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Internal Pro-Israel Politics
I’ve talked alot about how the Pro-Israel community should respond to external critiques from the left. But I think it’s worth emphasizing that we have an equal obligation to exile groups from the right who either call themselves or are called “pro-Israel” whose agenda involves plunging Israel into violent conflict with its neighbors and/or Palestine. These people are no friend of Israel, their prescriptions run wildly counter to Israeli national and ethical interests, and allowing themselves to be associated with our movement both degrades what it means to be “pro-Israel,” and submerges authentically “pro-Israel” voices who are trying to find innovative and effective solutions for peace in the region.
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6 Responses to “Internal Pro-Israel Politics”
Good point. It’s worth noting that some people on the left are anti-Israel, or at least anti-Zionism, and some are merely anti-Likud. Similarly, on the right some are truly pro-Israel, and some are simply pro-Rapture. The anti-Israel left and pro-Rapture right are not large, percentage-wise, but they’re very loud.
So much for turn the other cheek and feed the poor. Gotta love the sheep who sit and listen to this hate. I don’t think the Wiccans talk like this, the Wiccan KIA can’t even be buried with their religious symbols because of pandering to these hateful “Christians”. I would rather burn in Coulterland than spend eternity…..
As a non-Jew, I always wonder how much I can trust my opinions about Israeli politics. That hasn’t stopped me from being deeply interested, though, ever since my best friend married an Israeli and moved to Jerusalem in the mid ’60′s.
This family keeps me posted about the debates in Israel, and among the many members there are sharp divisions. Viewpoints swing in relation to the current sense of vulnerability, too.
On the whole, they struggle to maintain a sense of rationality and humanity, resisting the urge for revenge or calls for actions that appear to be counterproductive. Gaza was a huge disappointment, as they had pegged so much hope on the evacuation. It’s only recently that I hear doubt about the way the evacuation was conducted, with Sharon running a one man show and leaving Abbas on the sidelines, looking weak. Gaza was their Iraq, forever to be re-examined and debated. Fear and doubt is their daily bread.
For that reason, I’m very frustrated with all the advisors from safe distances. The visciousness of comments on some left wing sites is disgusting; many have adobped whole hog the talking points of the Palestinian activists.
From the other side, it seems that some have adopted Israel as theri proxy to fight their wars for them, and to feed their fantasy need to be Rambo clones. The Evangelicals pretending to be Jews are too weird to take seriously, but I do wish they would stop making serious noise.
Poor Israel. Everyone wants to lead it in a certain direction, but there is no agreement about the direction this should be.
I think the settlements in the West Bank are a mistake. Most in my Israeli family agree, but not all.
I think that insisting on the recognition of Israel before negotiations is a mistake. As with the US and Iran, I believe that the best road to arriving at big agreements is by starting small, and finding smaller items that are possible. Just interacion, of any kind, can act as a calming agent. Little successes can bring about enough trust to make bigger successess possible. Agreement with me in my Israeli family is about 50-50.
We stick to discussing strategies. I never tell them what they should feel. How could I do that from my safe living room, as they listen to Fatah and Hamas exchange fire from their back porch?
David – My concern is primarily for the “soul” of Israel and the Jews who live there. As a regular visitor to Israel since 1966 with several dozen relatives living there (Mostly in West Bank settlements) I have seen a hardening of the hearts that wasn’t as bad even after the 67 and 73 wars. Compassion and understanding between arabs and jews is almost non-existent. There is almost no interaction between the two communities, unlike the time between 1948 and the first infitada in 87. The corrosion has rapidly increased in the last 20 years.
What many outsiders fail to realize is that the settlers are driving the politics of peace and the lack thereof. There is an unprecedented amount of building going on in the West Bank. Settlements are expanding even if there are no settlers ready to move in.
An example is the settlers in Modi’in Illit will be coming to a synagogue near you with a request for members to fund construction and own housing that is then occupied by young jews with severely reduced rent. Wealthy jews in the US and elsewhere are funding this kind of expansion. Modi’in Illit is not the only settlement engaged in this kind of game.
Kadima/Likud representatives routinely tell settlers keep up building facts on the ground because we are at the tipping point where a viable Palestinian state will be impossible. The example Knesset members and other administration officials cite is our own American Indians which have reservations and some type of sovernity but basically emasculated and divided. The security fence is being rerouted to encompass more settlements and Olmert recently stated that under no circumstances would the Jordan Valley be given to the Palestinians. I hope people understand that Israelis’ do NOT want any peace that will give Palestinians freedom or economic viability
So what is being contemplated is nothing more than continued occupation and debasement of Palestinians. In another 60 years of this I don’t think any of us will recognize Judiasm as practiced in Israel. Oh the rituals will still be there but as a positive guiding force in people’s lives it will be non-existent. This is my fear for an Israel I dearly love.
It’s interesting to note the difference between the settlers in the West Bank, as jdledell points out, and my contacts in Jerusalem, who rarely go there.
It makes me see how important the settlements are in prospects for the future.
I have to agree with much of what I’m reading here. I support Israel’s right to exist in peace wholeheartedly. I also think that the biggest obstacle to that possibility is the West Bank settlers and their supporters, no matter where they are.