Support 100 years of independent journalism.

  1. Politics
18 August 2014

Louise Mensch accidentally calls the father of modern Zionism an anti-Semite

Yet another type-first-think-later gaffe from the former MP for Corby.

By media mole

(Photo By Theodor Herzl in Basel, 1897. Image: The Bettman Archive via Wikimedia Commons)

Oh dear. Louise Mensch is (rightly) worried about the rise of anti-Semitism again in the wake of the crisis in Gaza, but she has a funny way of showing it:

(And a screenshot in case she deletes it.)

Sign up for The New Statesman’s newsletters Tick the boxes of the newsletters you would like to receive. Quick and essential guide to domestic and global politics from the New Statesman's politics team. The New Statesman’s global affairs newsletter, every Monday and Friday. The best of the New Statesman, delivered to your inbox every weekday morning. A handy, three-minute glance at the week ahead in companies, markets, regulation and investment, landing in your inbox every Monday morning. Our weekly culture newsletter – from books and art to pop culture and memes – sent every Friday. A weekly round-up of some of the best articles featured in the most recent issue of the New Statesman, sent each Saturday. A weekly dig into the New Statesman’s archive of over 100 years of stellar and influential journalism, sent each Wednesday. Sign up to receive information regarding NS events, subscription offers & product updates.
I consent to New Statesman Media Group collecting my details provided via this form in accordance with the Privacy Policy

Herzl isn’t on Twitter, but he did write and publish Der Judenstaat (The Jewish State) in 1896 and Altneuland (The Old New Land) in 1902, the key texts of the modern Zionist movement, arguing that European Jews should move to the land that is now Israel and create their own state. The second-largest city in Israel, Tel Aviv, is named after the title of the Hebrew translation of Altneuland. Ah well. Can’t win them all, Louise.