Shavit starts off by affirming that in the 1st day after the end of the Six Day’s War, the Left “understood that the occupation would corrupt us and the settlements were pointless.” Such affirmation needs to be challenged. With that mentality the Temple Mount was given to the Wakf. Big mistake. One could write a full article on why they were wrong then but I’ll leave that to you the readers.
Shavit excoriates the left for not seeing today’s reality and coming up with a third way like Clinton did. But he has no suggestions as to what the third way might be other than to say that “our most important national enterprise is dividing the land.” Really? Given today’s reality how is that possible or advisable? Ted Belman
Peace is dead, long live peace
Just as Clinton revived the Democratic Party in the 1990s, the Zionist left must revive itself and offer a third way.
An Israeli left wing activist holds olive branches, during a demonstration against Israel’s offensive in the Gaza Strip, in Tel Aviv, Israel. July 19, 2014. Photo by AP
The tale of the Israeli left is a sad one. In the summer of 1967, the Zionist left was correct. On the seventh day of the Six-Day War, it already understood that the occupation would corrupt us and the settlements were pointless. It fought bravely against the rejectionism of Prime Minister Golda Meir and the messianism of the Gush Emunim settlement movement, as well as the general hawkishness of Likud. But the left’s great mistake was that it conjured a magical faith in the possibility of ending the occupation via the metaphysical promise of peace now.
This serious (almost religious) faith in an immediate and comprehensive peace was shaky even at the end of the 20th century, but it has become utterly groundless in the 21st century. But the left refused to recognize this clear and bitter fact.
Its view of the past didn’t really leave room for the rejectionism of Yasser Arafat and Mahmoud Abbas, or for the steadily growing power of Hamas. Its view of the present didn’t really leave room for Islamic fundamentalism, Arab chaos and Palestinian extremism. The rational, moral and Zionist political movement of the 1960s and ‘70s lost its identity and way. It became detached from reality.
The goal to which the Israeli left has aspired for 47 years is the correct one: a two-state solution. If we don’t divide the land, Israel will either cease to be Jewish, cease to be democratic or cease to be. If we don’t end the plague of the settlements, the plague will do us in. Israel must pursue and test peace, but even in the absence of peace, it must act resolutely and wisely to end the occupation.
Even though the peace camp aspired to the right goal, it ignored the fact that withdrawals for the sake of peace brought us exploding buses on Dizengoff Square, suicide terrorists at the Dolphinarium discotheque and rockets that reached all the way to Hadera. The peace movement never addressed the fact that the Palestinians effectively rejected the peace initiatives of U.S. President Bill Clinton and prime ministers Ehud Barak and Ehud Olmert. The peace elite still behaves as if it hasn’t noticed that Iran is going nuclear, the Arab nation-states are collapsing and the Islamic State is cutting off heads.
The conceptual world of the people supposed to be the most informed, open and critical remains dogmatic, anachronistic and ossified. Their perception of reality relates only to half of reality; it ignores everything that has happened in this country over the past 20 years, and everything that has happened in the neighboring countries over the past two years.
The Big Bang happened in 2000. Exactly 14 years ago, Israel’s most generous peace offer led to the worst terror attack on Israel. The trauma of the second intifada after Camp David left a deep burn on the Israeli psyche, something that 13 years ago was supposed to make people on the Zionist left do some soul-searching. We should have realized that something went wrong, that our basic assumptions did not match reality and that we had to redefine ourselves.
Just as Clinton revived the Democratic Party in 1992 and Tony Blair revived Labour in 1997, Labor, Meretz and the peace movements should have revived the Zionist left in the early 2000s. If we had been serious – serious statesmen, serious intellectuals and serious religious opinion leaders – we would have offered Israelis a third way already in the middle of the last decade.
But we did not, and in not doing so we failed badly. We are thus going from bad to worse, weeping and wailing along the way. We have played into the hands of the right wing and are keeping Benjamin Netanyahu’s government in power. We are preventing the sharing of the land and building settlements. Instead of having an alternative, adult and responsible leadership that the Israeli people can trust, we have a gang of bitter adolescents cursing, abusing and going after any member of the fold who dares to leave and speak the truth.
Here is the truth: The emperor has no clothes. Better put, the king is dead. The attempt to resurrect the old idea of peace is like the attempt by Chabad Hasidim to resurrect the Lubavitcher Rebbe. Who is going to trust peace plans that were written when Boutros Ghali was Egypt, Faisal Husseini was Palestine and Dan Meridor was Likud? Who is going to accept a peace model dating back to 1990 as reliable? Only messianic people; only people whose noble beliefs and lofty ideals have rendered them blind to the reality around them.
But because most Israelis aren’t messianic, they’re not buying it. Even though they realize that the occupation is problematic and the settlements are dangerous, they don’t trust the people of the old left wing who still suggest ending the occupation with an immediate, comprehensive peace when no peace is on the horizon. In a choice between messianic people on both the right and left, they prefer the right. They’re not willing to blindly follow people who have been wrong time and again and have never admitted their mistake.
I won’t get into an argument with former Haaretz columnist Akiva Eldar and sculptor Dani Karavan. I very much admire the journalistic work of the former and the artistic creativity of the latter. When I wrote here two weeks ago about the delusional left wing, I wasn’t referring to the Zionist left wing to which these two men belong. I was referring to the anti-Zionist left wing that is continually hurling stones at Israel without compassion or historical insight.
But it still seems a burning issue for some people – people who don’t accept the Copernican Revolution. They believe that the blazing Middle Eastern sun revolves around the Planet Earth of Israeli-Palestinian peace.
Unconventional as it may be, I’m not going to enter the dispute. On the contrary, I’m going to take this unique opportunity to extend my hand and suggest that we join forces. So you still believe that orthodox peace is within reach? Great, I’m with you. Bring me Abbas’ signature on the draft of Olmert’s peace agreement. Bring me the Arab League’s renunciation of the right of return as enshrined in Resolution 194 of the UN General Assembly.
If you do that, I will join you. I will try to convince every Israeli man and woman to give peace a chance. But if you fail this time too, if you fail for a third and fourth time, then finally admit that the critical experiment didn’t go well. The optimistic theory has been disproved. Maybe then we can join forces, sharpen our minds and bring a new idea for peace into the world that’s not based on wishes but on solid facts.
If we do that, we will finally be able to convince the Israeli majority that our most important national enterprise is dividing the land. Only if we stop falling into delusions and selling delusions will we be able to save the democratic Jewish state and revive Zionism as a liberal, ethical and inspirational movement.
“Has to do with culture of Beso. A stranger in trouble is protected with their lives. Predates Islam and has a strong similarity with Biblical Israelite Laws and customs.”
I intend to read about this custom. Very interesting. I have a Jewish friend whose life was saved by a Bedouin during the Yom Kippur War.
Awesome story, Yamit. Iron sharpens iron. Reminded me of the story of Meyer Lansky.
“…someone who will vouch for you”
But back then, dove, there was no other way a gentile could have been accepted into the ranks of the JDL. As far as I know, I was the only gentile back then who was ever allowed into the JDL. Back then there was no way of contacting the JDL unless you knew someone Jewish. It’s different now, but that’s the way it was back then.
@ yamit82:
http://youtu.be/XSgUffCZZD0
1′:02″
🙂
@ M Devolin:
There you go again! 🙁 You sound more like a Jew than a gentile. Always having a need to find someone who will vouch for you. I don’t think it is necessary on this forum. Forget the naysayers……..WHOEVER they may be!
@ M Devolin:
I grew up on the rough and tumble city streets where you needed to fight and defend yourself or get the crap beat out of you every couple of days or weeks.
When I was 12 some kids were taunting and beating on an old Jewish man with a white beard and cane. There were too many of them for me alone to do anything about it but I recognized some of them from a rival gang a few blocks way.
In the back of my house was an old horse stable and there was hanging an old buggy whip. One day I saw two of the kids who beat on the old Jews. I taunted them to chase in down the alley behind my house dividing it from that old stable. The began to chase and I got to the stable grabbed the whip and an old oak broom hand and cornered them in that alley and proceed to whip and beat the crap out them until they ran like Forrest Gump. What a feeling of triumph and power.
Thanks, phoenix. Likewise. And I should mention that there was a Jewish doctor (we’re still friends to this day) who also vouched for me.
@ M Devolin:
Most religious Jews understood the Why but few of the secular and assimilated Jews did and there lies the real tragedy.
@ M Devolin:
Always admired you, Michael.
Just for the record, way back when, after I was done boxing, when I used to drink whiskey, I was beat up by three guys in the middle of the street, in the middle of the night in the Kensington Market in Toronto. My fault: I called them on for picking on a Vietnamese bartender. I was saved by a former heavyweight from Newsboys club who recognized me from a second story window between kicks to my head and groin. Anyway, long story short, about a week later I was told by a Jewish buddy that there were a bunch of thugs coming to beat up his brother at their store. I was still in an arm brace from my beating but I showed up to fight them at the appointed time. I was the only one to show up. The bad guys never showed up. Point is, I showed up even though I was convinced I wouldn’t fare well with just one arm and two legs. But I didn’t let HaShem down. I stood in the breach. This I am proud of. The Sephardic Jew who vouched for me to the JDL had a store directly across the street from where I stood waiting for the antisemites that day. I swear on HaShem this is the truth. Your post above, about gentiles helping Jews (or not helping them), reminded me of this, Yamit. I’m not boasting (well, maybe a little), but I like to think this moment in my life is proof that I would have passed the test. But who can know such things until the ultimate test?
“Think this: In America the two most antisemitic ethnic and racial groups are Blacks and Hispanics. They are also the most violent. When they start on the Jews most Americans will choose passivity rather than opposition. Point is that there is relative security but it’s far from absolute and under certain conditions and triggers history could repeat.”
Copying this down. This “relative security” I am familiar with. I understand this, Yamit, even though I am not a Jew. The more I find out about antisemitism, the less I understand its existence. Reminds me of the Jewish proverb coined in Auschwitz, “There is no ‘why’ in this place.”
#37 is why I pay close attention to everything you write about Jewish history, Yamit. As for this eye-opener about Silver, I am amazed again at your knowledge of Jewish history. There is so much to remember, but also so much one can forget. I remember finding out that Roosevelt betrayed the Jews and favoured his Arab friends and how this was a shock to me: you never hear this in the movies. And now, again, I read in your post (and in your proofs) that Silver was complicit in the murder of his fellow Jews. Wise I have read about, Silver not in this vein. I read SO much and then I discover so often that I have merely touched the proverbial tip of the iceberg.
M Devolin Said:
Silver and Wise were complicit in the murders.
@ M Devolin:
Has to do with culture of Beso. A stranger in trouble is protected with their lives. Predates Islam and has a strong similarity with Biblical Israelite Laws and customs.
American Indians had similar traditions. It wasn’t that they were great humanists it was a cultural tradition. For Jews I’m sure they could care less the reasons. They didn’t have a lot of options.
Her’s something to think about. Many Jews refused to ask their gentile neighbor for help and sanctuary because they knew it would be death if their neighbors were caught. Whole villages of Gentiles were liquidated because a few were helping and hiding Jews.
Morally then could a Jew ask to be helped or hidden knowingly putting those who aided them in mortal danger.
Less than 1% of mostly chritian gentiles aided in anyway Jews during the Nazi era. Many more aided the Nazis or just offed their Jews for fun and theft but Most were passive.
Think this: In America the two most antisemitic ethnic and racial groups are Blacks and Hispanics. They are also the most violent. When they start on the Jews most Americans will choose passivity rather than opposition. Point is that there is relative security but it’s far from absolute and under certain conditions and triggers history could repeat.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Holocaust_in_Albania
Thanks, Yamit. An amazing story. Another example of Muslims behaving well toward Jews despite the Quran’s tenets commanding otherwise. Go figure.
yamit82 Said:
MORE SO !!!!!!!!!!! Darlin and you know it
@ M Devolin:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2QXVjAc-aIQ
M Devolin Said:
I wish you could have heard my Dad discuss some of his relatives and clients. My Mother always said,” Jews are like every else, only more so”.
honeybee Said:
Where would you place me in your Jew categories??? “good, bad and indifferent”?
“Jew are just people Darlin, good, bad and indifferent.”
In a world where it has been an accepted custom for millennia to speak evil of the Jews, honeybee, please, don’t ever dissuade anyone from speaking good of them.
I’ve had Jewish friends since Leviticus committed Deuteronomy (to borrow a phrase from my father), honeybee, so I don’t need anyone, yourself included, to tell me that Jews are no different than anyone else. No less human, certainly, but far more accomplished considering their minority status. This fact is borne out by real history. This is my point.
honeybee Said:
Happens occasionally Sometimes believe it or not it’s by choice. Then again I said eve. not an all-nighter. Around midnight is my time of day.
How about you???? Early to bed early to rise?
@ yamit82:
Funny that hb’s block quoted this particular sentence…
I am currently reading an amazing book (for me anyways) that “somehow, somebody, got it from someone else (and finds the Hebrew too difficult) so I became the recipient”… I do not believe that it was a random event….
You might want to look it up, was published last year.
“The dead man” by Uriah Shavit.
@ M Devolin:
There are also righteous gentiles who have accomplished much. Just sad that they seem far and few between.
M Devolin Said:
I would love to introduce you to a few of my relatives, Jew are just people Darlin, good, bad and indifferent. But, Thanks you for your appreciation.
Your reproof accepted, Dove.
It occurred to me while at this shul how so very refined and civilized are the Jewish people, and this is one of the reasons antisemites hate Jews: they are jealous of the Jews and this refinement and cultural finesse. As for feeling inferior, I believe this is a natural reaction to a people so accomplished and so educated and so beautiful. In contradistinction, the gentile, even with our manifest numbers, cannot compare to the Jewish people and their accomplishments. Don’t feel sad for me, Dove. I am simply feeling human, which is a good thing.
“Pessimism, when you get used to it, is just as agreeable as optimism.” -Enoch Arnold Bennett, 1918
yamit82 Said:
nothing interesting to do ??? Sugar
@ M Devolin:
Dev, you were starting to sound like an inferior gentile. GET THAT CRAP OUT OF YOUR HEAD! It makes me sad. 🙁
Remember…..G-d trains ordinary people to do extraordinary tasks!! (Gentiles INCLUDED!!!) Well, some anyway for those who understand the shofar.
Have a good day!
Dove, one of my relatives converted, I found out by chance, and is involved also in the JDL Canada.
And don’t forget, Yamit, these were “moderate Muslims.” What a joke.
Then I apologize, Dove. My Irish coming out.
Enjoyed this, Yamit. Showed those bastards. JDL had less than half the number as the Muslims, and the Muslims ran like the cowards they are.
@ dove:
@ M Devolin:
Pesky Jews!!!!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZuP8VR6amRE
Relax Dev. I meant it in the literal sense. How is being a security guard awesome? I was a gentile – remember? I do remember those days spending time at the shul with Jews and it was an awesome experience.
“One question – how is it awesome for you?”
I don’t understand why you ask me this question. Does my use of the word “awesome” sound over the top to you? Such a question makes me feel like I’m somewhat suspect to you; like I’m a stupid gentile who should know better than to use the word “awesome” to describe how he feels after spending the day with his Jewish friends. I assumed anyone who knows me as well as you do knows also how and why I could feel “awesome” while rubbing shoulders with Orthodox Jews.
yamit82 Said:
What are you talking about???????????????? You’re the sugar in my coffee.
@ honeybee:
Where the blazes did this come from?
I suppose I’ve overstepped and if I have my sincere apologies. I’ll try to control myself from now on if you find me offensive.
@ yamit82:
You probably thought I was disposing of TX. Thank goodness he’s off to town.
@ honeybee:
Thank G-d it was brief, mi corazón. Me habría preocupado.
Lo hago con aquellos que me importan.
@ yamit82:
lectricity went out this morning , but we are back.
honeybee Said:
Eso también mi hermosa princesa miel.
yamit82 Said:
And at taxpayers expense too, Chulo
Steven Plaut:
“A Jewish liberal is someone who thinks that Mexicans with no US visa have the right to move to East Los Angeles but Jews must be prevented from moving to East Jerusalem.”
the phoenix Said:
you cannot compare these shposes to animals
@ M Devolin:
A special thanks to guys like you who are willing to go to the front line and do security for us. Much appreciated.
One question – how is it awesome for you?
@ M Devolin:
Michael , you cannot compare these shposes to animals, God’s creatures.
I prefer to refer to them by the acronym s.h.p.o.s. (Pronounced shpowz)
When you realize that they are TRULY, subhuman, it is not that difficult to ‘decipher’ … 😉
Did security at a Sephardic synagogue yesterday. Was awesome. The Jewish friend who vouched for me when I joined the JDL way back in the eighties (who has since passed on, may he rest in peace), was a Sephardic Jew from Morocco.
yamit82 Said:
irony, the last defense of an idealist
OK, dear Phoenix, I have my head-gear on; let me have it.
@ ArnoldHarris:
Apples and oranges one a noted Historian and the other a writer of note who was Jewish and wrote a very easy readable short Novel overview of Jewish history. I couldn’t put it down and finished it in an evening read.
honeybee Said:
None that I could see.
If she did it was was well hidden.