As the world reacted with shock to the horrific attack on families celebrating Bastille Day in Nice on Thursday night, many on social media turned to a familiar scapegoat, convinced that this atrocity, like all others, real or perceived, could be pinned on Jews.
Search on Twitter, Facebook and elsewhere and the outpouring of sadness and sympathy is overwhelming, however, it is all too easy to find oneself stumbling upon the antisemitic opportunists and Jew haters who take every opportunity to profess and publicise their hatred. A search on Twitter for hashtags “#NiceAttack”, “#Nice” or “#PrayForNice” and the words “Jew”or “Zionist” displays pages of antisemitic conspiracy myths.
One of the truly awful aspects of these posts is that they are rarely contradicted. Mostly they are supported or discussed in blind faith and acceptance that this is the truth. By remaining unopposed, these heinous statements gain traction and credibility. Each time a few more will follow the train of thought, that possibly previously they would have not.
The latest antisemitic libel comes in the week that the Home Affairs Select Committee’s Inquiry into Antisemitism heard from the Chief Rabbi that more must be done by social networks, governments and internet service providers to stop the spread of racism and antisemitism in particular. This is another spectacular failure to do so and in the process antisemitic libels have just gained a few more believers.
#Nice was an #insideJob
With mossad fingers#Falseflag— AlZebaak2017 (@25ahmed) July 15, 2016
https://twitter.com/WorldWarMeme/status/753761056204267520
https://twitter.com/tvdh_3/status/753926253317619713
https://twitter.com/jdavismemphis/status/753977102991396864
https://twitter.com/FUFeelinz/status/753744864311926784
https://twitter.com/altrightnation1/status/753795252549357568
https://twitter.com/LibertySlap/status/753715228194594816
https://twitter.com/OperationNation/status/753994011984076800
