By Sunny Hundal

 

On 25th July, the Jerusalem Post published an editorial that seemed to blame Norway’s own policies for the terrorist attacks. It stated: Undoubtedly, there will be those – particularly on the Left – who will extrapolate out from Breivik’s horrific act that the real danger facing contemporary Europe is rightwing extremism and that criticism of multiculturalism is nothing more than so much Islamophobia.

 

Originally published by Liberal Conspiracy

 

While it is still too early to determine definitively Breivik’s precise motives, it could very well be that the attack was more pernicious – and more widespread – than the isolated act of a lunatic. Perhaps Brievik’s inexcusable act of vicious terror should serve not only as a warning that there may be more elements on the extreme Right willing to use violence to further their goals, but also as an opportunity to seriously reevaluate policies for immigrant integration in Norway and elsewhere.

 

The ‘Muslim population’ was set to increase from 3% of the population currently to 6.5% by 2030 it warned gravely. You’ll be sorry!

 

The editorial sparked international condemnation for understandable reasons.

 

Today, the Jerusalem Post published another editorial apologising to Norway:

 

It later emerged that Breivik, a Christian radical, had posted on the Internet an extremely anti-Muslim manifesto that supported far-right nationalism and Zionism.

 

He apparently feared that a “Muslim colonization” of Europe would destroy Norway.

 

This is certainly not the kind of support Israel needs. It is the type of Islamophobia that is all too reminiscent of the Nazis’ attitude toward the Jews. Jews, Muslims and Christians in Israel and around the world should be standing together against such hate crimes.

 

Well that’s a good start.

 

It’s also much better than the reaction of many conservative commentators in the UK, who screeched at how the terrorist attacks would ‘help the left’ and set back their anti-immigration and anti-Muslim cause.