Language:
English
Year of publication:
2004
Titel der Quelle:
Jewish Political Studies Review
Angaben zur Quelle:
16,3-4 (2004) 131-156
Keywords:
Antisemitism History
;
Jews History
;
Jews History 1939-1945
Abstract:
Presents Iceland as a historically xenophobic country and ignorant about Jews (apart from the Bible and Christian texts), who have been perceived via stereotypes. The earliest information on a Jew (who had converted to Christianity) arriving in Iceland dates from the 1620s. In the 19th century, the very few Jews were probably outnumbered by the antisemites. During the Nazi period, German Jews found no refuge in Iceland, which wished to remain purely Aryan. The few Jews who arrived in the country were expelled to Norway or, when that country refused entry, were sent back to Germany. Antisemitism did not disappear in the new Republic of Iceland. The president's son had served in the SS and was helped to escape punishment. On the Left, a Social Democratic member of parliament was obsessed with the idea of the Jews threatening to dominate the world. Given the antisemitic atmosphere that has persisted from the end of World War II, people with a Jewish background, including converts to Christianity, have kept their identities hidden. During the Holocaust, a few Icelanders fought alongside the Nazis. Although collaborators were treated with contempt, there was postwar amnesia about ex-members of the national Nazi party, who were allowed to occupy important posts. The press has published both Holocaust denial and neo-Nazi views. When the Wiesenthal Center wanted the country to prosecute the Estonian war criminal Evald Mikson, he was widely defended and Israel was accused of having ulterior motives for seeking his trial, which did not take place. As elsewhere in Europe, antisemitism takes the form of anti-Zionism. The Jews there today are happy to maintain the perception that Iceland has no Jews.
Note:
Appeared also in "Behind the Humanitarian Mask" (2008) 219-239.
URL:
Locate this publication in Israeli libraries
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