Anti-Defamation League CEO Jonathan Greenblatt said that Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamed’s anti-Semitic comments at a June 17 speaking appearance at Cambridge Union “disturbing” in a tweet.
Cambridge Union Speakers Officer of the Union Adam Davies asked Mohamed, “Why do you say that the Jewish people in general are inclined towards money?” Mohamed responded, “I have some Jewish friends, very good friends. They are not like the other Jews, that’s why they are my friends.”
Mohamed’s answer prompted laughter from the audience.
“I have some Jewish friends, very good friends. They are not like the other Jews, that’s why they are my friends"- Malaysian PM Mahathir Mohamad at the Cambridge Union last night.
The audience laughs.
Freedom of speech is not a joke when it incites hatred against one people. pic.twitter.com/2ZRrMDtfKy
— Union of Jewish Students (@UJS_UK) June 17, 2019
Greenblatt tweeted, “Unclear what is more disturbing: Malaysian PM Mahathir’s #antiSemitic comments or the audience’s laughter in response. Shameful that the Cambridge Union saw fit to provide a platform to this unrepentant anti-Semite.”
Unclear what is more disturbing: Malaysian PM Mahathir’s #antiSemitic comments or the audience’s laughter in response. Shameful that the Cambridge Union saw fit to provide a platform to this unrepentant anti-Semite. https://t.co/2vgeTovUIl
— Jonathan Greenblatt (@JGreenblattADL) June 17, 2019
The American Jewish Committee similarly tweeted Mohamed’s comments “should have drawn horrified gasps, not laughter.”
These predictably hateful remarks by a malicious antisemite should have drawn horrified gasps, not laughter, at one of the UK’s finest universities. What is happening in Britain? https://t.co/8jj0h2XrUP
— American Jewish Committee (@AJCGlobal) June 17, 2019
Cambridge Union defended their decision to invite Mohamed in a statement posted to Twitter, saying that Davies and members of the audience challenged the Malaysian prime minister on prior anti-Semitic statements. They also claimed that the video showing laughter from the audience was “selectively edited.
— The Cambridge Union (@cambridgeunion) June 17, 2019
The U.K. Campaign Against Anti-Semitism disputed Cambridge Union’s defense, arguing that Mahathir’s past statements were only “meekly” challenged that “the laughter came from across the crowd, including your own members.”
Meekly bringing up past antisemitism and sitting politely through new antisemitic remarks is not a robust challenge.
Jewish students were told by security they were being monitored.
The laughter came from across the crowd including your members.
No apology, just sophistry. https://t.co/dnuITQMl3N
— Campaign Against Antisemitism (@antisemitism) June 17, 2019
Mahathir has a long history of anti-Semitic remarks, including a 2012 blog post stating, “I am glad to be labeled anti-Semitic.” Malaysia lost the opportunity to host the 2019 World Para Swimming Championships after the Malaysian government barred Israeli athletes from participating in the tournament.
