UK Politics: Labour Continues Phoney Anti-Semitic Purges and the Results of Beijing's Hong Kong Clampdown

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-53183085

Jeremy Corbyn is gone but the Labour Party's 'Anti-Semitism' push to the right agenda continues. It's being used as a means to purge the party of anyone who doesn't toe the Establishment line when it comes to UK foreign policy.

You could almost describe this as the UK's version of a flirtation with McCarthyism.

The cynical move is bringing the UK in line with US policy regarding Israel. With the UK feeling rather alone right now it's trying to carve out its place in the world and yet if the nation wants to retain its standing on the global stage, it's only real option is to strengthen its already deep ties to Washington.

For the American Establishment, on its shortlist of very important foreign policy agenda items there are the questions of Israel and China. If you want to be close to the United States, you have to get these questions right.

When it comes to Russia (another high priority item), the UK is already fully on-board as anyone listening to the BBC can testify. The anti-Russian crusade is in full gear. Over the past few years one cannot listen to a news bulletin without hearing some story designed to smear or take a swipe at Moscow. In fact I think the anti-Russia coverage has actually intensified in recent months as it's clear the flagging campaign is undergoing an attempted revival.

While the UK has generally been supportive of US foreign policy, its posture toward Israel hasn't been quite as zealous as some in Washington would like and this Labour purge seems set to 'remedy' the situation by eliminating all dissent. The message is fairly clear, if you want to remain in the mainstream of British politics, you had better support Tel Aviv even if it is dominated by the Right-wing, brutal and internationally illegal policies of Likud.

The implicit claim that someone who opposes Likud and the radical Zionism of the Israeli Right – is anti-Semitic is belied by the many Jews and even Israelis who denounce the policies and practices of the Zionist state. By these definitions there are millions of Jews who are anti-Semitic. The very suggestion if of course absurd.

While there are some who might oppose Israeli policies out of a dislike for the Jews or belief in a global conspiracy, these are not people in the mainstream. People oppose the policies of Israel because it behaves like a brutal rogue state and one that continues to hide behind the narrative of Auschwitz. Because of The Holocaust, the state's creation in 1948 was justified in the eyes of the international community. Because of The Holocaust it could be permitted to pursue an aggressive security posture. 'Never Again' meant that all the state's enemies had to be crushed. The world largely accepted this narrative up until the Six-Day War and the Israeli seizure of Gaza, the West Bank and the Golan Heights. Israeli politics shifted to the Right and have since the 1970's been fairly well dominated by the likes of Likud – a party that established close ties with Apartheid South Africa, the American Far-Right and in general terms embraces racialist policies and at times smacks of fascism. This is what people oppose. Advocates of the values of Classical Liberalism (whether on the Left or not) are upset by the machinations of Likud and its trampling of democracy, rule of law and human rights – not to mention its militarism and rogue behaviour on the international stage. Opposition to Likud-dominated Israel is not Anti-Semitism. The opponents of Israel in the UK government are not secretly passing around the Protocols of the Elders of Zion – but they are opposed to the UK's support of a regime that violates the values of liberal modernity. And they smell the reek of hypocrisy as the UK, US and other nations condemn the very same types of behaviour in other countries but grant Israel a pass.

In addition to its frequent assassination of enemies abroad – the same sorts of stories the BBC will obsess about when it comes to Russia – Israel is granted a pass. It assassinates Palestinians with abandon and in recent years has been killing Iranians. And it's more or less universally agreed that Tel Aviv is involved in the sabotage of Iranian nuclear facilities – acts that would be considered 'terrorism' had they been perpetrated by other states. And yes, the Israelis have built up a robust security state and they aggressively sell weapons and market their services. Washington frequently utilises the services of Tel Aviv to train allies and when it comes to crowd control, urban insurgency and the like – no one would be surprised if the Israelis were hired by a US police force. This would be in keeping with the trend toward the militarisation of American police departments – a process that began in earnest during the Iraq War.

How maddening it must be to be charged with Anti-Semitism in such a context. How maddening and how cynical it all is. We are living in an age of McCarthyism re-born and its spreading like wildfire it would seem. The notorious tactics of the former Wisconsin senator and his cronies are alive and well. The inquisitorial thought-police methods which many had thought to be dead and buried have made a huge comeback in the Trump-Johnson era. And why is this? Because even seventy years later they are proven to be effective – a means (within the context of liberal democracy) of flexing muscle and destroying enemies.

The UK has been a bit more ambivalent when it comes to China as even Boris Johnson seemed determined to work with Huawei on the construction of Britain's 5G network – or at least he did.

But of course events in Hong Kong have effectively steered the British government back into the arms of the White House. A personal issue for the UK, Beijing's aggressive policies vis-à-vis the former British colony have driven the UK to open up its borders for those seeking asylum – a move that has infuriated Beijing.

While Beijing has indeed reneged on the 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration, the truth is that Hong Kong was being used as a base for dissident movements and activity. Being part of China it was an easy entry-exit point for those seeking to escape or infiltrate China. Under a different judiciary, the former colony also provided a means of escape for those fleeing the mainland. In some respects this was but a continuation of its historic role, especially in the aftermath of the CCP's victory in 1949, but as the stakes have been elevated and Xi's credibility and project are on the line – Beijing couldn't tolerate it any longer.

While Beijing's move has irritated the West, there are those in Washington that must be nothing less than thrilled. China's moves are all but galvanising an Anti-China base and this would certainly include the UK.

Humanitarian geopolitics and the language of equality and liberal values are the packaging but the truth is – it's just politics and geopolitics at work. The US isn't the puppet master, especially under Trump, nevertheless forces are at work that are ensuring Washington and its allies (of which it has many in the UK) get their way.

As we're shifting into a multi-polar world already there are forces at work driving geopolitics into a new bi-polar order – the nascent conflict many are calling Cold War II. And like in the first Cold War, to be non-aligned is to invite the ire and wrath of the major parties and so most countries will ultimately sign on with one side or the other. There's little doubt as to which direction Britain will ultimately go.