Until very recently, claims of a resurgent antisemitism in Britain and Europe were vehemently denied. Jews who made these claims were paranoid, we were told, or trying to hide the 'crimes' of Ariel Sharon behind Holocaust shroud-waving. Now the line has changed. Now, we are being told that yes, there is definitely a rise in antisemitism -- but it's all the fault of the Jews.

The latest example of this interesting development was published today in the Guardian in an article by Sir Max Hastings. He starts by stating: 'It is impossible to doubt that genuine anti-semitism - racial antipathy towards Jews - is resurgent in Europe and even, in some circles, becoming respectable.'

Phew -- things must be really bad for Sir Max to have finally acknowledged this. He then tries to cement his bona fides as a non Jew-hater by a self-serving anecdote about how his wife was horrifed by an example of egregious antisemitism. This, he thinks, makes him fireproof for what then follows, after a bit of personal back-slapping for seeing off the Jewish lobby:

'Jewish genius through the centuries has been reflected in the highest intellectual standards. Attempts to equate anti-Zionism, or even criticism of Israeli policy, with anti-semitism reflect a pitiful intellectual sloth, an abandonment of reasoned attempts to justify Israeli actions in favour of moral blackmail. In the short run, such intimidation is not unsuccessful, especially in America. Yet in the long term, grave consequences may ensue. In much of the world, including Europe, a huge head of steam is building against Israeli behaviour. More than a few governments are cooperating less than wholeheartedly with America's war on terror because they are unwilling to be associated with what they see as an unholy alliance of the Sharon and Bush governments. One of Germany's most distinguished postwar leaders expressed to me a few months ago his frustration that, as a German, he is unable to vent his feelings about the wickedness of what is being done in Israel's name.

'I feel a commitment to the Jewish people, founded on awareness partly of their history, partly of their genius. Yet I see no reason why this should prevent me from asserting that the policies of Sharon and Netanyahu bring shame upon Israel. It is ironic that Israel's domestic critics - former intelligence chiefs and serving fighter pilots - have shown themselves much braver than overseas Jews. If Israel persists with its current policies, and Jewish lobbies around the world continue to express solidarity with repression of the Palestinians, then genuine anti-semitism is bound to increase. Herein lies the lobbyists' recklessness. By insisting that those who denounce the Israeli state's behaviour are enemies of the Jewish people, they seek to impose a grotesque choice.

'The Israeli government's behaviour to the Palestinians breeds a despair that finds its only outlet in terrorism. No one can ever criticise the Jewish diaspora for asserting Israel's right to exist. But the most important service the world's Jews can render to Israel today is to persuade its people that the only plausible result of their government's behaviour is a terrible loneliness in the world.'

What are 'grotesque' and 'wicked' are surely these remarks. Sir Max shows no awareness whatsoever of the wickedness that has been directed at Israel for half a century and continues with unparalleled ferocity. He ignores completely the demented incitement against Israel and Jews that has brainwashed millions of Arabs and provides the fuel for the terror being visited upon Israel and the world.

He ignores the fact that disaspora Jews do criticise the policies of Israel, and completely misrepresents the point being made -- that it is not legitimate criticism of Israel that is being complained of but the lies, libels, double standards and hysterical malice that have demonised, dehumanised and delegitimised the Jewish victims of terror in Israel. He ignores the canards now being published in respectable outlets about sinister cabals of Jewish power which are now fuelling Jew-hatred and are drawn directly from the lexicon of ancient Jew-hatred. He quotes an unnamed German's 'frustration' at being prevented from venting legitimate criticisms of Israel -- ah, that diabolical Jewish cabal again! -- which, given the rampant Israel-phobia and Jew-hatred now being expressed in Germany and across Europe, betrays a dislocation from reality which is utterly astonishing.

Instead, he blames the Jews for their own victimisation. Alas, we've been here before. Stomach-churning, ignorant, malevolent stuff.