Most of us, I would think, have watched in dismay at the spectre of anti-Semitism which seems to be haunting the Labour Party. It is truly appalling that a decent MP like Luciana Berger has had so much anti-Jewish abuse that she – along with others – has felt the need to leave the party for which she represented a Liverpool constituency. That she happens to be pregnant as well makes it even more offensive – surely a measure of civilised standards is that pregnant women are treated with respect and care. Diane Abbott protests that the Labour Party opposed racism throughout its history and therefore anti-Semitism (or any other form of prejudice, such as Islamophobia) is alien to its collective character. Yet I don’t think this is a sufficient explanation for the anti-Semitic scourge. I have researched much-published material on anti-Semitism, and prejudice against Jews is not quite the same as racial bigotry, in my experience. It seems to me that anti-Semitism has often been based on jealousy and envy of Jewish success – in many areas of endeavour, from the arts to show business, academia and the world of commerce. Other forms of prejudice, such as racism, are often based on something quite different: looking down on people of other races, and a belief in one’s own racial superiority. There are other factors in the mix. Christians have to own up to historical injustices against Jews across Western societies. And, especially on the Left, a continually negative attitude to Israel has prompted an anti-Semitic resurgence. Any democratic country is open to robust criticism, but some anti-Israeli hostility is just old-style anti-Semitism in new livery. Anti-Semitism must be quashed; but it also must be analysed honestly.