My
wife kicks my leg under the dinner table whenever guests rail against
anti-Netanyahu and Israel critics. The U.N. and college students are
also favorite targets. "Save your contrarian opinions for your
articles, not the dinner table," she reproaches me. I'm pretty
black and blue, as you might imagine.
This
abridged dinner talk reflects the mounting impatience Israel advocates have
because of a siege mentality set in among Israelis and Anglo-olim
(immigrants). It incubates from the politics of fear, and they are
just not taking it any longer. I have noticed a palpable shift in
attitude in the six years since we made aliyah. For instance,
staunch Israel advocate Alan Dershowitz threatens to no longer attend Israel
public forums, because audiences, particularly American attendees, boo and
shout down critics of Israel.
Israelis
give shrinking quarter to the likes of Natalie Portman, Peter Beinart, and
Jeremy Ben-Ami. Michael Chabon is now totally out of the
picture. One of Israel's most famous Anglo op-ed writers goes so far
as to question the loyalty of Israel's military leaders and former elected
officials who criticize the government.
Israelis
scoff when they hear claims from abroad that we love Israel but do "not
want to appear as endorsing Benjamin Netanyahu." Israel is
becoming an apartheid state. Israel disproportionately punishes
Arabs (implying that Israel is militarily strong and Arabs are Keystone
Cops). In Israel, this is code for the country and Jewish people
being creatio ex nihilo, led by craven schemers with
perfidious policies. Israelis are flummoxed when they hear Diaspora
critics speak vengefully about Israel's formidable response to terrorists
dressed in t-shorts and flip-flops. Israelis believe that Diaspora
Jews just don't get it, but Israelis are caring less.
Anglo-olim,
especially Shabbat-observant vatikiim (antiques or seniors),
trend right of center. They are angry and fed up with Jews back
home. The largest Anglo-speaking synagogue in our community
distributes Moshe Feiglin's weekly newsletter. The rabbi promotes
Feiglin's political views from the pulpit. At the risk of overstepping, Feiglin
wants to buy out or forcefully remove from all ofEretz Yisroel Arabs
unwilling to swear allegiance to the Jewish State. Pundits predict
that Feiglin will be a force to reckon with in the next Knesset election.
The
widening divide between Israel and the Diaspora is taking on new momentum, as
Israelis are reacting by writing off Diaspora Jews as family.
For
Every Action, There's a Reaction: Kiss Mine Tuchus
Anglo-olim
and many native Israelis are convinced that Likud in general and Netanyahu in
particular keep Israel safe from existential threats; effectively spread
Israel's hasbara; and corral Europe's innate hatred of Jews,
Zionism, and Israel. The Israeli government is admired for its
wildly successful strategy convincing the American administration and her
people that Israel holds the high moral ground.
The
U.S. embassy move to Jerusalem impresses Israelis, inspiring chizzuk –
sustenance and affirmation. Diaspora Jews complain about
it. Israelis enjoy a new sense of power and place not enjoyed since
the awesome success of the Six-Day War.
Four
unshakable principles of faith that Diaspora Jews will never appreciate and
Israelis will not compromise on:
- Israel has a legal right to exist as much as any other
country recognized in the family of nations. There is no
daylight in definitions of terms "anti-Zionism,"
"anti-Israel," and "anti-Semitic."
- Palestinians are treated better and are economically
well off more than in any Arab country, and they are happier living in
Israel.
- Most Palestinians will choose to become Israeli
citizens and assimilate if given the choice without a threat of harm or
death from the Palestinian Authority, Hamas, and other roaming gangs of
terrorists.
- Israelis see the secular, Reform, Conservative,
domestic, and foreign ultra-Orthodox haredi Jews, and Obama-Clinton
liberals, as a claque promoting the Palestinian
perspective. Diaspora Jews are a dying breed because
immigrating Muslims are turning their new countries
anti-Semitic. Jewish youths forsake their heritage through
surging rates of intermarriage and Jewish education
illiteracy. They are now a non-starter collection of forlorn
Jews with no tethers to other Jewish people or Israel despite some
keeners.
Michael
Steinhardt is the co-founder and major funder of Birthright Israel. His
action outside the last AIPAC convention reflects this growing KMT attitude to
anti-Israel activists. Steinhardt, without saying a word to
protesters blocking his entrance outside a gala dinner in honor of the 18th
anniversary of Birthright, flashed his middle finger at protesters and
triumphantly marched into the hall. Steinhardt's flip of the finger
sums up the mood in much of Israel.
Don't
Talk about Me When I'm Gone
Make
no mistake: Israelis engage in vigorous debate about Netanyahu's policies and
political elbowing. He holds office by a razor-thin
majority. The other half of the nation wants the government to
aggressively improve domestic life and make peace with the
Palestinians. Israelis, though, are largely convinced that land for
peace, freeing prisoners for peace, and silk glove (see Urban Dictionary)
actions in Gaza and the West Bank are failed projects.
Nevertheless,
no patriot justifies his own people criticizing their country while abroad and
to the foreign media. As the lyrics to the song say:
Please
don't talk about me when I'm gone
Oh honey, though our friendship ceases from now on
And listen, if you can't say anything real nice
It's better not to talk at all is my advice
Oh honey, though our friendship ceases from now on
And listen, if you can't say anything real nice
It's better not to talk at all is my advice
I am
extremely proud of two American gap year students I taught in Mideast politics,
who for their final project, made a video that in part is poignantly critical
of Israel's failings and missteps but echoes the thoughts of Winston Churchill
from1947:
[W]hen
I am abroad I always make it a rule never to criticise or attack the Government
of my own country. I make up for lost time when I come home[.] ...
Abroad and speaking to foreigners I have even defended our present Socialist
rulers, and always I have spoken with confidence of the future destiny of our
country[.] ... At home we must do our duty, point out the dangers, and
endeavour so to guide the nation as to avoid an overwhelming
collapse. But I have no patience with Englishmen who use the
hospitality of a friendly nation to decry their own. I think this is
a very good principle, and one which deserves general attention.
I tell
my students to argue any government policy you want, but never raise Israel's
right to exist. I will empower the principle of free speech at home,
but not with dinner guests, nor when abroad. I will not try to
convince Holocaust-deniers and Israel-haters otherwise. The
Steinhardt move, the vaunting finger, will become my common response to Israel-haters.
https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2018/08/israeli_jews_are_losing_patience_with_the_diaspora.html
