The ‘Anti-Semitism’ of McMafia
The BBC drama series ‘McMafia’ based upon the eponymous 2008 book by Misha Glenny has come in for a lot of vitriolic criticism since it has been released. A good example is quoted by ‘Tablet Magazine’:
‘The UK Lawyers for Israel (UKFLI), a pro-Israel advocacy group, issued a statement that accused McMafia of using “gratuitous slurs against Israeli businessmen” and of making “references to Israel which aren’t mentioned in the original book, McMafia, by Mischa Glenny” (Glenny’s 2009 book investigated international crime). The businessman in question is Semiyon Kleiman, an Israeli businessman played by David Strathairn (an inspired bit of casting, to say the least; Strathairn has also played über-WASP Edward R. Murrow).
The group also noted a distortion of the Mossad’s motto, changed from “For by wise guidance you can wage your war,” to “By deception we will do war.”
“The use of the word ‘deception’ in substitute for the words ‘wise guidance’ attacks the integrity of Mossad and insinuates that Israel officially sanctions deception in its intelligence activities,” the statement read.’ (1)
The criticism offered by UK Lawyers for Israel is rather trite, because it can be basically boiled down to ‘your portrayal implicitly criticised Israelis and therefore you are evil’.
Nor are UK Lawyers for Israel alone, but actually are the mildest critics of ‘McMafia’ among the jews.
As Jenni Frazer writes in the ‘Jewish Chronicle’:
‘In the BBC’s glitzy drama McMafia, portrayed the most unconvincing Jewish family on TV since… well, I can’t remember when.
McMafia was the BBC’s big New Year opening show, an eight-episode thriller about the tentacles of the Russian mafia, many of whom, rather disconcertingly, appeared to be Jewish.’
‘Concern has been expressed that McMafia paints Israel and Jews in a negative light.’ (2)
Frazer here hints – although does not explicitly claim – that ‘McMafia’ is ‘anti-Semitic’ by equating Israel and jews being placed in a ‘negative light’ with the hatred of jews based upon their status as a race/ethnic group.
Other jews however were not so coy about doing so as the ‘Daily Mail’ article on this illustrates nicely.
To wit:
‘But since the first two episodes were aired this week, it has been hit by complaints, with viewers saying it contained 'gratuitous slurs' and 'lazy stereotyping' against the Jewish community.
Stephen Pollard, editor of the Jewish Chronicle, tweeted: 'Watching McMafia. Pretty appalling that all the villains so far are explicitly Jewish.'
His tweet elicited a reply from John Meredith, who said: 'In fact, I think, after only one ep, all the heroes are Jewish and the baddies (real baddies, not devious loveable uncle Boris) not.'
Mr Pollard replied: 'Fair enough. I gave up after half an hour. Seemed very very tedious to me.'
John Brissenden added: 'McMafia: at best liberal, Harry Potter know-nothing nonsense. At worst, anti-semitic propaganda.'
Noah Katz posted: 'I'm sitting here confused as to why they included the unnecessary Jewish stereotyping...just more anti-semitic/Zionist c**p from the BBC.'
There were also complaints on the Jewish Britain Facebook group.
Damon Lenszner wrote: 'Jews run the banking system - check. Jews are crooks - check. Jews are filthy rich - check', to which another viewer replied: 'Ticks all the boxes for people who are already anti-semitic and they think all these things already.'
One commentator posted: 'You may have been disturbed, as I was, at the gratuitous slurs against Israeli businessmen and the many references to Israel.
'But in particular I took great exception to the reference to the motto of Mossad...an attack on the integrity of Mossad.' (3)
In other words: ‘McMafia’ is anti-Semitic, because it’s main characters are both jewish and… well… villains. The logic behind this however is farcical in large part because there is a very sizeable jewish element to organised crime globally – as demonstrated by the almost routine prosecutions in recent years of prominent Israeli mobsters in places as different as Columbia and China - and even if this wasn’t the case.
‘McMafia’ clearly doesn’t attack jews as a group (and unlike Stephen Pollard – former editor of the ‘Jewish Chronicle’ - I have watched all the episodes so I know), but rather portrays the life of an organised crime gang who are jewish but without using any so-called ‘anti-Semitic caricatures’ whatsoever.
The idea that ‘McMafia’ is ‘anti-Semitic’ is a less a commentary on alleged ‘anti-Semitism at the BBC’, but rather the humourless hypersensitivity of jews and apologists for Israel everywhere to any kind of criticisms or negativity whether it be real or merely perceived.
Makes you wonder about what isn’t ‘anti-Semitic’ though: doesn’t it?
References
(1) http://www.tabletmag.com/scroll/252524/bbc-drama-mcmafia-hit-with-accusations-of-anti-semitism ; also http://www.telegraph.co.uk/tv/2018/01/04/mcmafia-accused-gratuitous-slurs-portrayal-jewish-characters/ and SFGate http://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/the-wrap/article/BBC-Hit-Miniseries-McMafia-Accused-of-12470971.php
(2) https://www.thejc.com/culture/tv/tv-review-mcmafia-kippahs-on-for-the-bbc-s-latest-thriller-1.451404
(3) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5232503/BBC-hit-complaints-anti-Semiticism-drama-McMafia.html