own children) so that we can justify
hitting them.
Take out of the equation Israel and just put in any other country and
then judge what is happening in the middle east.
don't stop people from expressing their opinions or demonstrating and
don;t think that because they criticize it is anti-semetic because it
isn't. Whether Jewish or Muslim or Christian we all have to feel free
to speak out when we think something is unfair or wrong.
i don;t want to get into a big back and forth i just wanted to say
this and leave it at that.
wishing all a new year of possibilities, peace and kindness and
greater compassion for all
cheers
kathy

From: "Kathy Gannon" <gannon.kathy@gmail.com>
Date: January 3, 2009 9:59:47 PM CST (CA)
To: "Richard Gordon" <gordonr@cc.umanitoba.ca>
Subject: Re: Anti-Semitism in Afghanistan?

as you say Dick and as you quote Zalmay as saying balance is so
necessary and i think both sides have to be open to rethinking and
understanding the meaning of balance and the value of all human lives
in the region.
take care
Kathy