Letter to the editor: Trump and antisemitism

The letter “The real antisemitism” (Dec. 17, TribLIVE) stated, “I was angered and offended by another anti-Trump propaganda AP article, this one titled ‘Antisemitic celebrities stoke fears of normalizing hate’ (Dec. 4, TribLIVE). This article attributed a “surge in anti-Jewish vitriol” by citing Donald Trump hosting Kanye West and Nick Fuentes.”

Well, imagine that. West and Fuentes are vile and loathsome. Fuentes, for example, compared Jews who died in concentration camps as “burnt cookies.”

The writer implies that the Associated Press is biased. This is what Trump supporters usually claim when they are unable to deal with the truth. Of course it’s news when a disgraced former president sits down to a meal with people like West and Fuentes.

Then he opines, “Or how about comments from Rep. Rashida Tlaib, falsely accusing Israel of being an ‘apartheid government’?” First of all, the dictionary defines “apartheid” as separate and apart. The present ultra-right government of Israel has cabinet members who want nothing to do with Palestinian “rights.” Instead they propose to annex the West Bank and dissolve the Palestinian Authority. This is about as “apartheid” as anyone can get. Anthropology teaches us that the Arabs, Palestinians and Jews are all semites. Referring to a Semitic Palestinian- American congresswoman as an antisemite seems chauvinistic at best.

Finally, he says, “Trump, being a grandfather of Jewish grandchildren, is unlikely to harbor any antisemitic sentiments.” Really? How do you suppose Ivanka Trump felt when Grandpa got so chummy with those two hate-mongers?

Jim Harger

New Kensington