Jews Fear of Hatred Far from Being Paranoia

In late January of this year, while addressing a conference on antisemitism, in Jerusalem, Israeli Prime Minister

Benjamin "Bibi" Netanyahu returned to one of his popular themes: the world war against Jews. He also has referred to it, as a theme: the world war against the Jewish state.

Netanyahu's phraseology, "world war against the Jews," was heavily covered in the Hebrew press and the U.S. media.

To paraphrase the theme developed by the prime minister: they want to destroy the West as we know it. And they agree on one thing.

What is the thing that they agree on?

World war against the Jew.

That is: to wage global war, against both Jews and the Jewish state.

Netanyahu further explained that we are witnessing a nexus of the radical left and of Islamic extremists, "And for the radical Muslims, they are right, because there would be no West in the Middle East if the Jewish state is eradicated.

There would be no obstacle for the further invasion of Europe if the Jewish state doesn't exist. And it also appeals to their internal hatred of the Jews, which has common roots with antisemitism over the centuries."

A few days later, also in Jerusalem, this time at a meeting with a delegation of European parliamentarians,

Netanyahu expounded upon his by now familiar to all theme and explained that "The Western Judeo-Christian civilization is under attack.

"This is an effort carried out not by radical Islam alone, but in collaboration with forces which you know well: the deep radical left and the Islamists, who in theory should be rivals, but are united by one thing – the hatred of Israel and the Jews."

Bibi is correct. There are very strong factors in the world that are, simultaneously, uniting to destroy Jews and to attack the foundations of western society.

There are those who brush off Netanyahu; who tend to think that Jews and Israel have an obsession about the Holocaust and antisemitism.

They are also convinced that Israel, lovers of Israel and Jews see Jew hatred behind every tree, looking for any excuse to bring it up.

In many instances, those holding such beliefs are correct.

The phrases "Even paranoids have real enemies" and "Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they aren't after you," although ideas developed by Sigmund Freud, are nowhere to be found in his writings.

These pithy lines may have originated with the poet Delmore Schwartz in the late 1960s, then addtionally popularized by U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger.

In a similar vein, another expression popularized by Kissinger and touching on the same topic centers on "Israel's Masada Complex."

The complex is one in which Jews see themselves as being perpetually attacked, surrounded and about to be destroyed.

The expression emerged in the 1970s.

In 1973, the Hebraist and literary critic Robert Alter wrote a now famous article in Commentary Magazine with that title.

Some say it was created by the Israeli essayist and historian Amos Elon.

In that Commentary piece, Alter notes that then Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir herself used the phrase and, in further elaboration also said, "We do have a Masada complex. We have a pogrom complex. We have a Hitler complex."

It's obvious to historians, politicians, writers and thinkers that a significant aspect of Jewish identity, and for that matter Israel's identity, is one of persecution and survival.

But . . . that doesn't mean the threats aren't real.

And today, they are more so than in the past eight decades since World War II ended:

—Attacks on Jews globally are real.

—made by Hamas and Hezbollah to destroy the Jewish State are real.

—The danger of a nuclear Iran is very real.

Thus, Netanyahu speaks not only for himself, but also for the people whom he governs and the people whom he represents. Obviously, Israel has friends and allies.

And, of course, individual Jews have non-Jewish friends and partners.

But the prime minister's phraseology is appropriately voiced at a more than appropriate time.

Jews around the world and in Israel harp on the dramatic rise in Jew hatred around the world because they’re not only concerned, but they’re also scared.

The strange confluence of radical left Islamic extremism forging partnerships with groups that should be enemies is as confusing as it is frightening.

They unite over only one agenda item and that item is their joint hatred of Jews.

Jewish and Israeli paranoia is real, they do have enemies, real enemies who are armed and ready to go to war to wipe them of the face of the earth.

Micah Halpern is a political and foreign affairs commentator. Follow him on Twitter @MicahHalpern. Read more Micah Halpern Insider articles — Click Here Now.