What they think about Jews in Saudi Arabia (Iqra TV)

Of course, we all know that claims about the prevalence of virulent anti-semitism in much of the contemporary Muslim world are just imaginary fabrications (or else that anti-Jewish feelings are "understandable," after all ... and, anyway, murderous anti-semitism is no big deal, so criticizing exponents of murderous anti-semitism, like the highly influential Qatar-based cleric Yusuf al-Qaradawi, is a tactless, vulgar, and embarrassingly unsophisticated distraction from the really serious issues).

Nevertheless, this video clip from Saudi Arabia's IQRA TV (recorded and translated by the highly informative Middle East media Research Center - MEMRI) might still be of interest. It provides excerpts from a show that featured "man on the street" interviews exploring public attitudes about Jews.

I was especially struck by this cogent analysis from one respondent:

Allah's wrath is upon them, as the Koran says. Allah's wrath is upon them and they all stray from the path of righteousness. They are the filthiest people on the face of this earth because they care only about themselves - not the Christians, not the Muslims, nor any other religion.

The solution is clear, not only to me but to everyone. If only [the Muslims] declared Jihad, we would see who stays home. We have a few countries… There is one country with a population of over 60-70 million people. If we let them only march, with no weapons even, they would completely trample the Jews, they would turn them into rotten carcasses under their feet. [....]

But the cowardice inside us, deep within our hearts, was instilled by the Arab leaders, may Allah forgive them. They breast-fed us with it from the day we were born to this very day it has grown with us.

Yes, this sort of apathy, cynical accommodation, and cowardly failure to deal with the Jewish Problem should certainly be deplored. But it's good to know that at least some idealistic young people are upset about it.

Yours for reality-based discourse,
Jeff Weintraub