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| Not quite out of the ghetto, perhaps |
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| Written by Rabbi Dow Marmur | |
| Thursday, 24 January 2008 | |
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The world doesn’t seem to be bothered by the constant barrage of rockets on Sderot and other parts of the Northern Negev that has gone on for years and caused (a) many casualties, (b) collective trauma that has affected most citizens, and (c) much damage to property. Yet the world is incensed when Israel, in an attempt to get the terrorists to desist from firing the rockets, stops fuel supply to Gaza for a few days. The most obvious explanation is, of course, that bashing Jews is still popular in the world, especially as a way of expressing solidarity with Palestinians. Hamas and the rest of the Arab world know how to exploit it. The result is another public relations set- back for Israel, despite its understandable and arguably reasonable retaliation. But there’s more to it than that: the world looks at Palestinians as perennial victims and Israelis as almost invincible victors. To censure the strong is considered fair game; to pity the weak is a sign of care and concern. Because Israel is viewed as mighty and powerful, it’s expected to take the harassment at Sderot on its chin. Though some of the residents of Gaza are cruel terrorists whose aim is to kill and maim innocent civilians in Israel, they must not be punished in ways that may cause further suffering to the hapless majority. That – so the argument goes - is the moral responsibility of the strong. Jews in the Diaspora are outraged by this imbalance, because they view the Jewish people as perennial victims. We cling to the old paradigm and find it very difficult to accept that our image in the world has changed. Israelis, on the other hand, pride themselves of having left the ghetto. Therefore, they seem to be able to take the indignation of the world without losing too much sleep over it. This may explain why the Government of Israel imposed the most recent spate of sanctions on Gaza, seemingly oblivious to its impact on world opinion. Defense Minister Barak’s speech at the Herzlia Conference yesterday saying something to the effect that his priority is our pain, not theirs, is an apt illustration of this attitude. Foreign Minister Livni spoke along similar lines tonight at the Conference. But I’ve heard some commentators suggest otherwise. Thus Hirsh Goodman, the founding editor of The Jerusalem Report, said on television tonight that in the same way as the Government of Israel has the Attorney General as its legal adviser and the Chief of Staff as its military advisor, it should also have a highly placed communications adviser. Before taking any action it should consult him/her and consider the effect on the world media and the concomitant consequences. Not to care for that is to show undue callousness, for public opinion can easily turn winners into losers. Though it may be too drastic to suggest that cutting off Gaza from the rest of the world, as Israel has done in the last few days, has turned it from winner to loser, the legitimate purpose and probably positive effect of Israel’s actions have been greatly diminished because of the media outcry and world reaction. Israelis may be out of the ghetto, but it seems foolish to ignore Jewish ghetto memories and not to realize how easily seemingly legitimate steps can become wrong actions. So today Israel changed its policy and supplies are flowing again, at least for now. As much as we have reason to celebrate the Israeli as the new Jew who is victim no more, a spot of the old ghetto mentality wouldn’t come amiss. It would also help to muster some sympathy for the ordinary folk in Gaza; they deserve it. Jerusalem 22.1.08 Trackback(0)
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