It’s always dangerous to paint something one sole color. People, places, ideas… much, if not all, in life is multifaceted, not one dimensional. With this in mind, I was happy to come across The Other Israel, an anthology of essays written by Israeli journalists, politicians, scholars and others, in a local used bookstore.
The book’s subtitle, Voices of Refusal and Dissent, alludes to what its pages contain: critiques, criticism and arguments condemning the treatment of Palestinians under Israeli occupation. And what makes these texts so different from the ones I’ve read (that in essence express the same ideas) is that this time the authors are Israelis themselves. Israelis who are just as patriotic as most, love their country just as much – if not more – than most, and who believe in democracy and human rights above all else.
“Whoever claims that the settlements are Israel’s catastrophe from a security and economic point of view is not an anti-Semite but a patriot. Whoever says that this (Ariel Sharon) government is committing crimes against humanity is not an anti-Semite but an honest and humane person. Whoever condemns the demolition of houses in Rafah and Jerusalem, opposes the provocative liquidations and fostering of ferment in the area so that we can avoid going to the negotiating table, does so out of love for their homeland,” wrote Shulamit Aloni, an Israeli politician and prominent member of the Israeli peace camp.
Indeed, a major problem within Israel today is the inability of Israeli Jews to objectively assess what their government is doing in their name. Are house demolitions that leave hundreds of Palestinians homeless literally overnight truly necessary? Do they honestly believe that constant humiliation, persecution and controls of Arab Israelis will put an end to the terror attacks utilized by disheartened and frustrated Palestinians, or instead add fuel to the fire?
Ultimately, The Other Israel makes me feel less alone in my desire to be critical of Israeli practices as a Jewish person. It makes me realize that the only way to help both Israelis and Palestinians, and bring peace to the region, is to voice my opposition. My tool? Words. And although to most, they seem far less effective than missiles, rockets or gun-power, they’re all I have.
“The Arabs have a saying for this: The dogs bark and the convoy marches on. Why, then, do we bark? I suppose that as professional writers most of us believe in the power of words to create a better, more just society, to diminish the wrongs and the violence. We believe in the power of words, at least to a certain extent, because most of us have no other means,” wrote Tom Seguev, a columnist at Israel’s Ha’aretz daily newspaper.
Moving Beyond Blind Acceptance
A month ago, I told a family friend that I hoped to one day volunteer in the Public Relations department at An-Najah University in Nablus, Palestine. My goal would be to bring awareness to the plight and suffering of the Palestinians in the West Bank through research, writing and producing web content for the University, I explained. My friend interrupted me. “It’s not Palestine – it’s the occupied territories,” he said. “And it’s too dangerous for you to go there. You’re Jewish.”
My response? “I don’t look Jewish.” Sure, it was an immature answer in light of his grotesquely smug and condescending statement, but I wanted to avoid a confrontation, to be entirely honest. And I knew that whatever arguments I came up with would be rebuffed: My friend is Jewish, and to him, that equates with being entirely, 100%, supportive of Israel.
It frustrates me that otherwise intelligent individuals are so willing to forgo critical thinking based on their religious beliefs. How can Jewish people today – the majority of whom have direct links to the pain and suffering brought about during the Holocaust – blindly support the state of Israel in its oppressive and cruel treatment of the Palestinians?
I’m not saying that individuals shouldn’t support Israel in any shape or form; the state of Israel has a clear right to exist within its UN mandated 1948 boundaries. But to blindly support all Israeli actions since its creation 60 years ago, without so much as an inkling that maybe Israelis have gone from being the victims to the abusers, is shameful.
Open your eyes. Check your personal bias at the door. See both sides of the issues. Use a variety of sources. Read, study, learn – objectively. And then, if you still support today’s Israel, fine. At least you’ll know what topics, events and fundamental issues you’re backing.
And if you realize that maybe Israel doesn’t deserve your full-fledged support, be brave enough to stand up and be heard, just as the individuals in The Other Israel have. Their voices of dissent and refusal indeed prove that not all Israelis, not all Jews, support Israel’s apartheid regime, and instead value democracy, human rights and international law. And ultimately, by voicing their opposition, they have done much more to help Israel than blind and uninformed support ever could.
