Not a racist comment: just a comment on the patronising discourse in which some writers/activists like Susan Nathan position the Palestinians.

Quant aux personnes haineuses qui essayent de salir son nom, ce sont les mêmes qui ont intérêt que cet apartheid persiste, que les palestiniens soient enfermés dans leurs bantoustans, ou leurs ghettos.

L’histoire jugera, tôt ou tard, ce peuple qui en opprime un autre sous prétexte qu’il a été lui aussi victime.

Ce pays du moyen orient (Israël ou Palestine) ne peut être que le pays de plusieurs peuples, plusieurs religions, comme il l’a été depuis le début de l’histoire. Ce racisme anti-arabe, latent et patent, finira par être la perte d’Israel, car il ne lui sera pas pardonné.

Merci, Mme Nathan, vous êtes l’honneur d’Israel.

The problem is that a surfeit of conscience in particular situations can get you killed. If not informed by a sober appreciation of realities, especially historical and political realities, it can become a rationale for surrender or even collective suicide. Left-wing and ‘peace activist’ Jews such as Ms. Nathan are people of tender conscience who focus exclusively on the issue ‘is Israel being kind enough to its Arabs?’, imagine that it’s all simply about folks ‘getting along’ and forget or do not understand contextual matters such as the nature of nationalism, the attitude of mainstream, let alone radical, Islam to the existence of a Jewish state, and finally, the relation of the nation state to democracy.

Setting up an ideal standard of what the treatment of the Arab minority should be, they see the half-empty rather than the half-full glass. A 20% minority that does not share any of the national ethos of the state is an extremely rare phenomenon in the world, let alone in a democracy. I can’t think of any others that aren’t failed states racked by instability. Israel has done pretty well to have its Arab minority — with a far higher living standard and far more freedoms than they would enjoy in any Arab state and far more than their own culture would naturally encourage — represented at all levels of society up to the Supreme Court.

Here’s the bottom line: contrary to Ms. Nathan’s thesis, Israel’s continuation as a democracy depends on its continuation as a Jewish state. Imperfect as it is now, Israel’s democracy would not survive in the kind of state desired by the left — some kind of binational state with a neutral identity. With only a tiny fraction of the land area and population of the Middle East, Jews would inexorably find themselves drawn back into their historic status in the region — that of dhimmis/second class citizens in an overwhelmingly Muslim world. Israel’s democracy, in order to survive, must take strong measures to defend its existence in a very turbulent neighbourhood.

Jewish conscience is too tender a plant to survive unaided in a world full of threats and dangers. It needs an alliance with Greek Stoic philosophy to infuse it with the strength needed to live in an imperfect world. This means that, while maintaining the highest moral standards, it must accept that these may not always be realisable and that imperfect, though viable, arrangements are the best that may be attainable in a world where evil exists.

Hadassa

I also note – and this is backed up by the very few disparaging comments made here – the compete lack of substantial comments offered by the nay-sayers. It’s hard to present a convincing argument against the truth.

Ofcourse there are atrocities commited! Both on the front-line and the backyard. By both sides. What Western culture has the luxury to ignore (or pretend to) is that you need to brake some eggs to make an omlet.

Yes! That burger you’re sucking down is made with the meat (some) of a cow that suffered all her life and was slaughtered cruely (sometimes left injured to suffer terribly) by someone who you pay to do that.

You’re conviniently shut in your office, shaking your fist at the newspaper, while paying others (soldiers, etc) to do your killing for you.

Do not judge those who fight for their right to exist or the future of their children (literally). You are in no position.

Mrs Nathan, a very brave feat, i think it’s great that the world gets to see through the eyes of the little guy.

Sid

How about America

I came across this book overseas, and I am definitely not bringing it back with me when I go back because I might be harrassed and investigated for hours in the Israeli airport for having such book. They would find it ofcourse after they search my suitcases VERY thoroughly like always … ma la’asot!

This book is causing me to question some core beliefs I have held throughout my entire life. I am still struggling to untangle truth from fiction in my own mind. Any reader who supports Zionism will find that Zionism, given that the facts in the book are true, has a much different meaning in practice in Israel, than he or she ever dreamed of. In other words I never would have considered that a Jewish state could be incompatible with democracy, until now.

Susan Nathan’s book is hard to put down while reading, but its personal impact is even harder to dismiss.

I pray that what she says isn’t basically true — because if it is– Israeli Arabs have been dealt a terrible injustice since 1948 that must be rectified, and Israeli youth and reservists are being put in situations that prevent them from following the Torah – which is what truly Jewish people hold dear. Being Jewish means following the Torah, and that path leads to justice, not justice for Israel’s Jewish citizens only, but for her Arab ones as well.