Ken Livingstone has never been a man to mince his words and, frankly, is someone I've never particularly liked. However, the ridiculous reaction to his comments about Jews and the support they received from the NAZI administration in 1930s Germany is uncalled for and demonstrates much more about the Labour Party and the fanatical pro-Jewish lobby than it does about Livingstone.
Sadly, anything which is considered vaguely 'anti-Semitic' is howled down, regardless of whether or not it is true. No one is permitted, under threat of legal sanction, to say or write anything which may be considered offensive by Jews or anyone supporting them. Basically, where Jews and Judaism are concerned, free speech has been outlawed.
Livingstone's comments centred on an agreement made in 1933 between the German NAZI government and German Zionist Jews which provided some assistance to Jews who wished to escape from the increasing persecution they were suffering in Germany and emigrate to Palestine. Over a period of 6 years, this agreement, the Haavara Agreement, helped to facilitate the migration of some 60,00 Jews from Germany.
While saying that Hitler supported Zionism may be a slight exaggeration, there can be no doubt that the NAZI government took steps which clearly helped and supported certain Zionist aims, while also helping individual Jews and their families. Livingstone has said little more than this and for him to have been vilified for it is ludicrous. For various Labour Party members and others to have made such a 'song and dance' about what is almost a non-event, shows just how scared they are of even the slightest possibility of causing offence, and how desperate they are to be seen to be on the side of the supposedly offended, whatever the issue and whatever the truth..
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