Submitted by Norman Brewer (United States), Feb 6, 2003 at 05:30
I haven't read the book, but obviously there was plenty of anti-Semitism that had nothing to do with perceived "alliances" to Muslims. As far as I can think of, the only actual such historical political hookup was Joseph Nasi and the Ottoman sultan.
For a good representative source of psychological material regarding anti-Semitism, I would look at fables such as "the wandering Jew" or Shakespeare's "Merchant of Venice", etc.
Also, some anti-Semitism was clearly purely economic such as the expulsion of Jews from England in 1290 under Edward I of England (The Jews lost protection when they became less economically important).
Don't forget that the schisms between East and West were NOT simply about "Jew", "Christian", "Moslem" - there was also the long antipathy from Venice and the Normans towards the (Christian) Byzantines, there was the cultural gap that appeared between Western Europe and Russia , Etc.
Speaking of "ironic", of all groups, conservative American Christians appear to be the MOST favorable towards Jews and Israel - although it is not reciprocated.
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