09/25/2002
EDITORIAL NUMBER=0-10151

MORE SAUDI ANTI-SEMITISM

Centuries of anti-Semitism have produced many hateful lies about Jews. One of the worst is the so-called "blood libel." This is the preposterous claim that Jews kill non-Jews and use their blood to make pastries for religious holidays. Only those who are blinded by anti-Semitism could believe such a lie. That is why it is so troubling that such lies as the "blood libel" keep turning up in the media, especially in the Middle East.

This month, the Saudi-government-controlled daily newspaper Al-Jazirah published an article containing the "blood libel" and other lies about Jews. It was written by Muhammad bin S’ad Al-Shwey’ir [sahd-ahl-SHWAY-ahrr], editor of a periodical published by the Islamic Clerics Association of Saudi Arabia. Writing of "Christian Europe" of the past, Al-Shwey’ir said that "rabbis craftily hunt anyone walking alone, [tempting] him to enter their house of worship. Then they take his blood to use for baked goods for their holidays, as part of their ritual."

As all honest scholars know, this story is pure fantasy and nonsense. And anyone who would repeat this "blood libel" is betraying either pathetic ignorance or, more likely, malicious anti-Semitism.

In a statement for Saudi Arabia’s September 23^rd national day, the Saudi government said it "believes that what unites the peoples of the world is ultimately far more important than what divides them." The statement said that Saudi Arabia "will continue to work for mutual respect and increased understanding."

Those are sentiments that people around the world can agree with. But in that spirit, it is clearly in order for Al-Jazirah to issue a retraction and apology for the anti-Semitic lies it has published. And in the future, it can only be hoped that all media in Saudi Arabia -- and other countries -- will refrain from such incitements to hatred.