Islamophobia and antisemitism are not the same

As tempers flare over accusations of bigotry and the limits of acceptable speech, confusion has piled up over key words deployed as weapons on this cultural battleground. On the streets, the anti-Israel rallies with their shouts of “From the river to the sea!” and “Globalise the intifada!” are justifiably viewed by many Jews and non-Jews alike as hate-fests of unvarnished antisemitism.

Although many on these demonstrations are left-wingers or idealists, the fuel is being provided by Islamists. These are extremists bent upon forcing conformity to Islamic theological dogma and who are driven by theological Jew-hatred. Yet just saying that is to risk being tarred and feathered for a thought crime.

This happened to the former home secretary Suella Braverman and the former deputy Conservative party