ISRAEL HAYOM
Jews and the rise of populist conservatism
by Isi Leibler
December 24, 2015

Since the emancipation of the 18th century, Jews engaged in public life traditionally supported ‎liberal, reform and even revolutionary movements which in most cases paved the way for ‎them to achieve equality. This was not surprising as, by and large, the conservatives and ‎especially the nationalist and radical right embraced anti-Semitism as a central platform issue. That was not deflected by the fact that many of the early socialists, ‎even those of Jewish origin like Karl Marx, frequently also promoted anti-Semitism. ‎ This trend accelerated in the 1930s when many conservatives tolerated Nazism as a bulwark ‎against bolshevism. As the global Nazi anti-Semitic propaganda onslaught mushroomed, it was ‎primarily (but not exclusively) the socialists and liberals who spoke out.‎ In countries where Jews found haven from the Nazis, the liberals and socialists tended to be ‎more accommodating to the refugees than the frequently hostile conservatives. READ MORE