August 30, 2011
Ten years after 9/11, antisemitic conspiracy theories surrounding the attacks are "alive and well" and fueled by an entrenched propaganda industry, according to the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), which today issued a new report showing how these theories have grown and evolved over the last decade.
In "Decade of Deceit: Antisemitic 9/11 Conspiracy Theories 10 Years Later," ADL looks at the individuals who continue to circulate distorted conspiracy theories about 9/11, including the claim that the Jews or Israel perpetrated the attacks instead of Al Qaeda. A new chorus of voices , who claim not to be anti-Jewish but simply anti-Zionist, have become the most popular promoters of these ideas.
"It is shocking that nearly a decade after 9/11 we are still confronted with those who continue to deny the historical record of 9/11 or who hold fast to antisemitic myths about that horrific day," said Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director. "For ten years, the historical record has been warped and manipulated by antisemites intent on creating their false version of history. One of the saddest outcomes of 9/11 is that despite the fact that this national tragedy that brought so Americans together, there remains this small group of vocal bigots who, nearly a decade later, are still seeking to promote and sell their own sinister agenda of blaming Jews and Israel."
The most prominent promoters of antisemitic conspiracy theories today are less often white supremacists and right-wing antisemites. Rather they more commonly are members of a group of anti-Israel conspiracists who see the 9/11 attacks as one of a series of "false flag" operations that Israel has carried out to manufacture a war against its Muslim enemies.
According to the League's analysis, while the prevalence of certain conspiracy theories has changed over the last decade, one constant has been the penchant to accuse Jews and Israel of planning and executing the 9/11 attacks.
The conspiracy theories, which surfaced immediately after 9/11, have continued to circulate widely on the Internet, where conspiracy-mongers and antisemites have found a built-in audience for their ideas. These theories are promoted and shared on conspiracy-oriented web sites, social networking sites, and video sites. In addition, there is a flood of books and DVDs that proclaim that Jews and/or Israelis were behind the 9/11 attacks.
Certain conspiracy theories have increased in popularity over the past decade, according to ADL. The most prevalent antisemitic conspiracy theory that initially circulated following the attacks alleged that "4,000 Israelis" or Jews were forewarned and told to stay home from the World Trade Center on 9/11. While this theory has largely receded into the background, other major antisemitic conspiracy theories have come to the forefront.
The most popular conspiratorial allegations include the following:
- Variations of this theory assert that the Mossad, the Israeli intelligence agency, was behind the 9/11 attacks; the "proof" is in the "five dancing Israelis" arrested on 9/11 who were allegedly celebrating as the Twin Towers burned. Today, the theory claims that the five Israelis were actually directing the attacks and began dancing when they realized that their mission of creating a "false flag" operation had been accomplished.
- Proponents of this theory claim that neo-conservative American officials of Jewish faith within the Bush Administration methodically worked out a plan, with the assistance of the Mossad, to carry out the attacks to benefit Israel. This theory alleges that these officials orchestrated a plan well before 9/11, with the goal of invading Iraq and other Middle Eastern countries to allow the U.S. and Israel to seize control of resources in that area."
- The "truth" about Israeli and Jewish involvement in the 9/11 attacks will not be allowed to emerge, claim conspiracy theorists, since Jews are or were in charge of the 9/11 Commission report and control the media and government.