Last April, I was watching what was billed as a peace rally in Washington, D.C., on C-Span television. It was really an Israel-bashing contest. In reference to the much-misperceived raid on Jenin, the vast majority of speakers would, during the hour I watched the program, each declare, ?Today I am a Palestinian.? Funny, most didn?t look Palestinian, and they sounded as if they had no idea what they were talking about.
The event was organized by a then-obscure group called International A.N.S.W.E.R. I checked out their Web site and discovered that the post-demonstration coverage was dominated by the Israeli conflict ? all of it in favor of the Palestinians and against Israel. A.N.S.W.E.R.?s credibility was finished with me right there. It?s clearly contradictory to hold a peace rally and then lend full and unquestioning support to one side in an extremely complicated conflict.
There was no Q.U.E.S.T.I.O.N. about it: A.N.S.W.E.R. was anti-Israel and anti-Semitic, at least in effect.
Oh, sorry. A critic of a previous article scolded me for calling her anti-Semitic, since Arabs are also a Semitic people. She clarified that she is anti-Jewish, as A.N.S.W.E.R. appears to be in some ways.
When I characterize A.N.S.W.E.R. as anti-Semitic in effect, I need to point that I have come across three kinds of Israeli criticism ? a rational form based on facts; an excuse for anti-Semitism; and honest ignorance about the situation. People are fed myths or distortions and they believe it. That?s probably the case with some anti-war protesters.
Since anti-war protests have drawn more widespread support now that American troops might soon enter Iraq, perhaps even as you read this, A.N.S.W.E.R. and many of the anti-war protesters have become the focus of deserved criticism for being anti-Israel and possibly anti-Semitic. Their critics particularly point to their association with socialist and communist causes and organizations.
The anti-war movement as it is presently constituted leaves many Jewish Americans conflicted. They have reservations or are fully opposed to war in Iraq, but they are naturally concerned, fearful and angry about the anti-Israel dimension of the war?s opponents. Even members of the Progressive Zionist Alliance, a leftist Philadelphia-based Jewish group which is committed to a two-state solution, has expressed alarm about A.N.S.W.E.R.
This article is not intended to debate the pros and cons of the impending war itself. However, in any movement this extensive, we are bound to find intramural conflicts on an array of issues. It is no surprise that many demonstrators are against Israel, but it is another matter when such a world-view is institutionalized. That is, when a founding organization of the anti-war campaign sponsors vehement anti-Israel attitudes.
A.N.S.W.E.R. is no longer the sole organizer of anti-war events and this movement is no longer dominated by any one segment of society. True, a fair number of people who would be regarded as extremists are active in this, but so are many citizens who fit the mainstream view. However, A.N.S.W.E.R. is still very much a part of anti-war demonstrations. It seems to have toned down the pro-Palestinian theme, but the group has never provided a public clarification about its position toward Israel. I sent them an e-mail protesting the tone and content of last April?s rally, but I never received a response.
Jews who oppose the war ? whether leftists or those who are traditionally moderate-to-liberal ? are going to feel uncomfortable just by the presence of any individuals who partner the Iraq war with the Israel-Palestinian conflict, but it is far worse with an anti-Israel organization playing a prominent role. At the least, A.N.S.W.E.R. has done nothing to dispel the notion of its past sponsorship of Israel-bashing.
The anti-war movement needs to focus on its main mission to remain credible. A.N.S.W.E.R.?s role has already provoked conflict, which contradicts its stated purpose and that of the anti-war campaign in general. If said conflicts persist, organizers of anti-war activities must confront this situation.
Why antagonize people who share concern about a far larger purpose?
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Bruce S. Ticker is a freelance writer and former journalist living in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He can be reached at Brucetic@aol.com.
--------------------------------------------------------
Spend Passover with Arutz Sheva at a resort in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv or Kfar Pines (near Hadera). Click here for info.
The event was organized by a then-obscure group called International A.N.S.W.E.R. I checked out their Web site and discovered that the post-demonstration coverage was dominated by the Israeli conflict ? all of it in favor of the Palestinians and against Israel. A.N.S.W.E.R.?s credibility was finished with me right there. It?s clearly contradictory to hold a peace rally and then lend full and unquestioning support to one side in an extremely complicated conflict.
There was no Q.U.E.S.T.I.O.N. about it: A.N.S.W.E.R. was anti-Israel and anti-Semitic, at least in effect.
Oh, sorry. A critic of a previous article scolded me for calling her anti-Semitic, since Arabs are also a Semitic people. She clarified that she is anti-Jewish, as A.N.S.W.E.R. appears to be in some ways.
When I characterize A.N.S.W.E.R. as anti-Semitic in effect, I need to point that I have come across three kinds of Israeli criticism ? a rational form based on facts; an excuse for anti-Semitism; and honest ignorance about the situation. People are fed myths or distortions and they believe it. That?s probably the case with some anti-war protesters.
Since anti-war protests have drawn more widespread support now that American troops might soon enter Iraq, perhaps even as you read this, A.N.S.W.E.R. and many of the anti-war protesters have become the focus of deserved criticism for being anti-Israel and possibly anti-Semitic. Their critics particularly point to their association with socialist and communist causes and organizations.
The anti-war movement as it is presently constituted leaves many Jewish Americans conflicted. They have reservations or are fully opposed to war in Iraq, but they are naturally concerned, fearful and angry about the anti-Israel dimension of the war?s opponents. Even members of the Progressive Zionist Alliance, a leftist Philadelphia-based Jewish group which is committed to a two-state solution, has expressed alarm about A.N.S.W.E.R.
This article is not intended to debate the pros and cons of the impending war itself. However, in any movement this extensive, we are bound to find intramural conflicts on an array of issues. It is no surprise that many demonstrators are against Israel, but it is another matter when such a world-view is institutionalized. That is, when a founding organization of the anti-war campaign sponsors vehement anti-Israel attitudes.
A.N.S.W.E.R. is no longer the sole organizer of anti-war events and this movement is no longer dominated by any one segment of society. True, a fair number of people who would be regarded as extremists are active in this, but so are many citizens who fit the mainstream view. However, A.N.S.W.E.R. is still very much a part of anti-war demonstrations. It seems to have toned down the pro-Palestinian theme, but the group has never provided a public clarification about its position toward Israel. I sent them an e-mail protesting the tone and content of last April?s rally, but I never received a response.
Jews who oppose the war ? whether leftists or those who are traditionally moderate-to-liberal ? are going to feel uncomfortable just by the presence of any individuals who partner the Iraq war with the Israel-Palestinian conflict, but it is far worse with an anti-Israel organization playing a prominent role. At the least, A.N.S.W.E.R. has done nothing to dispel the notion of its past sponsorship of Israel-bashing.
The anti-war movement needs to focus on its main mission to remain credible. A.N.S.W.E.R.?s role has already provoked conflict, which contradicts its stated purpose and that of the anti-war campaign in general. If said conflicts persist, organizers of anti-war activities must confront this situation.
Why antagonize people who share concern about a far larger purpose?
--------------------------------------------------------
Bruce S. Ticker is a freelance writer and former journalist living in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He can be reached at Brucetic@aol.com.
--------------------------------------------------------
Spend Passover with Arutz Sheva at a resort in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv or Kfar Pines (near Hadera). Click here for info.