In the second of this two-part series, Hugh Kitson continues his thoughtful study on the historical roots of antisemitism, and the reasons behind it. (Part 1 is available here)

Islamic Jew-hatred

Today the most prevalent source of Judeophobia comes from radical fundamentalist Islam. It is not only the Jews whom the Islamic terrorist organisations have their sights set on, but – even more so – the Christians. This is the case, not only in Africa – especially in northern Nigeria – but right across the Middle East. The only safe country in the region for these Christians to reside in is Israel. Hatred for both Jews and Christians is ‘hard-wired’ into the spirituality of fundamentalist Islam, and verses in the Qur’an and the Hadiths certainly indicate this. Of course, there are many Muslims who abhor the persecution of either Christians or Jews – and some who take a bold stand. In addition, we have seen a number of Muslim-majority countries make peace with Israel through the recent Abraham Accords.

But the ancient mantra of exterminating ‘first the Saturday people, then the Sunday people’ is today being exercised by Islamic extremist groups such as ISIS, Al-Qaeda, Boko-Haram, the Taliban in Afghanistan, as well as the regime in Tehran that imprisons Christians who raise their heads above the parapet. It is also worth noting that both the Hamas and PLO Charters call for the liquidation of the Jewish state, and the murder of all Jews. In the territories controlled by both of these organisations, which are ‘Juden-rein’ (free of Jews), Christians are discriminated against, sometimes persecuted and occasionally murdered.

European antisemitism

Perhaps the most disturbing rise of Judeophobia today is found in the West, and particularly on the left side of the political spectrum. We see a rise in neo-Marxism, the aim of which is to destroy the Judeo-Christian ethos that has been the bedrock of society and politics of most nations in the Western world, including Australia, for centuries.

The aim of neo-Marxism is to destroy the Judeo-Christian ethos that has been the bedrock of society and politics of most nations in the Western world.

A precursor to the destruction of the Judeo-Christian heritage took place with the rise of Adolf Hitler nearly a century ago. I made a film about it in 2014-15, entitled Jacob’s Tears, in which we looked at the spiritual dynamics that led to the Holocaust. Over the previous century, before the rise of the Nazis, the Church in Germany had become what we would today call ‘progressive’. For the most part the Bible had been dismissed as being irrelevant and moves of the Holy Spirit had been labelled as ‘satanic’.

Moreover, Judeophobia was endemic throughout German society. So when Hitler, who was steeped in the occult, came to power, he filled the spiritual vacuum and became Germany’s ‘messiah’, and won the hearts of most who professed to be Christians. Hitler used the writings of Martin Luther against the Jews as his excuse to exterminate them. And he wasn’t just out to exterminate the Jews of Europe, but also those right across the Middle East, including in the land of Israel (then Mandated Palestine) and Iraq, which had one of the oldest Jewish communities in the world. He was out to achieve this aim with the help of Haj Amin Al-Husseini, the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem – another radical Jew-hater.

So, in terms of the history of the Jews, what was happening at that time? Through the Balfour Declaration of 1917, the Paris Peace Conference of 1919, the San Remo Resolution of 1920, and the British Mandate for Palestine (1922), the restoration of the nation of Israel in its historic homeland, as prophesied in the Bible, was in the pipeline. I would suggest that Satan, the archenemy of the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, was absolutely determined this would not happen. So, first and foremost, this was a spiritual battle. God had promised that he would curse those who curse the Jewish people (Gen 12:3) and consequently Nazi Germany was destroyed.

God had promised that he would curse those who curse the Jewish people and consequently Nazi Germany was destroyed.

Biblical promise

Most Bible-believing evangelical Christians believe that the return of the Lord Jesus Christ to take up the throne of David is imminent. The rebirth of Israel in its Promised Land is a vital stepping-stone to that happening. Just before the Ascension, the disciples asked Jesus: “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” (Acts 1:6) He didn’t refute the question as such, but simply indicated that that was not the time, and in the meantime, they had a job to do.

(image credit domoskanonos)Most evangelical Christians know the verses of Isaiah 9:6-7 very well. “Unto us a Child is born …” An equally important and not so obvious promise of God was given when the angel Gabriel visited Mary to announce the birth of Yeshua (Jesus), whose name actually means 'salvation'. The angel said to her: “He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.” (Luke 1: 32-33). This promise of God has yet to be visibly fulfilled. It is also a firm repudiation of the notion that God has finished with Israel, which is so popular in much of the Church establishment.

Israel’s legitimacy

The current film project I am engaged in is a series of documentaries entitled Whose Land? which has only been partially completed and released. It examines Israel’s legitimacy in international law, and particularly the right of Jewish domicile not only in their ancient capital city, Jerusalem, but in all of their historic heartland of Judea and Samaria (aka “the West Bank”).

Put simply, many nations in the world, including the United Nations and the European Union, are trying to disinherit the Jewish people of their land and de-legitimise their existence as a nation.

Today the nations are in uproar over the existence of the Jewish state as a powerful nation in her ancient homeland. It was the Nazi, Josef Goebbels who is quoted as saying: “If a lie is repeated often enough, then the people will believe it.” This is the tactic being used against the state of Israel today: ‘Lawfare’ – the deliberate distortion and misrepresentation of international law – and the rewriting of history to suit the BDS agenda. This is what Whose Land? tries to expose by simply telling the truth.

Put simply, many nations in the world, including the United Nations and the European Union, are trying to disinherit the Jewish people of their land and de-legitimise their existence as a nation. But their assault is not just against the Jewish nation. Even if they are blind to it, their assault is actually against God Himself.

Rage against God

One passage of Scripture that illustrates this fact is Psalm 2.

“Why do the nations rage, and the people plot a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together against the LORD and His Anointed (Hebrew: Mashiach) saying: “Let us break their bonds in pieces and cast away their cords from us.” He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; the Lord shall hold them in derision. Then He shall speak to them in His wrath, and distress them in His deep displeasure: “Yet I have set My King on My holy hill of Zion.” “I will declare the decree, the LORD has said to Me, ‘You are My Son, today I have begotten You. Ask of Me, and I will give You the nations for Your inheritance, and the ends of the earth for Your possession.’” (verses 1-8). In the latter three verses we have first the Father speaking, then the Son replying.

This hatred of Zion and hatred of Israel and the Jewish people is also a hatred of the Godhead, and it is surely satanically inspired. But the outcome will result in the triumph of good over evil, the kingdom of Israel being restored, and the banishment of Satan from the face of the earth. Satan knows this, which is why he is so furiously trying to prevent it from happening.

Returning to the question

I would like to conclude by looking at a question posed earlier in this article: how is it that the Jewish people have beaten all odds by surviving the longest hatred and thrive today as a small but powerful nation in the Middle East? No other people have ever managed to maintain their distinct identity in exile for more than a couple of generations.

Undoubtedly, one reason for this has been that the Jewish people have observed their religious traditions faithfully over the last two thousand years, despite being scattered across the world. But beyond that, I would like to answer the question by highlighting a couple of verses from the Hebrew Scriptures:

"Thus says the LORD, who gives the sun for a light by day, and the moon and stars by night, who disturbs the sea, and its waves roar (the LORD of hosts is His name): “If those ordinances depart from before Me,” says the Lord, Then the seed of Israel shall also cease from being a nation before Me forever.” (Jer 31:35-36)

The outcome will result in the triumph of good over evil, the kingdom of Israel being restored, and the banishment of Satan from the face of the earth.

Quite simply, God is true to His promises. If ever there was proof that God exists, it is the existence of the Jewish people today, and the existence of the State of Israel.
Will this onslaught of Judeophobia ever end? Again, the answer is in the Hebrew Scriptures: "He (the Lord) will swallow up death forever, and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from all faces; the rebuke of His people He will take away from all the earth; for the LORD has spoken". (Isa 25:8)

Hugh Kitson is a film and documentary maker from England, who has made a number of high-profile films about Israel, including ‘Whose Land’, The Forsaken Promise’ and ‘Blessing, Curse or Co-incidence?’