Two years after the horrific
9/11 attacks on America, hateful conspiracy theories claiming the
attacks were actually carried about by Israelis and Jews continue
to gather force around the world, causing dangerous new mutations
of global anti-Semitism.
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL), concerned at how such rumors
continue to find acceptance despite two years of intensive efforts by
watchdog groups and democratic governments to combat them,
today issued a report coinciding with the second anniversary of the
attacks, documenting the continuing spread of 9/11 conspiracy
theories and the potential for this "Big Lie" to rationalize and fuel
global anti-Semitism.
According to the League's report, Unraveling Anti-Semitic 9/11
Conspiracy Theories, the canard of Jewish or Israeli involvement in
9/11 has gained widespread acceptance in the Arab and Muslim
world, parts of Europe and even in the United States.
"The 9/11 attacks have fueled an entire new genre of anti-Semitic
conspiracy theories leading to an environment where rumors about
Jews are finding acceptance in the mainstream," said Abraham H.
Foxman, ADL National Director. "As we gather to commemorate
the second anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, the Big Lie shows no
signs of diminishing. In fact, it is finding new acceptance every
day. That is not just disturbing, but tragic, because we cannot win
the war against terrorism without first winning over the hearts and
minds of people in the Arab World who accept anti-Semitic 9/11
conspiracies as fact. What's really needed is a concerted effort by
democratic nations to reject anti-Jewish conspiracies."
Unraveling Anti-Semitic 9/11 Conspiracy Theories documents how
anti-Semitic conspiracy theories about the attacks on the World
Trade Center and the Pentagon spread around the world with
lightening speed, ushered along with the help of global electronic
communications, especially the Internet and satellite television.
According to ADL, the rumors, while finding expression in the
media, speeches and in public statements, have also brought
together a disparate group of Jew-haters who are using the Big Lie
to fuel anti-Semitism.
"Never in the history of the Jewish people has one terrible lie about
'Jewish control' spread so quickly and with such power, captivating
not only those on the extreme fringe but the educated elite,
particularly in the Muslim and Arab word," said Mr. Foxman. "The
Big Lie has been repeated by imams, the press and government
officials in the Arab world, and is contributing to disturbing and
dangerous mutations in global anti-Semitism."
The League's report documents the spread of the Big Lie from the
first whisperings of blame against Jews in the immediate aftermath
of the attacks, to more recent manifestations and permutations.
Among the ADL's conclusions:
The Big Lie has united American far-right extremists and
white supremacists and elements within the Arab and
Muslim world that are exchanging and repeating information,
ideas and conspiracy theories.
The 9/11 conspiracy theories are essentially updated
versions of classical anti-Semitic canards, claming that
Jews are inherently evil and intent on manipulating and
controlling world events to their own benefit. It is essentially
a modern manifestation of the anti-Semitic, "Protocols of the
Elders of Zion," the infamous 19th century Russian forgery
that purported to map out a Jewish conspiracy for world
domination.
September 11 conspiracies have spawned an entire industry
that includes anti-Semitic books, pamphlets, videotapes,
Web sites and speakers.
9/11 conspiracies have laid the foundation for the
proliferation of similar conspiracy theories about other global
disasters. For example, some conspiracy theorists claim
Israel was complicit in the destruction of Space Shuttle
Columbia and suggest that shuttle astronaut Col. Ilan
Ramon was actually a "spy" for Israel. Others blame Jews
and Israelis for "pushing" the U.S. into war against Saddam
Hussein.
The accusation that Jews plotted the attacks has fueled
more traditional canards about Jews, including those
claiming that Jews have a "master plan" for world
domination, and that Jews use the blood of non-Jews to
make holiday breads and pastries (blood libel).
