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Jonathan Eric Lewis is a New York-based journalist and political analyst specializing in the history of ethnic and religious minorities in the Middle East. A strong advocate for Israel, his work has appeared in such publications as the "Wall Street Journal"; New York Sun"; "Middle East Quarterly"; and "Pakistan Today."
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By Jonathan Eric Lewis
November 13, 2003
Make no mistake about it: Israel and the Jewish people are under assault from all corners. Just years after some predicted the end of anti-Semitism, waves of venomous hatred are being directed at the Jewish people and the very existence of the State of Israel. An axis of Islamic extremists, left-wing intellectuals, and anti-globalization riffraff have united in their hatred for the very idea of the Jewish people having a state in their indigenous homeland.
The haters of Israel don't much care that Israeli society is itself divided on many of the most contentious issues facing the Jewish state today or that the vast majority of Israelis would be willing to see a Palestinian state emerge if the Palestinians did not resort to the mass murder of innocent civilians as a means of gaining political concessions. Haters focus their attention on every piece of negative news coming out of Israel and turn a blind eye to the fact that, despite the violence, mainstream Israel remains a far more democratic and progressive society than anything else in the entire Middle East.
The haters' logic is this: Israel is not a perfect society and, because it is not a perfect society, it deserves to be wiped off the face of the earth. They ignore the fact that in 1947, as in 2000, the Palestinians rejected a two-state solution to the conflict. They scream about illegal settlements, yet disregard the fact that many Palestinians sold land to Jews (and still do today) and worked in construction to build the settlements. They talk about the settlers as if they were all extreme right-wing religious types and ignore the fact that the vast majority of settlers live in urban areas that are contiguous to the 1967 border. They disregard the fact that there are Israeli organizations devoted to promoting Arab-Jewish coexistence within Israel, that Arab and Jewish doctors work side-by-side in Israeli hospitals, and that the vast majority of Israelis still hope for peace.
That is not to say, as some defenders of Israel do, that Israel has committed no wrong. Indeed, one only need to read the Hebrew-language newspapers or listen to the speeches in the Knesset to know that in Israel, unlike in the Arab League states, matters of justice are regularly debated. The haters, however, do not view Israeli self-criticism or Israeli societal concern for the humanitarian concerns of the Palestinians as virtues of its vibrant democracy. No, they see it as further evidence of how awful the Israeli state is.
It is sad to say, but there is a whole subculture of amateur Israel-bashers in the world today. For the most part they spend their time pouring over the news looking for stories that belittle Israel. They profess their solidarity with the Palestinians, but remain completely ignorant of how states like Jordan and Lebanon have historically treated the Palestinian people. They claim to have an interest in the Palestinian cause, but can offer no positive policy recommendations for solving a nearly intractable conflict. They claim to have an interest in human rights, but don't ever stop to look at how the Palestinian Authority treats homosexuals and political dissidents. They never bother to ask why the majority of the Palestinian elite has fled from the autocratic and authoritarian Palestinian Authority and the nihilistic minions of Hamas and Islamic Jihad to safer shores in North America and the Persian Gulf. They laud Edward Said, but neglect the fact that the Palestinian Authority banned the sale of his books because Said dared to criticize Arafat.
Sometimes the sheer awfulness of the hatred directed against Israel's very existence makes us think that the whole world is against us. It is undeniable that there is a lot of hostility toward Israel in the world today, much of it funded by Arab oil money and promoted by left-wing academics and policy wonks whose careers are dependent on oil wealth. Some of it is spewed by journalists who feign expertise in the Middle East, but couldn't tell you the difference between a Sunni or a Shiite, let alone between a Druze and a Maronite. Believe me: if the Persian Gulf ran out of oil tomorrow or if the PLO ran out of money it has accumulated through corruption and from its former racketeering days in Lebanon, a lot of professional Israel haters would see their finances dwindle and would move on to other concerns.
While Jews must always remain vigilant against the haters, we must also be more willing and open to courting new friendships and not mistake differences of opinion with the viciousness of the new anti-Semitism. Criticizing Sharon isn't necessarily anti-Semitism; calling for the dismantlement of Israel is. Jewish communal organizations must be willing to be flexible. Sometimes we tend to see the 'Europeans' as one monolithic bloc without distinguishing between the very real political divisions on the Continent. Sometimes the bad news overshadows the good. Without diminishing the struggle ahead, it is worth pointing out that the Jewish people and Israel still have friends and that, if we play our cards right, we can make even more in the years ahead.
Although the European Union poll which showed that many Europeans saw Israel as a threat to world peace, there has been some positive developments between Israel and the European Union. Tony Blair and New Labor, for instance, have relegated the anti-Israel fringe of the party to the status of disgruntled backbenchers. Eastern European states, deeply familiar with the horrors of totalitarianism and unimpressed by the formerly pro-Soviet Arafat and PLO, will soon be joining the EU. These new members will likely show more sympathy to Israel than have Belgium and France, two states whose foreign policies to Israel are partially based on their large and increasingly radicalized Muslim populations. Israel Bonds sales this year found buyers in Dubai. A recent article even suggested that one day, Israel could adopt the Euro as its currency.
During the past several years, Israel has, despite the genocidal violence directed against it, been able to foster positive ties with India, a major democratic state and emerging economic powerhouse. Likewise, Israel has increasingly strong economic ties with Armenia. According to Mihran Toumajan, spokesman for the Los Angeles based Armenian-Israel Friendship Forum:
"Despite the fact that neither Israel nor Armenia have yet to officially open embassies in their respective capitals, in the wake of Armenia's independence in 1991, commercial, cultural, technological, and educational ties between Yerevan and Tel Aviv have grown exponentially, making Israel one of Armenia's top three trading partners along with the EU and Russia. Indeed, bilateral relations between these two ancient peoples yet nascent republics should gradually develop into multilateral ties with other like-minded and technologically advanced states such as the United States, India, and China."
Friends of Israel should build upon this vision, one in which Israel's technology industry could be used for the state's diplomatic benefit. Despite the anti-Zionism that pervades much of the European media, it is important to remember that there are many individuals and institutions which could benefit from cultural ties and trade with Israel. Showcasing Israel's technology industry and extremely progressive arts and cultural scene will only demonstrate that Israel is not the monolithic, warmongering society often portrayed in the press. Let us remind the 'Europeans' that Jerusalem, not Riyadh nor Ramallah, will be home to a major international gay convention next year. Supporters of Israel have a responsibility to demonstrate that Israel is a ethnically diverse society and is home not just to European Jews as it is sometimes portrayed, but Jews expelled from 'Arab Lands,' the world headquarters of the Baha'i faith in Haifa, an avant-garde arts scene rival to none, and a proud community of Mountain Jews from the Caucasus.
No one should deny the fact that Israel is in a moment of crisis and that anti-Semitism is on the march. Anyone who thinks that the savage beating of Jews walking down the street in Europe is a valid reaction to Israel policy toward the Palestinian Authority should have his head examined. It is likewise deeply insulting to the many decent and kind Muslims in the world that anyone would excuse mob violence against synagogues as the work as disgruntled Muslims who happen to be 'frustrated.' The world would be understandably outraged if American mobs burned down mosques as a reaction to 9/11, but seems to rationalize uneducated North African Muslim men attacking Jews in Paris as a legitimate form of protest.
Our very real fears of anti-Jewish hatred should not stop us, however, from fostering new economic and political ties and building upon old ones. Let the haters chant their vitriol on university campuses and let them gather in their little demonstrations in Washington. Let them scream "Zionism is Racism" at Rutgers University while we work to improve the living standards for all Israelis - Arab, Bedouin, Circassian, Druze, and Jewish alike.
Let the pro-Palestinian fanatics spend their money printing leaflets inciting hatred against Israel. We should never stoop to their level of indecency; rather let us spend our money on showcasing all that is good and beautiful about Israel. While they revel in their hatred, let Israel foster better and stronger economic and technological ties with those countries with the foresight and decency to admit that Israel is not just a conflict zone, but a Western, prosperous, and democratic society that, despite all its flaws, remains a society willing to make painful choices for peace. Let us welcome potential friends and investors from Dubai to Yerevan.
Views expressed by the author do not
necessarily reflect those of israelinsider.
 
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