Setekh: I mean on a national level. Before WW2, it was actually most of Europe that despised Jews. For example in Canada (yes, I realize Canada is not Europe), boatloads of Jewish refugees were turned back and sent into amost certain death. Even AFTER the war, Canadians still said they would prefer to have a German emigrate to Canada rather than a Jew. Our PM at the time was giving the Hitler salute at the '38 Olypmics, well after Hitler's persecution of Jews became apparent.
In that regard, anti-Semetism in anywhere but the Middle-East is almost non existant. Sure, there are groups like the Aryan Brotherhood and so forth, but they're small, fringe groups. They'll never get the support of a large number of people, and will never, ever get elected into office. If you did a poll, I would venture to guess than 99.5% of people will say they have nothing at all against Jews.
I just think thats its a smokescreen. Sharon is using the suffering of Jews 60 years ago, and more broadly their suffering throughout human history, to excuse actions which are plainly criminal. No other country has that advantage, they're all open to criticism. But anyone who criticizes Israel for things which it would be quite normal to expect criticism for, were they any other country, get labbeled an anti-Semite.
Flipside: nah, Powell is OK with white people. Its black people who are criticising him, for being what they percieve to be an Uncle Tom figure.
