Israel-Diaspora differences
There is a natural dichotomy between the interests of the Jews of Israel and those of the Diaspora. While most Jews are pro-Israel, in that they support the existence of the State of Israel, not all Jews are Zionists, and many Jews are uncomfortable with an aggressive and militant Israel. If they support Israel, when it is in one of its wars they often find themselves at odds with many of their non-Jewish friends. If they are left wing or liberal and so are all their friends, it is an embarrassment that Israel is militant and to them seemingly aggressive, as far as the news shows them, when they themselves are in favor of peace. It is a difficult relationship.
I experienced this myself when I lived in Maryland. Although I counted myself a strong Zionist, I found it sometimes unpalatable to go out and actively support Israel, when few of even my Jewish contemporaries were prepared to do so. But, I always took the attitude that it was my place in the Diaspora to support my Jewish compatriots in Israel against their enemies, even though I may not know all of the details or understand all the factors that led to war or that led a particular Israeli Government to choose that path.
But, often I understood quite well the circumstances, given that it was usually Arab aggression that started the war, and this was definitely so in 1967 and 1973. One time when I had problems was in 1982 for example, when it was said that Gen. Ariel Sharon ordered the IDF to advance into Lebanon as far as Beirut against the wishes of the Government of Menachem Begin and of Begin himself. It was also alleged that Sharon was responsible for the massacres of Palestinians in the camps of Sabra and Shatilla, even though the actual killings had been done by Christian militias. Nevertheless, although I did not know all the facts, nor was I party to the decisions that were being taken, I argued forcefully on behalf of Israel, when many were prepared to support the chorus of criticism. There were claims and counter-claims, and it was alleged that the IDF had massacred people in south Lebanon, starting with ca. 30,000 and then escalated to 300,000. I did some elementary research myself and found three things, first, the IDF is a responsible armed force that has standing orders to avoid civilian casualties (none of its adversaries have such orders), second the figures that were being cited without confirmation came from the Palestinian Red Cross that was run by the brother of Yasir Arafat, and third that there were less than 250,000 inhabitants of southern Lebanon, and many of these had fled northwards and were far from the areas of battle. This has been the pattern of all conflicts, exaggerated casualty reports, doctored media and claims of "war crimes."
But, beyond the practical differences, there are matters of principle involved. Most Americans somehow believe that it makes them less American if they root for another country, while many Americans believe just the opposite. Before WWII many Americans who were Anglophiles were strongly pushing for the US to enter the war in support of Britain, while many who were pro-German, including the powerful German-Amerika Bund, opposed such views as anti-American. I once met a man of German origin who was jailed as a conscientious objector during WWII because he refused to fight members of his own race, and he was convinced (still) that it was pro-British elements that had caused the US to enter the war against Germany (apart from Pearl Harbor).
So here we are today, when 75% of American Jews voted for Pres. Obama and 75% of Israeli Americans supported his opponent. Now it continues with large scale support of American Jews for Obama's policies, so far mainly focussed on the economy and the reduction of the Iraq war. But, suppose things hot up in Afghanistan, or suppose the Obama administration takes a line that supports the interests of the Palestinians over those of Israel as advanced by the Netanyahu Government? Or suppose ultimately that the US does nothing against Iran's acquisition of a nuclear weapon and Israel decides it has to act. What then?
I experienced this myself when I lived in Maryland. Although I counted myself a strong Zionist, I found it sometimes unpalatable to go out and actively support Israel, when few of even my Jewish contemporaries were prepared to do so. But, I always took the attitude that it was my place in the Diaspora to support my Jewish compatriots in Israel against their enemies, even though I may not know all of the details or understand all the factors that led to war or that led a particular Israeli Government to choose that path.
But, often I understood quite well the circumstances, given that it was usually Arab aggression that started the war, and this was definitely so in 1967 and 1973. One time when I had problems was in 1982 for example, when it was said that Gen. Ariel Sharon ordered the IDF to advance into Lebanon as far as Beirut against the wishes of the Government of Menachem Begin and of Begin himself. It was also alleged that Sharon was responsible for the massacres of Palestinians in the camps of Sabra and Shatilla, even though the actual killings had been done by Christian militias. Nevertheless, although I did not know all the facts, nor was I party to the decisions that were being taken, I argued forcefully on behalf of Israel, when many were prepared to support the chorus of criticism. There were claims and counter-claims, and it was alleged that the IDF had massacred people in south Lebanon, starting with ca. 30,000 and then escalated to 300,000. I did some elementary research myself and found three things, first, the IDF is a responsible armed force that has standing orders to avoid civilian casualties (none of its adversaries have such orders), second the figures that were being cited without confirmation came from the Palestinian Red Cross that was run by the brother of Yasir Arafat, and third that there were less than 250,000 inhabitants of southern Lebanon, and many of these had fled northwards and were far from the areas of battle. This has been the pattern of all conflicts, exaggerated casualty reports, doctored media and claims of "war crimes."
But, beyond the practical differences, there are matters of principle involved. Most Americans somehow believe that it makes them less American if they root for another country, while many Americans believe just the opposite. Before WWII many Americans who were Anglophiles were strongly pushing for the US to enter the war in support of Britain, while many who were pro-German, including the powerful German-Amerika Bund, opposed such views as anti-American. I once met a man of German origin who was jailed as a conscientious objector during WWII because he refused to fight members of his own race, and he was convinced (still) that it was pro-British elements that had caused the US to enter the war against Germany (apart from Pearl Harbor).
So here we are today, when 75% of American Jews voted for Pres. Obama and 75% of Israeli Americans supported his opponent. Now it continues with large scale support of American Jews for Obama's policies, so far mainly focussed on the economy and the reduction of the Iraq war. But, suppose things hot up in Afghanistan, or suppose the Obama administration takes a line that supports the interests of the Palestinians over those of Israel as advanced by the Netanyahu Government? Or suppose ultimately that the US does nothing against Iran's acquisition of a nuclear weapon and Israel decides it has to act. What then?
posted by Jack Cohen at 1:43 PM
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