My blog is screwing up; perhaps Benedict XVI has formally excommunicated me like he always threatened to do on his LiveJournal. Oh well.
In studying (or being forced to study) the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, one very strong theme emerged: there were two Israels. One was Israel as it truly is, the other a deeply distorted picture of the country as many saw it.
The False Israel: A blood-drenched, aggressive, imperialist state, usually run by a council of bearded Elders of Zion who revel in the suffering of the Palestinians. Probably there’s some puppet or marionette reference in regards to Israeli’s relationship with the United States.
The Real Israel: Peaceful, altruistic, socially progressive, agnostic, and wholeheartedly dedicated to democracy. As Martin Buber one said, a Jewish state could never be a goyishe nation, "with cannons, flags and military decorations". People like Ben-Gurion were trying to build a society such as has never been seen before on earth. Of course, political realities made such a civilization practically impossible, and it’s not complete yet, but progress had been made.
Yet as i sit down to my improvised seder tomorrow, here’s the really striking thing about the whole situation:
Palestinians in general, fed on a diet of Dark-Ages PA media and constant contact with the rougher elements of Israeli policy (security barriers, continued military presence in Palestinian territories, etc.), hate the imagined picture of Israel and refuse to acknowledge that the true Israel exists.* This makes sense if one considers that if people see the country as it really is, they would neither want to harm it nor blame its defenders for wanting to preserve it. Of course, to the critics it doesn’t matter that huge majorities of Israelis oppose such measures, as 80% want to withdraw from Gaza, 2/3 want the settlements dismantled, and 75% desire a two-state solution (all poll numbers are according to the Israeli policy Forum). Even though almost all of Israel wants only the best for their Palestinian neighbors, they've never gained the security needed to let that altruism come into full effect..
To various degrees, Ultra-orthodox Jews and their allies among right-wing American Zionists idolize the gruesome caricature of Israel and despise the real thing. How could they not? It’s the embodiment of everything they stand against: peace-loving, feminist, secular, environmentally conscious, socially liberal, emphasizing cooperation over competition, and with no great desire to impose their particular Gospel on those who don’t want it.
Even today, it’s the religious settler types who demand money and protection while contributing absolutely nothing to society, and it is they who are responsible for why Israel still does not have a real constitution (“Israel’s constitution is the Torah!!”) and lacks some basic liberties, such as civil marriage.
Some people accuse me of being anti-religious; I’m not. I’m anti-clerical, because I don’t think dedication to higher calling should be about enriching yourself, and I’m anti-dogmatic because I don’t see the point of having faith if it doesn’t make you a better person. And any true understanding of Judaism cannot fail to instill one with a sense of social justice. After all, doesn't the Hagadah say (roughly) "Oppress no stranger among you, for remember that you were once strangers in the land of Egypt."
One might say there’s not really an equivalency between what the two groups would do to Israel if they had the chance. Fine, but the fact remains that neither outcome is desirable, as the spirit and value of Israel would still be utterly destroyed.
Ariel Sharon might be the darling of the Project for a New American Century, but if he (much less someone like Ehud Barak) tried to suggest Israeli domestic policies here, he’d be called a Communist and get death threats from Ann Coulter. And Sharon is to the right of most Israelis!
If Israel were magically moved from the Middle East to Western Europe, they’d become just another part of ‘Old Europe’ and be deemed irrelevant. If Israel were in South America, Bush would declare Sharon ‘a Hugo Chavez wannabe’ and try to spark a coup. Conversely, if American-style democracy and economics were imposed on Israel, the whole country would collapse tomorrow.
I really cannot wait for peace in the region. It’s going to be very interesting.
*Actually, I’m not entirely sure how effective PA propaganda is, as 70% of Palestinians want to end attacks on Israeli civilians. Still, it’s definitely there, and it’s hard to have a decent society where a minimum of 30% of the people want to kill civilians.
15 comments:
Oh, man. So many points to address...
First of all, any comparison of Palestinian terrorists and "right wing Zionists" is extremely offensive to me. No matter how much you hate the fact that civil liberties may be curtailed if the religious right has power in Israel (and that's not to say that the religious right is the only "right wing" that exists), there is no appropriate comparison between that and a bunch of despicable murderers. Please put things in perspective.
I'd agree that with your description of the "False Israel", the despicable caricature created by its detractors.
But I am disturbed by your claim that "right wing Zionists" admire that caricature. That's not true at all - we (and I don't consider myself right wing, but I do agree with some of those values that you've described as such) admire the strength of the Israeli military, because it is a good thing to see Jews defend their own nation, swiftly and successfully, without relying on the benevolence of others. I don't think "Right wing Zionists" (maybe with the exception of nutty Kahanists in Israel and their handful of supporters in the U.S.) would ever take pleasure when innocent Palestinians suffer, but we understand the need for justice to be served - for terrorists to be eliminated, for Israel's citizens to be protected, through checkpoints or military raids. Israel's detractors use these things as a negative; we tend to see them as positive and necessary, if they are used morally (and they are).
However, I think you make some serious generalizations about the "Real Israel", and make the mistake of grouping any ideal you have a problem with into the category of "extremist".
To me, the real Israel is:
Peaceful, but not pacifist. I think the idea prevails that Israel will defend itself using military means when threatened, but will never initiate warfare. As for the Buber quote, it is necessary to remember that the Jewish state exists among these "goyische states", with all of their cannons and flags and military decorations. In order to remain viable as a nation, Israel must have these as well. Attempting to be a "light unto the nations" does NOT equal putting the state at risk in what has been a political reality for millenia.
A mixture of secular, agnostic, and religious. I have a hard time accepting the idea of a Jewish state that doesn't count observant Jews as part of its "reality" (since you referred to the "real Israel"). It is one thing to be opposed to religious interference in public policy; it is another to say that privately religious people do not represent Israel. The majority of Americans are white and Christian - going by your standard, neither of us are "real Americans".
I'd agree that most people in Israel would consider themselves social democrats, but that includes the religiously observant as well, even those in the settlements. However, you'd likely see many secular entreprenuers in the high tech parks of Tel Aviv who are staunchly capitalist. So, I'd advise you not to group all the values that you disagree (religious fervency, capitalism) with into one category.
And I'd also make a distinction between the ultra-Orthodox of Jerusalem and Mea Shearim and those of the settlements. No, those in the cities usually do not serve in the military or have "gainful employment". They don't care what the secular world does (and this includes the conflict w/the Palestinians). Those in the settlements, however, are as religiously observant, but not out of touch with the world. They will send their kids to the army in order to defend their interests, and (in a very few extreme cases) enact violence against Palestinians or IDF troops.
The Israel Policy Forum has fine intentions, I'm sure. But those poll numbers need to be taken in context. From what I've repeatedly in the Jerusalem Post or Ha'aretz, the majority of Israelis want disengagement from Gaza (80% is too high a figure; the last one I read was 65%); a majority wants most settlements dismantled - most people realize the necessity of maintaining the settlement blocs that border Israel proper and would not agree to dismantling them; a majority does want a two-state solution, but the Palestinian state must be demilitarized and Israel's borders must not be relegated to the 1949 ceasefire lines.
As for the "70%" of Palestinians who want to stop their attacks, the last time I read that statistic, it was contingent upon Israel withdrawing completely to the 1949 ceasefire lines, the full right of return for Palestinian refugees, the release of prisoners, and a list of other completely unrealistic demands. Please don't give them more credit than they deserve.
So, don't lump everything you consider "right wing" into one category. Know that there are nuances when it comes to religion, and know that being "right wing" on one issue doesn't mean being "right wing" on all others. I am fully supportive of Israel's strong military, I appreciate the religious diversity (both in terms of different religions and in terms of observance of Judaism) that exists, I think the social democratic values are appropriate for Israel, I don't like the idea of too much religious influence on the government, I like Israeli entrepreneurship and know that the country wouldn't be a high-tech giant if it weren't for a competitive spirit.
And anyone who considers him/herself a Zionist will have varying opinions on all of these, all of which are equally part of the "real Israel".
I said that there wasn't an equivalency between the two groups; in terms of degrees and extremeism, certainly there's no comparison - yet. But it's the the ultraorthodox to whom I'm referring, and not the secular center-right people who are their supporters, though I'm afraid we have the whole 'unholy alliance' phenomenon going. Alot of those ultraorthodox leaders are as scary and violent as any you'll find on the other side; they've just been held in check by the democratic and tolerant nature of Israeli society.
One can be militarily strong and still peaceful. They don't call it 'The Israeli Defense Force' for nothing.
One can be militarily strong and still peaceful. They don't call it 'The Israeli Defense Force' for nothing.
Exactly. I seriously doubt that most of the "right wing Zionists" whom you decry want Israel to be the initiator of violence. They (we) are proud of the IDF for its defense of the state.
Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) Launch More Attacks in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT)
Summary:
One Palestinian was extra-judicially killed by IOF.
10 Palestinian civilians, including 4 children, were wounded by IOF.
Construction of the “annexation wall” in the West Bank has continued; more areas of Palestinian land were confiscated and the Israeli High Court issued a decision allowing the construction of a section of the wall in Beit Sahour.
IOF conducted a series of incursions into Palestinian areas.
At least 20 Palestinian civilians, including 4 children, were arrested by IOF.
5 Palestinian civilians, including 2 children, were arrested by IOF near the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel.
Israeli settlers have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property in the West Bank and more areas of Palestinian land were confiscated in Hebron.
IOF have continued to impose a total siege on the OPT; IOF have continued to close a number of roads since the beginning of the current Intifada, IOF positioned at checkpoints arrested a number of Palestinian civilians and injured one, and IOF resumed using a special checking machine at Rafah International Crossing Point.
The methods of torture used by the state of Israel include psychological torture and physical torture which consist of the following:
Beatings of sensitive organs
Choking
Pulling of hair off the body
Prolonged solitary confinement
Subjecting detainees to noise, screams, and threats against their families Sleep and food deprivation Forcing a person to stand, hooded and handcuffed, for long periods of time Use of electronic shocks, burnings and beatings with hands, fists, and boots Deprivation of basic hygiene; which results in lice, general discomforts which lead to minor-extreme diseases Verbal threats and insults Fined heavily for any little wrongful action committed....
hope you haven't forgotten those little things.
Anon.
http://palestineblogs.com
I knew my assessment would satisfy nobody, and so far I am not disappointed.
Hey, anonymous...if you have the time to post random lies about the only democracy in the Middle East, why not take the time to think of a screenname?
Achates, I appreciate you r effort to bring clarity to the issue wich I believe is at the nexus of much conflict globally. These posted comments,though, are a frightening reminder that the state of rational discourse is so frayed we may not be able to use it to pull us out of the void.Neocon insists rigidly on a position which will only allow nuance and complexity to exist on one side of the conflict( "not to say that the religious right is the only right wing..." relating to Israelis but Palestinans become "bunch of despicable murderers") Checkpoints get to be "used morally" which implies some could be used immorally, a further nuanced position allowed Israelis that the Palestinans are incapable of.He sees nuance between ultra orthadox and othe settlers, between social democrats and capitalists, in other words allows the full range of human compexity to exist in the character of the Israeli but encloses the Palestinian in a narrow stereotype.He then uses a twisted logic to say that as privately religious people "represent" Israel, white Christians "represent" America only he conflates that with the term "real Americans". Could a person of Palestinian descent(an ethnic, cultural identity) not be a citizen of Israel? (A national identity)
When annonymous attempts to show the blurred nature of the term "defense" (or can you still argue that the US Defense dept. has exclusivly undertaken "defensive" measures? If so,Im out of here.) Neo con rejects this as "lies" and resorts to character assasination. In a micro-cosm then , the conflict in the middle east, completely differing knowledge sets, ideologies, pathologies etc.. and almost no real dialoque. The "final settlement" issues such as right of return , borders, division of Jerulelum all become "unrealistic demands" by those with power and dismissed with a sneer, a sneer that frightens me in it's implications.
Wouldnt your description of the "real Israel" have to include something about its relationship with US aid and Christian Zionists? Can you really argue there are no effects?
And if Israel is indeed such a well functioning democracy, why is there such a disconnect between public attitudes and government policy? I would suggest it is for the same reason US policy does not reflect popular positions.The "people' lack the will to exert their influence over a process that has power located in a small ,defined space.
If Israel were in South America, you would be facing the same sort of issues from the indigenous population that was displaced. The US would still support you to protect its energy interests in the area.Look hard at your description of the false Israel and try to puyt yourself in the mind of your enemy,the hardest thing there is.Can you percieve his sense of historical development?
Israel may be a democracy, but that doesn't mean people can't be misled. You ask how there can be such a disconnect between policy and opinion - as you point out, you could ask the same about the U.S. The Right remains in power because the left is too weak, divided, and afraid of being called 'pro-terrorist' to enact real changes.
I don't consider the vision of the Religious Right the 'real' Israel anymore than I consider those evangelicals the 'real' America, however much they claim to be so. But I do admit an undue amount of influence one has over the other.
South America is an interesting comparison, actually - who knows what would happen if a Populist democratic socialist like Hugo Chavez arose among the Palestinians? Or the Israelis, for that matter?
As a middle-aged, atheist, Jew, I'm going to weigh in here a bit as I contemplate the fact that for the first time in my life, I will do nothing for Passover, not even the most limited and secular observance. (Just worked out that way.)
You talk about what people would say of Israel if it were elswhere in the world...I often think of what I would have thought if I'd been alive at another time, the time before Israel existed. I think I would have been an anti-Zionist. I'd have been with those who thought the zionists were nuts, and anyway, as one person responsed to Weitzman when he proposed a state in Palestine (other locations had been considered) "The bride is already taken..." meaning...there were already people THERE! Palestinians, Turks! What will we do about them?
Well, the state was born anyway, and the weird compromise between theocracy and secular democracy is held in place, I think, by the state of constant war. If peace breaks out, it will, as you say, be very interesting. Can the state survive? I don't know.
In the meantime, I just can't see the conflict between the two communities as something unique and sui generis. Two groups fighting over the same land. Yes, the imagery, the tactics, the cultures involved give it a terrible cast, have horrid implications, but in the end, that's how I see it. As I've said elsewhere, they will reach a compromise and bury the hatchet, or they will just go on killing each other.
If I were religious, I'd probably be more partisan, but would I be closer to the truth?
First of all, I am a she.
The reason I make generalizations about the Palestinians is because they have allowed none of the nuances within their society, if those actually exist, to surface. Unless you see the great diversity reflected in Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and the Al Aqsa Martyr's Brigade.
Also, when I referred to white Christians as being the "real Americans", I was being sarcastic. Loyal Achates had said that those not in the secular majority in Israel didn't represent the "real Israel", and I merely pointed out that minorities are a part of a society, too.
I refer to anonymous's comments as "lies", because he/she has no facts to back these statements up. All of these horrible stories of torture simply cannot be verified. And there are enough checks on the military in Israel (because of its democratic nature) that such things cannot possibly occur with impunity.
At the end of the day, the palestinians have no real democracy(even the recent election is not enough for a democracy). They don't have the checks and balances the israeli military has. In fact suspected informers are frequently executed in the sreets by militants
with no trial or jury. You cannot compare them.
Smiling Neocon:
I've met Palestinians, heard them on the radio, read some articles, etc. and it seems to me that they have a variety of voices like any other community. I can't read their newspapers...Their political institutions don't seem oriented towards letting the voices be heard outside of private conversation or academic debate, and of course, the voices I've heard are from people living here, or with easy access to here...so I sort of agree with you, except that I don't.
When you say, "...nuances within their society, if those actually exist," it sounds to me like you ARE making a rather unreasonable generalization about Palestinians, although you have a valid critique of their political institutions.
Don't you think that there are a lot of them who would just like to live a normal, modern, prosperous life like the people on TV, and have done with all these suicidal nuts? Sounds plausible to me.
Im sorry smiling neocon for both the gender assumption and not catching the sarcasm,my bad,but where you mentioned "real americans" you had also said"it is another to say that privately religious people do not represent Israel" and I understood "real" in the context of "represent".I think the concept of some person or a group of persons "representing" a nation that is pluralistic is full of unsolvable difficulties. Also I think it is obvious that the state would "count observant Jews" but there is a huge difference between that and a Zionist state.
I know many Palestinians,as well as Jews,who believe in non-violence but I understand their struggle with that as I understood the African Americans who struggled with the tactical differences between Martin L King and Stokely Carmichael or Malcolm X or even Bobby Seal.To think they do not have the same desire for peace,with justice, as anyone else is simply racist.Of course their political institutions are weak, look at the objective conditions they must function in.I know it is hard to get information and media does a terrible job, it is no accident.Try Friends of Sabeel, a Christian Palestinian organization.
I spoke with an elderly Israeli once who had believed in the early concept of Israel as a place where Jews could live by the work of their hands and in the soil,collectivly and communally (Kibbutz)He felt this would be a soul enriching change from the typical,historical role of the Jew as the person who dealt with finance. That socialist dream did not last long and I wonder to what degree US capitalism ha an influence.
Well, I didn't mean to imply that religiously observant Israelis were the only ones who represent the "real Israel"; I meant that they are included, along with agnostic and secular Israelis, in my vision of the "real Israel". Furthermore, a "Zionist state" certainly doesn't mean a Jewish theocracy. It means a Jewish state, in terms of political protection, cultural and social values, and the vision of the future.
I am sure that they are individual Palestinians who only desire peace, and I feel sympathy for them. I hadn't heard of Friends of Sabeel, but I don't think I am wrong in assuming that their vision isn't shared by the majority right now. My complaint is with the belligerence, terrorism, and pathological anti-Semitism that exists in the Palestinian political culture, media, schools, and all other major aspects of society.
I will never equate the Civil Rights Movement with what the Palestinians have been doing. It is undeniable that blacks in America were horribly mistreated for centuries, whereas there wasn't even a movement for a Palestinian state until the 1960s, primarily as a method to destroy the state of Israel. I don't think the Palestinian narrative about victimhood at the hands of Israel is accurate, and therefore, I don't think the movement has much legitimacy (this does not mean, however, that I oppose an Israeli withdrawal from most of the W. Bank and Gaza - I see them as separate issues). I don't view the terrorism as just a more extreme aspect of a "resistance movement" - I see it as something that must be prevented at any cost.
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