The first order of business would be to devise and deploy a political “Iron Dome” to protect Israel from the incoming barrages of delegitimization and demonization. Israeli government at the Knesset, April 22, 2013.
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The State of Israel, the country that represents Jews throughout the world as much as its citizens, is slowly but surely abdicating its role by its action or perhaps better said inaction vis-a-vis public diplomacy. What has happened to the leadership of the past, men and women who were not afraid to state their minds and fight for what has always been rightfully ours? We are no longer respected and are at the mercy of a leftist faction and media who will stop at nothing to help in our destruction. – Naomi Romm, in a Facebook response to my previous column, “Dereliction of Duty”
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Israel cannot expect the world to be concerned if Israel does not regard itself, its existence and its rights with urgency and determination. This is the true and profound reason that the Israeli message about Iran did not touch the hearts of the world’s leaders, and the guilty party is we ourselves, the collective Israeli, we, the Right and the Left together, each one because of its acts of commission and its acts of omission. – Dr. Mordechai Kedar, “Survival Skills for Israel – 101,”
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2013 If Israel intends to regain its legitimacy, it must advance its historical claims aggressively and forcefully. The Jewish state cannot permit others to define its identity or distort its past. It is necessary to discredit the fraudulent claims of the other side and expose its lies. Such an effort should include a long-term campaign of relegitimization. Israel must defend its sovereignty and take its rightful place in the community of nations. These are the responsibilities of nationhood. – Dr. Joel Fishman, The Relegitimization of Israel and the Battle for the Mainstream Consensus, 2012
I concluded my previous column with a promise, subject to breaking news, to provide a to-do list detailing the practical measures I would undertake to address/redress the abysmal failings in the conduct – read, misconduct – of Israel’s public diplomacy.
So despite the great temptation to invoke the “subject to breaking news” clause, and devote this week’s column to excoriating the egregiously inexplicable, inexcusable, incomprehensible release of convicted murderers in exchange for nothing, nada, zilch, zip, I will hold firm to my pledge.
After all, such disastrously counterproductive decisions as the prisoner release are largely a result of the catastrophic collapse of Israel’s public diplomacy strategy, which leaves the nation’s policy-makers hopelessly vulnerable and prone to outside pressures.
First week in office
Clearly, in a single opinion column I cannot provide a persuasive presentation of all the measures I would undertake were I to assume the role of prime minister. Constraints of time and space compel me to prioritize.
The most urgent item on the agenda is not difficult to identify. It is clearly reflected in the preceding introductory excerpts, which succinctly diagnose the chronic malaise eating away at the fabric of the nation: The total failure of the national leadership to defend Israel on the international stage as the nation-state of the Jewish people.
Whether this is due to a lack of will or a lack of ability makes scant difference. What matters is that this failure has eroded Israel’s capacity to resist external pressure or rebuff external demands, no matter how absurdly unjustified or outrageously hypocritical.
It is because of the breakdown of the ability to resist pernicious initiatives that, last week, I likened Israel’s diplomatic debacle to the contraction of an HIV virus that destroys the immune system, while likening the danger of Iran’s nuclear program to that of being run over by a truck.
Of course, some might protest that the most pressing issue on the national agenda that must be given priority over others is the Iranian threat. This is, without doubt, a matter of utmost gravity, but even “Iran-firsters” will be compelled to concede that it is, as Mordechai Kedar aptly alludes, greatly exacerbated by ineffectual Israeli diplomacy.
For as is becoming disconcertingly obvious, especially in recent weeks, Israel’s ability to contend effectively with this peril is being considerably constricted by its failure to adequately convey to the world the severity and urgency of the problem. This undermines its ability to rally a reluctant world to employ sufficiently harsh measures to terminate Tehran’s nuclear endeavor, as well as its efforts to acquire international legitimacy for a preemptive strike of its own to disrupt that endeavor.
Accordingly, upon entering the Prime Minister’s Office, the first order of business will be the repair of Israel’s broken diplomacy – especially its public diplomacy.
The Bamba syndrome?
This will require no less than a total overhaul of Israel’s current doctrine of the theory and practice of diplomacy. As Kurt Lewin, widely considered the founder of social psychology, observed, “There is nothing so practical as a good theory.”
The first step in generating a practical operational metamorphosis is generating an attitudinal one.
The current governmental attitude of utter disregard for diplomatic endeavor is reflected in the pitiful amounts allocated for diplomacy, in general, and for public diplomacy, in particular. If the resources allotted for the achievement of a given objective is a gauge of the importance assigned that objective, and of the resolve to successfully attain it, then we are forced to conclude that the Israeli leadership has hitherto assigned virtually no importance to diplomatic objectives – and demonstrated commensurately little resolve in attaining them.
This distressing truth is reflected in the dismayed remark by former minister Michael Eitan several years ago in Haaretz: “It is dreadful to hear that the [popular children’s] snack Bamba has a promotional budget two to three times the size of the total state budget for public diplomacy.”
To contend with this debilitating condition, which might be termed the “Bamba syndrome,” there is a pressing need for a radical restructuring, reformulating and reinvigorating of the intellectual and material infrastructure that have hitherto determined the conduct of Israeli diplomacy.
Diplomacy as air power
Readers will recall that last week, I cited former prime ministerial adviser Ra’anan Gissim, who bewailed “the inability of Israel to prepare strategically with public diplomacy as a tool of war,” while Michael Eitan warned that “the results of the war in the media directly affect the results of the war in the field.”
This is precisely the message conveyed by these sentiments that must be – and would be if I were PM – incorporated into Israel’s foreign policy, both in terms of the mode of its conduct and the resources allotted for its conduct.
As I have pointed out elsewhere, the function of diplomacy should be perceived as essentially similar to that of the classic role of the air force. For just as the latter was traditionally tasked with creating freedom of action for ground forces to achieve their objectives, so should diplomacy be seen as charged with facilitating freedom of action for the nation’s strategic decision-makers, to allow them to achieve the objectives of strategies they formulate.
But if this is the perception of the role of diplomacy, it must be provided with commensurate resources to discharge functions that derive from this perception.
Accordingly, among my very first decisions would be to direct my finance minister to dramatically increase the budget allocation for diplomatic warfare – for promoting Israel’s case abroad, repudiating the accusations of its adversaries and repulsing assaults on its legitimacy.
And by “dramatically,” I mean up to $1 billion.
Diplomatic Iron Dome?
A billion dollars!? I can almost hear the gasps of disbelief and the dismissive snorts of derision. They would be sorely inappropriate and unfounded – detached from any factual foundation. For a billion-dollar public diplomacy budget might sound wildly exorbitant – until you compare it with the sums laid out for other purposes – like the air force or Israel’s anti-missiles system.
“Israel to invest $1 billion in Iron Dome missile defense system,” proclaimed the headline of a Haaretz report, citing the director- general of the Defense Ministry, Udi Shani: “In addition to Iron Dome there are plans to invest another $1 billion in the continued development of a medium-level missile interception.” Commenting on the purpose of this expenditure, Shani stated: “These batteries, when they are deployed, will provide decision-making space.”
But this of course is precisely the perception of the purpose of diplomacy that would prevail in the PM’s office were I to occupy it. The resource-allocation to fulfill that purpose would, therefore, be a top priority.
After all, and without engaging in a discussion of the relevant wisdom or foresight of one security-related expenditure or another, two things appear almost axiomatically obvious:
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(a) Defensive weapon systems, however, sophisticated and effective, inflict no cost on determined adversaries and hence can never deter them from attempting to devise methods to circumvent or overwhelm those defenses.
(b) Offensive weapons systems, that can inflict dissuasive costs, are of little value if political constraints prevent/limit, their use. Thus even the sleekest super-duper modern combat jets with the latest hubba-dubba avionics and awesome destructive capability will be of little value if diplomatic pressures prevent policy-makers from allowing them to take off.
Where will the money come from?
For Israel, then, it is a strategic imperative to devise and deploy an apparatus that will not only protect Israel from the debilitating effects of the unrelenting barrages of malevolent delegitimization, to which it is continuously subjected, but generate the legitimization for the effective use of its military might to deter and/or eliminate threats to the national security of Israel and personal safety of Israelis – whether these emanate from Iran, Gaza, Judea/Samaria, south Lebanon or elsewhere.
Finding the funding is hardly an insurmountable challenge – as the subsequent figures clearly demonstrate. The miserly amounts allotted in the past for a strategic diplomatic initiative do not reflect a scarcity of resources, but a grave lack of awareness and resolve.
To provide a sense of proportion, consider the following: Israel’s GDP today is almost a quarter of a trillion dollars, while its state budget is over 100 billion dollars.
Accordingly, to amass a billion dollars for the historic imperative of defending the legitimacy of Jewish national sovereignty, the lofty ideals of Zionism, and the practical policies to preserve them, would require less than 0.5 percent of GDP, or about 1 percent of the state budget.
All that is called for is shaving off infinitesimal amounts from other budget items to generate the necessary resources, which would still only total a small fraction of the defense budget – whose efficacy is, as argued, greatly impacted by the efficacy (or the lack thereof) of diplomacy.
This is surely a task that should not be beyond the capacity of any prime minister worth his/her salt.
More to come…
I realize that some readers might be disappointed that I did not provide more “red meat” and elaborate in greater detail on the nuts and bolts of the practical measures comprising my prospective policies as prime minister.
This is understandable – but allow me two closing comments:
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(a) I would urge them not to underestimate the enormous transformational impact this single allocative decision taken in my first week in office is likely to have.
(b) Next week, again subject to breaking news, I will begin to specify how these allocated resources are to be mobilized to contend with questions such as: Who is to benefit from these newly allocated resources; what messages they should be used to convey; what organizational structures and personnel are required; how to counter the highly detrimental domestic sources of delegitimization; how to counter canards such as “no amount of PR will help” and “It’s useless to try and fight anti-Semitism with PR.”
That will be the agenda to be broached in my second week in office.
Abject apology: Last week in a moment of (what I hope was uncharacteristic) carelessness, I inadvertently attributed an excerpt from an article on public diplomacy written by Prof. Eytan Gilboa of Bar-Ilan University to Brig.-Gen. (res.) Amos Gilboa. I humbly apologize for this unfortunate lapse to Prof. Gilboa, whose continuous and commendable efforts have made him one of Israel’s best known authorities in the field of public diplomacy.
Martin Sherman (www.martinsherman.net) is the founder and executive director of the Israel Institute for Strategic Studies. (www.strategicisrael.org)
CuriousAmerican Said:
I am very proud of my ancestors,I like the tribal nature of Judaism,even though I am an outcast of sorts. Pero no se lora para me, CA.
CuriousAmerican Said:
There is NO poof of that.
Abraham had other children from Ketura. After the death of Sarah, Abraham married Keturah and She bore him six sons – Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak and Shuah. Jokshan fathered Sheba and Dedan. The sons of Dedan were Asshurim, Letushim, and Leummim. The sons of Midian were Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah. All these were the children of Keturah.
Sons of Ketura and Abraham in Hindusim, some believe that the 6 sons of Keturah were sent Eastward and and were ancestors to the religions of Hinduism, Buddhism and Shinto, which then should be counted as Abrahamic religions. (Father of Many Nations) “you will be called Abraham, for you will be the father of many nations.” Gen 17:5 Abraham gave all he had to Isaac. But to the sons of his concubines Abraham gave gifts, and while he was still living he sent them away from his son Isaac, eastward to the east country.” (Genesis 25:1)
Hinduism’s Message to the Jewish People
@ CuriousAmerican:
Bingo! — Give that boy a kewpie doll.
Actually, your remark needs one small correction:
You WILL get hammered no matter what you do.
There. FIFY.
XLucid Said:
chicken soup with matzoh balls
@ Mr. Bernard Ross:
Congratulations. You actually executed a fantastic job during your first work day.
For your second work day, I kindly suggest you this agenda to address the following remaining issues:
8 am: Dissolve the Supreme Court.
9 am: Dissolve the Arab parties and Meretz.
10 am: Institute the death penalty for terrorists with retroactive effect.
11 am: Withhold all the tax revenues collected on behalf of Palestinians and compensate therefrom the terror victims.
12 am: Lunch time.
CuriousAmerican Said:
All your baloney is for nought. A long story which is immediately debunked by the existence and acceptance of muslim nations, with sharia laws banning other religions like Saudi Arabia, by the same gentile west that you believe the Jews must convince. I think you are trying to confuse the posters with smoke bombs.
CuriousAmerican Said:
Israel is not winning due to double standards which Israel has allowed. The only war to win is a war to educate the Jews. Once that is done and Jews repudiate double standards then everything else will be resolved in the same manner as was considered acceptable for the Jews.
CuriousAmerican Said:
Mr. disingenuous is at it again. Western states have already accepted religious bigotry as being valid in many muslim states. Saudi gets lots of western support. Why would the Jews be expected to be different?
Sherman’s article misses the boat. His solutions are generic where they need to be specific. He has ignored the principle of KISS:
Israel has no credibility left in the world due to the world purchasing the concept that Israel and the Jews are illegitimate thieves who are swindling the pals, stealing their land,killing their children etc.
why is Sherman unable to keep it simple?
what is the root cause of Israels lack of credibility and the worlds’ perceptions?
THE ROOT CAUSE OF iSRAEL’S LACK OF CREDIBILiTY IS THE FAILURE OF SUCCESSIVE GOI’S TO DECLARE OR TO ENFORCE THE HISTORICAL AND LEGAL RIGHTS OF THE JEWS IN JUDEA SAMARIA AND TO SEEK JUSTICE FOR JEWS EXPELLED FROM ARAB NATIONS.
Every other problem stems from this perception and cause. The solution is that the GOI reverse prior behavior and take the position that Jewish settlement in YS is legal, to be encouraged, and to be supported by all the signatories to the relevant historical documents and to DEMAND the honoring of all agreements with Jews. Further to cease to entertain double standards for Jews and Israel.
Martin, here is my first day as PM which requires no money or allocations:
8am I issue the declaration that Jewish settlement in YS is legal and adopt Levy
9am I issue instructions to the foreign service for diplomats to seek explanation from foreign govts, who subscribed to San Remo, LON, UN Charter,etc. regarding their false statements of illegality of Jewish settlement, regarding their reneging on agreements with the Jewish people, regarding their spreading of libels in contradiction of their agreed obligations under international law and treaty.
10am I issue a demand to all subscribers to the relevant treaties and laws and to the UN to honor their agreements, to cease to obstruct Jewish settlement, to begin to “encourage” and “facilitate” immigration and settlement in YS.
11am I declare the institution of an affirmative action program to mitigate the damage and restore justice to the Jewish people who have been obstructed from settlement in YS by the British, Jordanian and Israeli occupations.
12am I declare that state lands and vacant lands will be made available in free land grants to Jews in the Diaspora and in Israel for settlement to allow for fast and massive settlement to make up for the decades of obstruction from prior occupations.
1pm I declare that any anti semitism and incitement exhibited by religious leaders and arab institutions must immediately cease and any violations will result in immediate and mandatory deportation. This includes any obstruction of Jews worshiping at Jewish sites and includes the closing of any institutions involved in incitement such as schools or mosques.
2pm I declare that henceforth all dealings with foreign entities will only be conducted on a basis which rejects double standards for Jews and Israel. E.g. There will be no discussion of arab refugee issues until jewish refugee issues are resolved. There will be no obligation to observe any Geneva Conventions or laws which do not apply to other states, has been waived in the behavior of other states, or has been ignored in prior GC violations.
3pm I declare that henceforth any War or belligerent action emanating from foreign territories will result in the capture and permanent annexation of those territories.
4pm I declare that Israel reserves the right to unilaterally exact payment and reparations from any foreign entity who participates in , assists or funds terror on Israelis or Jews. This includes the annexation of territory and resources of foreign nations.
That was a good first day and cost the taxpayer nothing. I cant wait to start day 2. 🙂
comments in moderation Pls release
@ CuriousAmerican:
Try to claim?????
Are You a Jewish Descendant of King David?
Jewish descent from the Royal House of David can be traced through oral tradition, rabbinic sources, historical data and/or extensive research. Most families claim descent from King David through Rashi. Several families claim descent “ben akhar ben”(father to son) in a direct line, most notably the Dayan, Shealtiel and Charlap/Don Yechia, families.
There have been many great rabbis and rabbinical houses that trace their ancestry back to David Hamelech. This group of great scholars and leaders include: Hillel, Rabban Gamliel, Rabbi Yehuda Hanasi, Yochanan Hasandler, Rashi, the Rambam and Yosef Karo as well as the more contemporary gedolim like the Baal Shem Tov, the Breslevor Rebbe and the first Lubavicher Rebbe, Shneur Zalman of Liadi, to name but a few.
Here we will enumerate some of the well-known family names that trace their ancestry back to David Hamelech. Since well over 100 generations have passed between the time of King David to the present, there might be hundreds, even thousands, of family names that can legitimately trace their family line back to David Hamelech. Therefore, the omission of your family name from this list does not exclude you as a possible descendant. On the other hand, the inclusion of your family name on the list below does not necessarily guarantee that you are a descendant of King David. In fact, the well-known line from the Maharal of Prague is now in question. The opening thought of this page bears repeating – It is only through oral tradition, rabbinic sources, historical data and or extensive research that one can determine if he/she is indeed a descendant of David Hamelech.
Here is the partial list of family names that trace their descent back to King David. It is important to note that through the course of years and trails through many countries, variant spellings and pronunciations have evolved for many of the names.
CuriousAmerican Said:
It is religious Supremacism and there is nothing sad about it. Jews unlike christianity and Islam have no global Imperial agenda. We seek only our own little slice of territory, ours by divine right and the blood of millions Jewish martyrs past and present who have spilled their blood on the alter of this Holy Land.
Our State was not ever a product or even contingent upon the agreement and assent of any other nation or body. There is no doubt in my mind that Israel would have come into being even without Balfour, the League of Nations and the UN. After the Holocaust there was no way that the Jews could have been prevented or blocked from the course of national redemption.
We Jews do not require the support of christiana or any others for our national survival.
Gen 12:3 “I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you.”
It’s not the Jews who will be affected but you christians if you do not support us. America is like Tyre in the Bible. They were friends who aided the Jews for many generations and prospered, till one day they stopped being our friend and aided our enemies. The State of Tyre and Carthage have long pased from the pages of history as will Europe and America.
The blessing and curses are not for the Jews but a warning to the gentiles.
All we Jews wish is to be left alone by you gentiles and christians in particular the kind that the Good Dr. Stangelove who could not control his right arm as those christians, you know the ones I am referring.
hen-äm l’vädäd yish’Kon ûvaGôyim lo yit’chaSHäv “It is a people that shall dwell alone, and shall not be reckoned among the nations.” (From Torah portion, Balak, Numbers 23:9)
“He shall eat up the nations that are his adversaries, and shall break their bones in pieces, and pierce them through with his arrows.” (Numbers 24:8)
If a gentile wishes to support us then go ahead. I refuse to pay any price for that support and if they don’t I don’t care.
Try to claim?????
Are You a Jewish Descendant of King David?
Jewish descent from the Royal House of David can be traced through oral tradition, rabbinic sources, historical data and/or extensive research. Most families claim descent from King David through Rashi. Several families claim descent “ben akhar ben”(father to son) in a direct line, most notably the Dayan, Shealtiel and Charlap/Don Yechia, families.
There have been many great rabbis and rabbinical houses that trace their ancestry back to David Hamelech. This group of great scholars and leaders include: Hillel, Rabban Gamliel, Rabbi Yehuda Hanasi, Yochanan Hasandler, Rashi, the Rambam and Yosef Karo as well as the more contemporary gedolim like the Baal Shem Tov, the Breslevor Rebbe and the first Lubavicher Rebbe, Shneur Zalman of Liadi, to name but a few.
Here we will enumerate some of the well-known family names that trace their ancestry back to David Hamelech. Since well over 100 generations have passed between the time of King David to the present, there might be hundreds, even thousands, of family names that can legitimately trace their family line back to David Hamelech. Therefore, the omission of your family name from this list does not exclude you as a possible descendant. On the other hand, the inclusion of your family name on the list below does not necessarily guarantee that you are a descendant of King David. In fact, the well-known line from the Maharal of Prague is now in question. The opening thought of this page bears repeating – It is only through oral tradition, rabbinic sources, historical data and or extensive research that one can determine if he/she is indeed a descendant of David Hamelech.
Here is the partial list of family names that trace their descent back to King David. It is important to note that through the course of years and trails through many countries, variant spellings and pronunciations have evolved for many of the names.
Did I ask you convert?
So why did you call me missionary?
I am not the one being insulting.
I was merely explain why Israel was not winning in the propaganda war, and how to address it.
CuriousAmerican Said:
No. That’s why I told Ted to read your comment again.
Now buzz off, missionary prick.
Is devil’s advocate always wrong?
In this case, I said if Israel does not emphasize the struggle on national terms, they will lose the debate.
Westerners have been de-religionized to where they do not see religion as a valid parameter for a social construct.
Here is what I am saying:
Israel is losing popular support against people who support a bi-national state; or those who claim Israel is a Jewish supremacist state.
Why? Because in the Western paradigm, since the American Revolution, state and church have been separated. Any state which wishes to impose a religious uniformity is seen as retrograde. To the average Westerner – SADLY – Israel’s insistence on Jewishness sounds like Religious Supremacism.
If Israel were to properly explain why Judaism is more than religion, this might disappear.
If Denmark were 30% Muslim (it is not that bad yet) Americans might understand if Denmark wanted to remain Danish.
If the fight between Israel and the Arabs were explained along national, ethnic terms, and not merely reduced to nothing but religion, then Israel’s desire for Jewishness would be seen as a national expression, and not merely religious supremacism.
Ted, says I had no right to define Judaism. I am not defining Judaism; but, however Jews define it, if they do not explain it well, they will lose Gentile support.
If you want the Gentiles to support Israel as a Jewish state, you will have to define it to Gentiles in terms Gentiles can understand.
A Gentile might ask what business is it of Israel whom we support?
Now, I support Israel; but I am more educated in history than most.
If you want Gentiles to understand why Israel has to remain a Jewish state, then you will have to explain to Gentiles why Judaism is more than mere religion. If you do not bother to explain why Jewishness is more than religion, then Israel’s insistence on a Jewish state will sound like bigotry to Western ears who embrace a religion-state separation morality.
I am not telling you how to define Judaism. I am saying you are going to have to explain it better.
So why your seeming anger at my point?
Again, isn’t this what I was saying?
You can define Judaism however you wish, but if you do not explain your case rightly to us Gentiles, you will not get the support you seek.
Ted Belman Said:
CA is playing devil’s advocate. I had to read his first comment twice to make sure I understood exactly what he said. Do that and ignore his 2nd comment because it’s lacking the details of the first.
Read it again. Slowly.
We Jews are afraid of our own shadow.
Reform Judaism said Judaism was a religion only like Protestantism. It rejected Zionism as a result. American Jews are moving in this direction.
But most Jews saw themselves as members of a tribe, a nation if you will or a family. And this includes secular Zionists. Notwithstanding that a true convert was welcomed.
For centuries, Christian Europe considered us aliens and so we were, whether by choice or coercion, but good aliens.
Jews have the right to define themselves and live accordingly. What business is it of the Gentiles including CA.
Part II
To make this simple to understand.
I as a Christian place my faith in Jesus Christ.
I am NOT related to Jesus, though.
Jews however are relative to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and distantly to Moses (at least the Levites are) and to David. I have seen many Jews try to claim they are descendants of David.
Christianity has no blood equivalent.
So Christians do not see religion as intrinsic biologically.
Hence when Israel claims it wants to be a Jewish state, it sounds like religious prejudice to the Western Ear.
The Israeli government is going to have to explain why Jewishness is more than religion if it wants to defend the Jewish state.
The reason Israel is failing is how it defends itself.
Israeli Jews naturally place a high value on Jewishness. There is a genetic relationship to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, the Exodus, etc.
We Gentiles see religion as something one embraces. One can convert to Catholicism, or Lutheran Protestantism, buddism, or whatever. It is not intrinsic to being. Maybe to self-identity, but not to being. If I change denomination, it does not reflect on my ancestry. My ancient pre-Christian ancestors were pagans, anyway.
When Israel says it must remain Jewish, it sounds like Canada saying it must remain Catholic (Most Canadians are Catholic) or Denmark saying Denmark must remain Lutheran Protestant.
Canada was mostly Catholic in the 18th century when it was primarily French before English immigration started. For a while it became heavily Protestant in the 19th with Scottish and English immigration. Then swung back to Catholicism in the late 20th century with Italian, Lebanese, French and other immigrations.
The Danes existed even before they became Protestant, even before they became Catholic Christian.
Swedes went from Nordic pagan => Catholic => Lutheran => Secular agnostic
Gentile identity does not have a religious covenant at the center of its being. Not even Arabs, though most Arabs are Muslim.
Jewish nationality starts with the religious covenant of Abraham through Isaac, and Jacob.
So Israel may have to define Jewish as a nationality rather than just a religion to get the point across.
This will be fraught with problems.
Hitler called the Jews a foreign nation inside Europe. Jews naturally resisted the charge. It led to bigotry against Jews.
So since WW2 Jews have kept this anti-national claim at the forefront of their identity.
However, now this anti-national claim is killing them.
If Judaism is merely a religion, then the West says: Big deal if you are not majority Jewish anymore. Canadians are no less Canadian because they swung back and forth between Catholicism and Protestantism.
Americans change denomination every other week. In fact, in America, the largest group of Christians call themselves non-denomination and go to whatever church has the best preacher or the best softball team.
So to a non-denominational American, a Catholic Canadian, or an agnostic European, most cannot understand the necessity of Jewishness. Religion is someone one puts on, by choice; not a genetic connection to a Patriarch.
Gen 13:15 All the land that you see I will give to you and your offspring forever.
That is a genetic connection.
There is no equivalent of a Cohenic line in Christianity. Among Shia Muslims there is the Mahdi connection to the prophet, but he was killed over a millenia ago. Sunnis do not have a blood requirement for service, though some politicians like to boast about their conenction to the prophet.
Israel/Jews have a Cohenic line.
Israel will have to assert the nationality aspect of Judaism; this will stiffen their claim to a Jewish state.
However, once Israel identifies Jewishness as a nationality – as it does on Israeli IDs – then some in the West will say: Oh HO! So you were a nation after all. A nation within our nations. And you had the nerve to call us bigots when we pointed this out.
This will be fraught with problems too.
But if Jewish supporters insists on defining Jewishness as a merely a religion then Israel will lose the debate.
You may get hammered no matter what you do.
But if the ADL, etc. continue to define Judaism as merely another religion, then the importance of a Jewish majority in Israel will seem ridiculous to most people in the West.
That is why you are losing the debate.
Jews and the West have different concepts of what constitutes a religion. Christians see religion as a matter of faith.
While faith is important in Judaism, there is an aspect of genetic connection to the past, which is not intrinsic to Christianity.
I neglected to add Ramallah to the list of Arab-populated cities in Shomron and Yehuda whose hamoulas would be the structures of local governance that Israel should recognize for negotiations regarding local autonomy. Consider it merely a typographical error on my part.
Arnold Harris
Mount Horeb WI
… And if I were prime minister of Israel, I would take the following steps:
1) Dissolve the present coalition of secular Zionists and left-wing liberals, and agree to serve solely with backing of nationalist and religious Jews.
2) Annex Area C of Shomron and Yehuda and certain parts of Area B, to include the following sub steps:
— An immediate crash program to settle minimally 50,000 or 60,000 Jews per year in existing cities, towns, hilltop villages and agricultural lands of the newly-annexed regions, with priority given to young couples likely to give brth to and raise 6-8 children per family.
— Offer Israeli citizenship on a highly selective basis only those Arab residents of the territories who would swear an oath of loyalty to the Jewish state and agree to learn to speak and learn modern Hebrew which is the normative language if the State of Israel. Those Arabs who refuse such loyalty would be allowed to remain, but without national; rights of Israeli citizens. Those who both refuse loyalty and who will not even agree not to take up armed resistance against Israel would be expelled from Israel, and their family properties taken by the Jewish state, but with fair evaluation-based payments to the owning families.
— Cease all recognition by Israel of the Palestine Authority and dealings of the part of Israel with that organization, but with recognition freely offered to the heads of the hamulas (extended family-based clans who form the traditional leadership base of the Arab cities in Eretz-Yirael.) This recognition would apply especially to the leading hamulas of Jenin, Tulkarm, Nablus, Kalkilya, Jericho and Hevron.
— Respond to armed attacks against Israel from the Gaza strip with armed military invasion of whichever patch of land from with the rockets or other missiles were launched, with immediate annexation each such patch of land, expulsion of as many of the local Arabs as deemed useful for Israel’s national security, and no payments of indemnities whatsoever to Arabs thus affected.
— Take steps to build improved military relationships with China and India, and possibly Russia as all, if Israel can negotiate reasonable understandings of cooperation with the Moscow government of that superstate. Simultaneously, military and diplomatic connections with the US government should be proportionally downgraded and no further investments made in US-supplied and greatly overpriced aircraft that are said to be less than necessary for present and future military needs of Israel’s armed defense programs.
I would not bother to waste Jewish funding on further efforts to convert Jew-haters to Jew-lovers among the governmental, journalistic and other elites of any foreign country or group of countries. Just the opposite. I would use their growing antagonism against Jews in their own societies to expand the emigartion of Jews in those countries to Israel, where they — where we — belong.
Arnold Harris
Mount Horeb WI