I have been reading a book on the history of the Ostjuden, or Eastern European jews, a sub-branch of the Ashkenazim. One almost constant theme during several hundred years of East European history is that whenever there was a major political conflict, Jews were blamed often by both sides for the problems of the country. Each time Poland rebelled against Russia, the Poles attacked the Jews for beings sympathetic to Russia and the Russians attacked the Jews for being sympathetic to Poland. Often the Jews just tried remaining neutral, but still were blamed by both sides. At times the Jews fought side by side with the Poles, defending Poland from invaders. And yet the Poles STILL often blamed the Jews when they didn't win. When Poland finally did win independence after WW I, anti-Semitism grew as Poles suspected Jews of having been pro-German. Simply put, Jews were blamed no matter what.

The same thing happened in Romania...and Czechoslovakia...over and over again for centuries. Somehow, no matter what happened, the main thing all Eastern European people could agree on (other than hating eachother) was to blame the Jews any time something went wrong.

Well, even today, even on another continent, the same tradition continues. In Honduras somehow the Jews and Israel are being blamed for the coup that overthrew President Manuel Zelaya. Now my sympathies lie with Zelaya, the democratically elected President of Honduras, but his followers apparently are carrying on the age old tradition of blaming the Jews for something Jews have nothing to do with. From the Anti-Defamation League:

The tense political stalemate in Honduras has given rise to expressions of anti-Semitism and disturbing anti-Israel conspiracy theories. According to the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), some political leaders, pundits and others in Honduras and Venezuela are saying that Israel and Jews played a role in the ouster and intimidation of President Manuel Zelaya and are in cahoots with the de facto president, Robert Micheletti.

The League has released translations of excerpts from interviews and comments made by some Honduran political figures and Venezuelan media commentators showing a pattern of blaming Jews and Israel for the political crisis. On September 25, a commentator on Radio Globo in Honduras pointed to Jews and Israelis as "people that do damage in this country" and added, "After what I have learned, I ask myself why, why didn't we let Hitler carry out his historic mission?"

"From President Zelaya himself down to media pundits and political activists, there has been a troubling undercurrent of anti-Semitism in the situation in Honduras," said Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director. "We know from history that at times of turmoil and unrest, Jews are a convenient scapegoat, and that is happening now in Honduras, a country that has only a small Jewish minority."

The League's has compiled various statements from Honduran public officials, commentators and others dating back to July 7, 2009, as well as statements by Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez and pundits on Venezuelan government television and radio. The statements include:

* False allegations by President Zelaya that "Israeli mercenaries" are trying to assassinate him;
* False claims by President Chavez of Venezuela and other Zelaya supporters that Israel was the only country in the world to recognize Micheletti's de facto government;
* Remarks by David Romero, Executive Director of Radio Globo, claiming that "officers of the Jewish army" are working in conspiracy with the Armed Forces in Honduras. His remarks were reportedly challenged by Adolfo Facusse, president of the National Industrial Association in Tegucigalpa, who stated," Jews are our cousins and we will not tolerate such language."

"While we continue to watch events unfolding in Honduras and hope for a prompt and peaceful resolution to the country's crisis, it is imperative for all the parties involved in the negotiations, including outside mediators, to keep anti-Semitism out of the public discourse," said Mr. Foxman. "We are heartened that some Honduran leaders have stood up to the anti-Jewish rhetoric, and hope that more will have the moral courage to do so."

Out of the country's eight million inhabitants, there are less than 100 Jewish families living in Honduras.

I have tended to be sympathetic to the democratically elected leftist governments in Latin America. Perhaps it is because I remember the lies told by the Reagan administrtaion about the Sandinistas and how far from the truth those lies were. And every accusation of dictatorship leveled at Hugo Chavez seems exaggerated since evert time Chavez has suffered an electoral defeat he, like the Sandinistas in the 1980's, accepted the will of the people. By comparison most of the right wing governments have been far more brutal, far more oppressive, and completely unwilling to follow the vote of the people if it went against them.

But what the hell is it that somehow the Jews and Israel are being blamed for the coup in Honduras??? Now I could understand suspicion that the CIA was involved (though in this case I don't think it is the case). But blaming the Jews makes no sense whatsoever. And the great irony is that the history of liberalism and socialism was hugely influenced by Jewish thinkers and activists. Yet rather than celebrate the contribution Jews made to the political ideology they hold dear, some on the left in Latin America do what so many right wing regimes did throughout history: blame the Jews.