Die schweizerische Linke und Israel: Israelbegeisterung, Antizionismus und Antisemitismus zwischen 1967 und 1991, by Christina Spati. Essen: Klartext Verlag, 2006.360 pp. euro29.90. Various reports prove that antisemitism did not disappear after World War II but continues to influence political culture in Europe even in 21st century. It can be found in West European countries on right and left of political spectrum, in liberal circles and-as a new phenomenon-among growing Moslem population. While hatred of by right is obviously linked with Holocaust denial, xenophobia, and racism, left is very often accused of merging anti-Zionism with antisemitism. The association of anti-Zionism with antisemitism is not new but intensified after foundation of State of Israel and especially after Six-Day War of 1967. When does criticism of Israel and anti-Zionism become antisemitic? How can it be explained that many left-wing circles in Europe and North America substituted their enthusiasm for Jewish state and its socialist agenda for a harsh criticism of Israel after 1967? Christina Spati examines Swiss Left for answers to these and other questions. She first introduces definitions of antisemitism and and-Zionism and underlines antisemitism's transformations in Europe after 1945. While an open hatred of remained politically incorrect after Auschwitz, new issues appeared: denial or trivialization of Holocaust and Israel. In addition, philosemitic attitudes emerged. The author sets up three interesting propositions for Swiss approaches to antisemitism after 1945: First, antisemitism was limited to Nazi Germany and did not exist in Switzerland. Second, antisemitism was regarded as a marginal phenomenon existing on extreme right; antisemitic attitudes of broader population groups and their articulation in daily life were ignored. Third, antisemitism was associated with ideology and politics of Third Reich and disappeared together with Nazi regime. Once merged, these views prohibited a deeper debate on antisemitic incidents in Switzerland after World War II (p. 32f ). The author does not ignore fact that anti-Zionism very often includes antisemitic tendencies; however, she does emphasize that it cannot be characterized as anrisemitism. According to Span, criticism of Israelis or Zionists becomes antisemitic when persons criticized are explicitly characterized as and Israeli politics is described as politics of the Jews (p. 49). Span focuses her research on Swiss including Social Democrats and trade unionists, communists, New Left, new social movements, autonomous and antifascist groups of 1980s, and independent Leftist journals and newspapers. She bases her study on many published and unpublished primary sources, including rich archival material. Interviews with journalists or political actors were not conducted. The author analyzes publications across Left in Switzerland during four periods: from Six-Day War to Yom Kippur War, from 1974 to 1982, from Lebanon War to 1987, and from outbreak of first Inrifada to Iraq War of 1991. There was no unified Left position regarding Israel (p. 325), she concludes, but rather a range of attitudes from principled opposition to Jewish state and its delegitimization, to unconditional support of Israel. The periodization follows Middle East conflict and attaches only minor significance to international developments and domestic issues. The reader unfamiliar with history of Switzerland would appreciate some introductory information on concrete numbers, leading figures, and political role of Left in society. …