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Jerry Rapp , Ph.D. is a professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at SUNY College of Optometry in New York.
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By Jerry Rapp
May 28, 2004
The recent renewed suggestion by some influential individuals both here in the United States and in the Middle East (including Israel), that the establishment of a single democratic state for both Jews and Palestinians would finally bring an end to their long-standing conflict, represents a real danger to Israel's continuing existence as a Jewish state that is underestimated by many in the Jewish community. The reason this threat is real is because it has begun to be discussed among those who like to keep what might be called "polite company" (dinner parties and the like).
The "polite company" crowd consists of individuals who reside in Washington, D.C. or its environs (or spend considerable time there) and who have close contact with people in power regardless of which political party happens to be in charge. Some of these people presently serve in the federal government (at all levels - executive, legislative and judicial) and others were in government service in the past. Some are corporate higher-ups or influential academicians and lobbyists. All are well-to-do (or represent people who are) and have assets. And people who have assets want to protect those assets. Hence, they like stability and abhor chaos. These people are mostly not Jewish. They do not especially like or, for that matter, dislike Jews. Most of them are certainly not anti-Semites.
Back around 1948, the ideological ancestors of the current "polite company" crowd were in favor of the establishment of Israel as an independent, democratic Jewish state. This was partly a result of a feeling of pity for Jews after the horrors of the Holocaust but mostly resulted from a desire for worldwide stability. After all, Jews had lived for centuries all over Europe and, in their view, had historically contributed significantly to continuing instability in that important part of the world - albeit through no particular fault of their own. Thus, the reasoning went, let's give them a small piece of land encompassing part of their historic homeland - sort of partitioning them off from the remainder of the planet - and no one will persecute them. The Jews, in turn, will go about their business without bothering anybody and an element of stability will have been engendered on the world scene. Yes, the Arabs don't like them and there will be some conflict initially. But, ultimately, the Arabs will realize that the Jews are there to stay and will lose interest in such a small sliver of land with no oil or other significant natural resources.
Now here we are 56 years later and rather than stability, the perception among the "polite company" crowd is that chaos reigns supreme. People are being blown to bits and pieces, not in a conventional war but just going about their daily business. They see an insane culture of violence and death thwarting all efforts at reconciliation. And they don't like it.
So, more than half a century later, some of them are beginning to murmur that the initial idea of a separate Jewish state, however well-intentioned, proved wrong. The best way to remedy the situation now in their minds is creation of one democratic state, with its fundamental principle of "one man - one vote," which will include both Israelis and Palestinians with equal rights and they will finally be forced to live together as a civilized society.
The bottom line message here is that those of us who want Israel to exist forever as a Jewish state need to realize that time is not on our side. Hopefully, the Israeli political leaders will recognize this danger and come up with a plan that will finally defuse the violence and create a situation at least akin to what presently exists vis-á-vis Egypt and Jordan.
As I am writing this piece, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's plan to withdraw from Gaza has been endorsed by President Bush but rejected by a majority of his own Likud party. Although a unilateral withdrawal from Gaza does entail some risk for Israel, I believe that reasoned movement by Israel to disengage from the Palestinians rather than continued stagnation is a step in the right direction.
Views expressed by the author do not
necessarily reflect those of israelinsider.
 
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