In an incident whose symbolism can scarcely be over-stated, a black Jewish Labour MP was pelted with eggs by Muslims as she attended a remembrance ceremony in London's East End to commemorate the deaths of 164 people, almost all of whom were Jews, in the last V2 missile attack of the war 60 years ago. Eggs thrown at the MP Oona King missed their target but hit two elderly Jews. The viciousness behind the attack was encapsulated in remarks by two Muslim youths, as reported in the Telegraph:

'Ibn Alkhattab, 21, said: "It will be all about the war. There is enormous anger. No one will vote for her."His friend added: "She represented these people and then voted for the war. We all hate her. She comes here with her Jewish friends who are killing our people and then they come to our back yards. It is out of order. What do they expect?" '

What else indeed, but the violent hatred born of the most vile prejudice and paranoia that dishonours the Jewish war dead and attacks a member of Parliament for supporting a war that has liberated Muslims from tyranny.

Posted by melanie at April 11, 2005