In his short stint as Iranian president so far, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has distinguished himself by calling for Israel to be wiped off the map, suggesting that the holocaust was a myth, and, of course, initiating a seemingly inexorable march towards nuclear arms. Ignoring for the moment the ominous historical parallels with another bellicose anti-Semite. I’d like to speculate briefly on the relationship between anti-Semitism, Israel, and the Great Middle east.

In the context of the Middle East, can one separate critiques of Israeli policy from anti-Semiticism? Criticism of Israeli policy—rational, based in evidence, and lacking in religious vitriol—certainly seems like a legitimate political exercise. But when does cool headed talk of borders, settlements, right of return, etc.—i.e. geopolitical debate—shift into the type of irrational religious demagoguery practiced by Ahmadinejad? How can the extermination of 6 million European Jews 60 years ago affect Iran today—a country, by the way, that ceded none of its territory to the creation of the Israeli state.

Why do Middle Eastern leaders persist in dangling anti-Semitic canards in the faces of their populaces? Is it, perhaps, easier to moan about Israel than, say, competently manage the economy, create jobs, build infrastructure, promote education, etc.…you know, the things successful governments usually try to do?

That’s why Ahmadinejad ‘s pseudo-populist rhetoric will ultimately fail. About half of Iran’s population was born after the revolution of 1979, which means they have grown up in the shadow of both authoritarian theocracy and governmental mismanagement. Spurious claims about the Holocaust and belligerent talk against Israel will only satisfy the moribund, decrepit mullahs who rule without accountability. For the masses of young people, it offers nothing but a dead end.