In the past few months I've heard and read a lot about the controversy among American Jews about whether or not they should criticize the Israeli government for it's problems and decisions - mostly as they apply to the "Peace Process" and to the treatment of non-Jews and also the apparent dominance of the ultra orthodox in setting Israeli policy that affects all Jews.
On the one side there is the apparent position of AIPAC which presents an "Israel - Right or Wrong" approach. On the other is J Street which feels comfortable criticizing the Israeli government whenever it sees their behavior to be below the standards they would hold Judaism up to. J Street is primarily a liberal organization (in terms of its US political orientation) and AIPAC leans more to the right.
Concern about alienating young American Jews is frequently cited as a rationale for supporting the positions of J Street, since most young American Jews are liberal. Many young Americans (regardless of religious affiliation) tend to lean towards the liberal side. Were responsible adults to base their decisions on not alienating their children, I submit we would be in even more trouble as a nation than we appear to be. So I think this is a silly argument. I don't think we should ignore our children's points of view, but we can't base our actions on it.
As to being comfortable criticizing the Israeli government's behavior, I think that's fine, as long as we don't try to interfere in their internal politics (nor believe we have the right to), any more than we as Americans would welcome Israeli meddling in our politics.
Most importantly, I would like to address the "settlement" issue. The United States government has been critical of new settlements because they say it hurts the peace process. While I am sure that is superficially true (all one has to do is hear that Palestinians refuse to negotiate while Israel continues to build new settlements), in fact I would question whether it makes any difference whatsoever. Israel has given up land before, and it has made no difference. Does anyone believe that this time it will? Or is it simply an accommodation Israel needs to provide to keep the Palestinians at the bargaining table? If that is the case we need to look at ourselves and our government in the eye and question what the true issues dividing the Palestinians and the Israelis are and focus on those. Since settlements don't seem to have a thing to do with it, focusing on them seems to be just setting up another straw man.
As to the Haredim's apparent control over so many religious issues important to worldwide Jewry, I believe that Israel's structure as a state as well as a Jewish homeland means they will have to work out the best way to handle these things. I find many of their decisions questionable at best, but I think Israel will have to work its way through these, and hopefully come up with solutions that will be best for all Jews. In the meantime, unless I am prepared to move there and become an Israeli citizen I will pray they reach the right conclusions, and will continue to feel comfortable criticizing or praising the Israeli government's actions in those areas, but recognize that my opinions are only that - that I don't get a vote.
No matter how high a road I try to take on judging the Israeli government, I can't do it in isolation from my judgement on how the Palestinians are running their side of things.
No comments:
Post a Comment