Breaking Israel's spell

[Violet_Crumble]

Seth Freedman
guardian.co.uk,
Friday 31 July 2009 08.00 BST


For the most part, London's Jewish community is a shining example of social cohesion and pastoral care. Large charitable donations are raised on a constant basis and distributed to those in need of assistance; sick or lonely individuals are clutched to the communal bosom and provided for by welfare associations and concerned neighbours; and the ethics inculcated into each new generation are built on a bedrock of values dating back to biblical times.

Yet the blind spot that persistently handicaps those from the upper echelons of power down to street level is British Jewry's relationship with Israel. The community is bewitched by a 60-year old spell which dictates that to be a "loyal" Jew, one must profess unconditional love for Israel, regardless of the many faults and failings of the Jewish state.

People who apply logic, reason, and above all compassion in every facet of their daily lives suspend their principles when it comes to Israel, preferring to don a mantle of defiance and defensiveness when dealing with one of the most thorny issues to face Judaism in modern times.

I've just spent a month in the heart of the north-west London bubble, running the gauntlet of pro-Israel zealotry almost every time the Israel/Palestine issue reared its head. Accusing dissenters of being self-haters, traitors and of washing Israel's dirty linen in public is the bread and butter of the diehard Zionist brigade – and that's just to those Jews daring to speak out against Israeli policies and crimes.

Non-Jewish critics of Israel are immediately branded antisemites, with entire media organisations and political parties derided as pathologically obsessed with Israel and the Jews, despite the hypocrisy of those pointing the finger and organising the witchhunts. When journalists or politicians are deemed "friends" of Israel, then those championing their cause can't get enough of the sympathetic press coverage or the cosying-up in diplomatic circles.

<snip>

Professing blind support for Israel as though she can do no wrong is the achilles heel of our community. The same honest debate and rational approach that we demand from other sectors of society must be applied by us in the Israeli-Palestinian arena; to do otherwise undermines everything we purport to represent, and will come back to haunt us time and again for as long as the denial continues.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jul/31/israel-british-jewish-community

[Sezu]

1. Another fucking hyperbolist.

Just what we need.

Ptui.

[bemildred]

2. Some context:

http://labs.daylife.com/journalist/seth_freedman

[LeftishBrit]

3. I know some people who are exactly as he describes. But I also know North London Jews who are

critical of both sides, and one who is extremely pro-Palestinian.

[aranthus]

4. I'm sure that's true.

Do you know any Palestinians? If you do, do you see the same range of opinion among Palestinians as among Jews?

[LeftishBrit]

5. I only know one Palestinian as such; but I know quite a few Arabs....

and yes, their views are extremely varied.

A fairly large proportion of the people whom I know (whatever the ethnic or national group) come into the category either of 'university students and researchers, often from international backgrounds' or 'teachers who have chosen to teach in multicultural schools' - so they may be particularly diverse and non-tribal in their attitudes. However, I think it's always important to remember that no group is homogeneous in its attitudes.

Re Jews in particular - there is the old saying: "Two Jews, three opinions!"

[aranthus]

6. I'm not surprised.

I just wondered if you had first hand observation.