Israel, Patriotism & the Big What Next

Via NY Transfer News * All the News That Doesn't Fit


SFGate.com - May 6, 2002
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2002/05/06/DD93586.DTL

Israel, patriotism and the big what next

JON CARROLL

IT IS POSSIBLE to be a patriotic American and still be against the
policies of the current government of Israel. I'm not sure that point
gets made enough. Hell, it is possible to be a patriotic American and
to be against the state of Israel as an idea.

American interests are not Israeli interests. Israeli interests are
not American interests. Two different countries. Allies, friends,
whatever, but different.

Likewise, it is possible to be Jewish and to be against the policies
of the current government of Israel. The current government of Israel
does not reflect the views of all Jews. Being against the policies of
the current government of Israel does not make one an anti-Semite.

All Israelis are not Jews and all Jews are not Israelis. I don't
think that point gets made enough either. After 1945, the charge of
anti-Semitism was a heavy bludgeon to swing at anyone. I think it is
being swung rather too frequently just now by the current government
of the state of Israel.

There is, of course, real anti-Semitism, and it is on the rise. One
of its defining symptoms, however, is not opposition to the current
government of Israel. We may deplore anti-Semitism at exactly the
same time as we deplore the government of Israel, and we are not
being hypocrites.

We might also mention, as a corollary, that not all Muslims are Arabs
and not all Arabs are Muslims. Indeed, most Muslims are not Arabs. It
is possible to be a good Muslim and to be in favor of the current
government of the state of Israel.  Darned hard, I admit, but
possible.

THE PROBLEM NOW is we are being asked to choose. We are being asked
to select Arafat or Sharon. The correct answer is: none of the above.
Both the Israelis and the Palestinians require new leaders.

Regrettably, the popularity of the current leaders has never been
higher among their constituents. That should end the idea that people
always act in their self-interest. Sharon has created a policy
cul-de-sac. He has demanded that Arafat stop the suicide bombing at
the same time that he has taken away Arafat's ability to do so.

Not that Arafat would, necessarily. Suicide bombs are good for the
poll numbers, even as bulldozed villages are good for the poll
numbers. One is occasionally tempted to say, "Fine. Let us know when
everyone is dead. We're going to work with the nice sane people in
Northern Ireland and North Korea."

REPRESENTATIVES of the Israeli lobby in the United States, who often
call themselves representatives of the American Jewish community,
have recently complained that the media has been biased against
Israel in its coverage.

A decade ago, even, there was essentially no understanding of the
nature or history of Islam in the American media.  Arabs were
routinely portrayed as stereotypical villains. Giving aid to Israel
was considered an act of unmixed charity.  There are trees with my
name on them in Israel -- at least, they were allegedly planted in my
name. I doubt that there's a plaque.

I do not recall members of the Israeli lobby seeking to change the
pernicious stereotypes of Islam. I do not recall their protesting
this stereotyping of their Semitic brothers. I don't recall a push
for greater understanding of the diverse peoples of this historic
region.

I think the Israeli lobby got used to the one-sided coverage. It got
used to the automatic and universal support that Israel enjoyed in
America. Now the support is less automatic. Sharon shuts out a U.N. 
inspection team, and people are reminded of Saddam Hussein, another
guy who doesn't like U.N. inspection teams.

The irony is: We are the most pro-Israel press in the world. Read
editorials from England or Germany or Brazil or Australia. Our
efforts at balance may be late in coming, but I'm glad they're here.
 
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