Israeli Organization Calls for Sanctions
The Israeli Committee against House Demolitions has just become the first Israeli organization to support the growing movement for sanctions against the Jewish State until it ends the Occupation:
“You can’t have it both ways. You can’t complain about violence on the part of the Palestinians and yet reject effective non-violent measures against the Occupation that support their right to self-determination, such as economic sanctions.”
Thus begins the position paper supporting selective sanctions, divestment, and boycott against Israel aimed at ending the Occupation. Included in the statement is explicit support for the Presbyterian Church’s campaign “which targets companies contributing materially to the Occupation” and the campaign against Caterpillar, whose bulldozers destroy the homes of innocent Palestinians, as well as a call to boycott all products made in the Occupied Territories.
In so doing they join the ranks of other organizations such as Jewish Voice for Peace and Jews Against the Occupation in supporting the idea of selective sanctions against Israel.
And if you’re one of those people reading this who thinks that the Occupation ought to end but that this won’t work, think again. In the past 3 weeks we have a prime example of how international pressure can force Israel to do the right thing: On January 20th Ha’aretz broke the story that the Israeli government had decided secretly, approximately a year ago, to use the Absentee Property Law of 1950 in order to confiscate the land of Palestinians in East Jerusalem who have been separated from their land by the Separation Barrier.
Well, of course this is absolutely ridiculous (although this stuff goes on all the time on a much smaller level). So this hit the international media (NY Times and such) and various liberal Jewish peace groups in the States (Americans for Peace Now, Brit Tzedek, etc. etc.) sent out e-mail alerts and had people tell Congress this was morally untenable. Boom, America puts on pressure.
The next day, they reverse the decision.
Note the quote from Mazuz, the Attorney General:
He also mentions in his decision “the grave international ramifications regarding the separation fence” that could arise from the application of the government’s decision, “in the various aspects for which Israel has been severely criticized by The International Court in The Hague.”
The decision reversal on the Absentee Property Law was such a clearly appropriate decision that the link between it and leftist tactics is tenuous at best. The original decision was so clearly a current and ongoing usurpation of law-abiding Palestinian’s rights that it would not stand for long. No one supported the original decision, except for the rightist fringe. The US and many mainstream groups were quick to question the original decision.
That said, now is hardly the time for leftist groups to increase their activism. By doing so, they foreclose the possibility of being partners for peace and punish Israel for moving in the right direction. Even so, peace will be made without them. Leftist groups would be wise to understand reciprocity. When peace is moving forward, they should back off, or try to become a constructive part of the process instead of becoming more shrill.
Even if it were conceded that the Israeli government is completely wrong in these cases, is it possible that the organizations mentioned in the article are unaware that Israel’s many enemies can be counted on to seize the opportunity and expand the call for sanctions far beyond the present purpose? Are the organizations unaware of the damage done to Israel by having it singled out, among the 190-odd nations of the world, as a near-unique violator of human rights? Are they unaware of what can happen if Israel has its economy damaged, or is forced to cede control of its policies toward the Palestinians to other countries or organizations?
I don’t believe thay are unaware of this. They’ve made their specific cause their only concern, at the expense of their own people.
Normally, I’m an advocate of arguing my beliefs without tailoring them to please my opponents, but maintaining friendly relations with those opponents as much as possible. But sometimes it goes too far, and this is one of those times. I would recommend that anyone who cares about Israel shun these people. Should they require any kind of help, even in a life-or-death situation, I would recommend that their technical status as Jews be disregarded and that any help be refused to them.
fucking scum.
J,
There are many Jews, I am friends with some, that are vocal about removing any trace of “uniqueness”, seperating themsleves from their non-Jewish friends, culture…guilt.
A wonderful book entitled Piety and Power by Landau had a quote from a chassid than went like this (I’m paraphrasing):
“In century or two, we will be the only legitimate, normative Judaism standing. Everything from Reform to Modern Orthodox will morph into something akin to what happened to Jesus’ Jews.”
I remember reading those thoughts and shuddering. But he may have a point. Because it would seem that there are a greater number of Jews who care more about treif culture, food, sex, relatioships, etc., than Jews who care about Torah. BUT…
Check out Jewlicous’ post about frum girls. There’s hope yet…
J wrote: “They’ve made their specific cause their only concern, at the expense of their own people. ”
All Israel would have to do in order to end sanctions would be to end the occupation. Simple.
J wrote: “I would recommend that anyone who cares about Israel shun these people.”
I’m quite sure ICAHD, Jewish Voice for Peace and JATO care about Israel just as much as you do.
Why seeking justice for the Palestinians is the Jewish cause by Shifra Eva Stern
Isn’t it funny how those same progressives who tore their hair out over Iraqi children who allegedly starved because of the sanctions against Iraq are now calling for the same kind of sanctions against the Jewish state. But then, again, we know that Jewish life is worth nothing to the enlightened bleeding heart liberals and their self-hating Jewish chronies.
And by the way Joseph, Shaul Mofaz is the defense minister, not the Attorney General. The attorney general is a pest named Manny Mazuz (yimach shmo vezihro). If you’re going to celebrate the calls for the starvation of Israel, it might might be a good idea to check your facts.
“All Israel would have to do in order to end sanctions would be to end the occupation. Simple. ” No, it’s not simple. It’s simplistic. Israeli pullbacks have often been met with increased violence. And it is fundamentally immoral for the international community to say to Israel that it must make national security decisions with a knife at its throat. Where’s the sanction movement for Syria, Sudan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the myriad other places with far worse human rights records than Israel?
JATO and JVP really do not care about Israel much. They care about being on the “good” side of a cause that animates what’s left of the radical left. Most of them wouldn’t know the inside of a shul from the inside of a barn, but when it comes to pro-Palestinian activism, they suddenly become Jewish. All they’ve done is discredit the mainstream peace movement in the Jewish community both here and in Israel. I mean, c’mon, like half the people in JATO are one-statists who believe Israel shouldn’t exist.
And by the way, for ICAHD to do this at a time where things are looking up in the region just shows what a tin ear they have politically. It will make them more irrelevant.
I am reminded of Tom Friedman’s admonition that “Criticizing Israel is not anti-Semitic, and saying so is vile. But singling out Israel for opprobrium and international sanction out of proportion to any other party in the Middle East is anti-Semitic, and not saying so is dishonest.”
While I am hesitant to criticize Israel, I think it is wrong of you to automatically label all who do anti-Semites or self hating Jews, without debating their claims on their merits. These ad-homonim attacks devalue your own defense of Israel. Israel, like any country makes mistakes, in fact I would argue that publicly debating Israel’s actions and admitting the State’s errors, if done in an appropriate manner, can be productive in defending the State from self-destructive actions. Is divesting an appropriate way to criticize Israel? In my view no, but I think you guys would better serve the Zionist cause by debating these organizations’ claims, some of which do have legitimacy, on their merits.
To truly love someone (or a country or a people) does not mean to ignore their faults, to be able to admit when they are wrong, and to do your best to correct them in a constructive manner (though I would argue divestment is, in this case, not)
Michael Brenner wrote: “Where’s the sanction movement for Syria, Sudan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the myriad other places with far worse human rights records than Israel? ”
A perusal of documents on Google shows me:
Bush signs Syria sanctions bill
Bush Signs Sudan Sanctions Legislation
US senators seek Saudi sanctions
“Mr Osama Al Baz, President Mubarak’s top and most trusted political adviser told the Middle East Times in an interview on March 2nd, 1998 that Egypt hopes that the United States Congress would “please get off our backs” about the status of Coptic Christians in Egypt. He was referring to the Freedom of Religious Persecution Act ( HR 2431). The draft law could level sanctions against Egypt for discriminating against the Copts.”
-Egypt News, Issue No. 32
Michael Brenner wrote: “JATO and JVP really do not care about Israel much. They care about being on the “good” side of a cause that animates what’s left of the radical left. Most of them wouldn’t know the inside of a shul from the inside of a barn, but when it comes to pro-Palestinian activism, they suddenly become Jewish.”
I doubt you’ve ever spoken to the Jatoniks. Their founder is the daughter of a rabbi and a Hebrew school teacher, and she teaches Jewish Studies at a synagogue in Brooklyn. Many of them are quite observant actually. I’ve never met JVP people but I’m looking at the Advisory board of JVP on their website and I see 3 Rabbis, a Professor of Talmudic studies, and my guess is you’re wrong about JVP too.
But of what relevance is their shul attendence record to caring about Israel? How the hell does going to shul involve taking any risks to help Israel change for the better ? These people put their reputations on the line by publicly taking an unpopular position.
With 20-25% of Israeli kids going to bed hungry at least one night a week, it seems that Rabbi Hertzberg has a decent solution (serious, but not mean-spirited): for the U.S. to withhold the approximate money which goes toward the settlements, and to put this money into escrow until the settlements are halted. The rest of the money the US has earmarked for Israel should keep flowing.
Sheikh Yahudi wrote: “Isn’t it funny how those same progressives who tore their hair out over Iraqi children who allegedly starved because of the sanctions against Iraq are now calling for the same kind of sanctions against the Jewish state. But then, again, we know that Jewish life is worth nothing to the enlightened bleeding heart liberals and their self-hating Jewish chronies.”
Actually Sheikh, the Iraqi kids died not from sanctions alone; but from the bombing of Iraq’s civilian infrastructure in the first Gulf war – including the water treatment and sewage treatment – and then employing sanctions which prevented Iraq from importing water treatment equipment and chemicals because of supposed “dual use” status.
How the U.S. Intentionally Destroyed Iraq’s Water Supply
Sanctions have been used many many times without causing mass starvation or the deaths of (hundreds of) thousands of children. Most of the world put sanctions on South Africa during the Apartheid regime, and that ended peacefully. What happened in Iraq was an abberation, to say the least.
“involve taking any risks to help Israel change for the better”
Finally Brown, and with no quotes, links and/or cut and paste jobs, just your own opinion, please describe what this would look like. I’m truly curious.
Brown — while South Africa is an example where economic sanctions worked, one doesn’t have to *think* much to see how economic hardship provides fertile ground for extremism and general mayhem. The harsh reparations imposed on post WWI Germany was a factor in the rise of the Nazis. The USSR was born out of harsh economic conditions, as was the French Revolution (there are so many, you can pick your own favourite examples). The only guarantees with sanctions is that there will be suffering and instability. Only G*d knows what will come after.
And if you support a plan to starve Jews, you must find it acceptable that Palestinians will suffer more than they already do while their neighbours are driven into poverty. Hamas will owe the Presbyterians and their Jew-hating ilk for the help with recruitment.
“You can?t have it both ways. You can?t complain about violence on the part of the Palestinians and yet reject effective non-violent measures against the Occupation that support their right to self-determination, such as economic sanctions.”
——————————————————————-
Nice example of leftie non-sequitir thinking. There is no rational parallel between the two things yoked together here:
– Israeli peaceniks speaking freely and even calling for a boycott – this has been criticized as immoral, disloyal, naive, having unintended (we hope) negative consequences for Israel, but nobody has said it is fundamentally illegal. This is their right.
– Palestinians unleashing a uniquely viscious reign of terror in the middle of a peace process – this is obviously immoral and not a protected right.
What about Palestinian civil disobedience? If only! (Hebrew: Halevai!) But because Palesitian civil disobedience does NOT exist, lefties are forced into twisted constructs as that above.
We note how deftly – and blithely – the speaker casts the adolescent rants of Yuppie Israelis as the stand in for “Palestinian civil disobedience”. This shows just how far many leftie Jews have gone in identifying with their people’s enemies rather than their own people.
Wait a second,
you take down HT and add another leftist who worries about the ‘occupation’?
Shabbat shalom
ICAHD can’t have it both ways. They want to ignore Palestinian violence and call for sanctions on Israel alone. But since there cannot be an end to the occupation until there is a total end to Palestinian violence, sanctions against Israel and not against the Palestinians will hardly end anythin – except more lives.
Lets not forget how we got here. There was a diplomatic process. Then suddenly there was violence. How did this happen? Did both sides start firing at once? No, the Palestinains decided they could get more in negotiations by using violence, and it continues to this day. If all the non-violent activists agreed they would not support a Palestinian state built on the blood of Israeli civilians, the Palestinians would have had a state years ago.
But since no outrage by Palestinian terrorists is bad enough to warrant any blame, these non-violent types just keep laying into Israel. They stopped having any influence on me a long time ago.
“Palesitian civil disobedience does NOT exist”
Oh well, it wasn’t so long ago that the claim was that Palestinians don’t exist.
Would like you like some photos of Palestinians carrying placards?
🙂
John Brown:
How did you manage to completely miss the point of my post?
“You say “All Israel would have to do in order to end sanctions would be to end the occupation. Simple.”
No, not at all. My fear is that once the sanctions Pandora’s box is open, it won’t close. “Even if it were conceded that the Israeli government is completely wrong in these cases, is it possible that the organizations mentioned in the article are unaware that Israel’s many enemies can be counted on to seize the opportunity and expand the call for sanctions far beyond the present purpose? ”
“I’m quite sure ICAHD, Jewish Voice for Peace and JATO care about Israel just as much as you do.”
No, they do not. I don’t claim that everyone left of center cares less about Israel than I do. Their are even some advocates for Palestinians who care. But when someone goes running to outside powers to have his country punished, especially a country as far above the moral average as Israel, we have to say at a minimum that they have priorities other than the welfare of Israel.
“Why seeking justice for the Palestinians is the Jewish cause by Shifra Eva Stern”
THE Jewish cause? Any concern about the survival of Israel’s Jews?
“A perusal of documents on Google shows me:
Bush signs Syria sanctions bill
Bush Signs Sudan Sanctions Legislation
US senators seek Saudi sanctions ”
None of these are divestment, and none of them have come because the radical left asked for them.
”
I doubt you’ve ever spoken to the Jatoniks. Their founder is the daughter of a rabbi and a Hebrew school teacher, and she teaches Jewish Studies at a synagogue in Brooklyn. Many of them are quite observant actually. I’ve never met JVP people but I’m looking at the Advisory board of JVP on their website and I see 3 Rabbis, a Professor of Talmudic studies, and my guess is you’re wrong about JVP too. ”
You doubt wrong. I’ve met JATO people. They tell me that JATO is divided over whether Israel should exist. JATO is at just about every pro-Palestinian rally in NYC including the right of return ones (and they favor ROR in their mission statement). Many of them are ISM alumni. I do not buy your claim that many of them are quite observant, unless you’re talking about whatever Neturei Karta members they have. There are exceptions, I’m sure, but the overwhelming majority of anti-Zionist Jews I’ve met (and I’ve met plenty) are people who engage in this cause simply as a function of their radical left politics. Someone who is for ROR may care about a lot of things, but Israel is not one of them.
Michael – you conveniently ignored my earlier question: “But of what relevance is their shul attendence record to caring about Israel? ”
Getting beyond the fact that you’re wrong and many Jatoniks are observant, can you please explain why you suggest that if someone doesn’t daven regularly that their opinion means less than someone who davens regularly ?
JATO has no Neturei Karta members as far as I know.
Michael wrote: “They tell me that JATO is divided over whether Israel should exist. ”
The JATO people have a wide range of opinions and religious backgrounds. They are secular, they are observant, some are straight, others are gay. The only thing they have in common for the most part is that they agree on JATO’s “points of unity“
This is the wrong action at the wrong time. The Israeli left may not be self-hating, but it is certainly self-destructive and self-defeating.
The majority of Israelis already support withdrawing from Gaza and the West Bank, if their security can be guaranteed. Why do something that will alienate these people right now when there are serious negotiations going on? I don’t get it.
Um maybe I’m missing somethingn but why is it wrong for Israelis to critize Israel. Would it be wrong of me, in the USA, to protest the war in Iraq? I disagree with ICAHD but they’re Israelis and I’m not. Maybe if I move there I could bitch about Israeli politics and protests but until then I (and some of my Jewschool peers) should probebly just be quiet, give money to our favorite Jewish/Israeli charity, and, of course, pray.
“Why do something that will alienate these people right now when there are serious negotiations going on?”
Because “serious negotiations” have been going on for a very long time now. Since Madrid the settlement population has grown exponentially. New settlements are being developed as I type. 37 years, the first 19 of which had approximately zero terrorism from the territories, is long enough to wait for Israelis to sort out their illegal, immoral occupation. If the Israeli government was serious about peace it could have had it a long time ago. I don’t care about alienating the Israeli public. They’ve had almost four decades of chances and they’ve done nothing but sit by, pay taxes, and let their government attempt to make permanent the occupation of the West Bank and Gaza. A good portion of the populace has been actively complicit, the majority passively so.