To the Editor,
February 17, 2011
In "ISRAEL’S PLURALISTIC TOLERANT CHARACTER IS ERODING" Mira Sucharov talks as though she is strong supporter of Israel, yet tells the half-truths characteristic of those who wish to demonize Israel .
1. She discusses the letter from 39 Israeli rabbis forbidding the renting of apartments to Arabs, yet never mentions that this letter was universally condemned in Israeli society, from the left-wing, right-wing, and even the majority of Israel’s orthodox Jewry. I’d expect such convenient dropping of such important details not from a person calling herself an Israel-supporter.
2. While the investigation of Left-wing NGOs by Israel is highly illiberal, it should be viewed from a survivalist standpoint. Israel is surrounded by enemy nations that plot and pray for its destruction every second of the day, and, between Muslim fanatics and their Leftist cohorts, the Jewish state is under assault from every angle, from military, to economic, to political.
It is safe to assume that the Jewish homeland is the most hated country in the world; why would Sucharov downplay the ruthlessness of the anti-Israel movement by pretending as though it is beyond utilizing subversive tactics like hijacking, funding, or employing left-wing NGOs and human rights groups inside Israel to do its dirty work. If she doubts this possibility, Sucharov should quickly research all of the organization and groups around the world that bare the mark of the Muslim Brotherhood, from Muslim Student Associations and the Council on American Islamic Relations, all the way up to Al-Qaida and Hamas.
3. The issue of conversion is a huge manifestation of the divide between Israel’s orthodox and less-religious Jewish communities. It is mistaken of Sucharov to exhibit such a schism as a sign that Israel is losing the Jewish ideals that is founded upon, as though implying that Israel is on its way to being a Jewish version of the Iranian theocracy.
4. Sucharov cites Jewish groups like J Street and New Israel Fund as organizations to be admired for their stance in the Mid-East conflict. However, greater skepticism of these left-of-centre groups should be put in place. Granted, these organizations describe themselves as pro-Israel, but they never seem to miss an opportunity to side with Israel’s enemies and fail to even remotely stand up for the land that they claim to support.
I remember reading two years ago in an August issue of The Jerusalem Post about New Israel Fund relating to Jewish tourists a Palestinian-approved revisionist history of the holy land, a history in which Arabs were the innocent natives living on a land that had no Jewish character whatsoever before the evil Zionists invaded and stole their country.
It seems that these groups are more concerned with abiding by politically correct trends and avoiding anti-Israel slurs than defending the only Jewish country.
5. Why does Sucharov discuss the criminal actions of former Israeli President Moshe Katzav as though it were the norm of Israeli life, especially Israeli political life? He is a criminal and he should be punished to the fullest extent, but where is the collective guilt upon the entire state of Israel.
The prime minister of Italy is accused of soliciting sex from a 17-year old girl; does that mean that Italy and the Italian people should be held accountable for his wrongs, as if such activities were encouraged by them? No. So why should Israel be held to account because of Katsav?
I would expect the Katsav case to be used by an Israel-hater as a broad generalization to depict all Israelis and Israel-supporters as inhuman monsters, but it’s a mystery as to what message Sucharov was trying to get at by citing this case for herself.
Sincerely,
David Miadovnik,