It may be a shortsighted and overly emotional reaction on my part, but this boomer American Jew is done with Israel in its current form. It has lost all morality and is self-destructing; a country that had such amazing potential for good in the world. Very sad.
I ask you not to give up on all those in Israel fighting against Netanyahu et al and to save their country - as we in this country are not giving up on the US as we fight against those undermining our democratic foundations. The work is hard, the road is long - but the only winners if we give up are the very people we oppose.
I’m tempering my views, trying to stay in the game, remembering that there is a a significant( ?) minority in Israel that want fairness and equality in their country.. It’s perplexing and overwhelming often, both regarding Israel and here at home. Logically you are completely correct in equating our two countries in this moment. Time will tell how this plays out.
My personal connections are basically none, so as I regard Israel as a failing democracy from afar, I no longer have a desire to visit again where once I might have looked forward to a family trip with my grandkids. Could it still be a safe haven for all Jews when the ultra orthodox and settlers have no use for me and my so called secularism? And with antisemitism on the rise It’s a sad day for the Jews and maybe even a sadder day for Israel.
I appreciate you taking the time to respond to me. From my ambivalent viewpoint about ISRAEL well before Oct 7, it is ultimately their country and their decision as to what path they will take. But as Tom Friedman so eloquently and frighteningly writes in today’s NYTimes, the paths the government is taking may well be suicidal for the state of Israel. Let’s hope some amount of outside pressure may prevail on the Israeli public. Would you send your 18 year old to the military to learn to kill and hate the Arab? I know that may be an unfair way to portray national service, but Israel does indoctrinate their youth to expect a perpetual enemy. I wouldn’t want my grandchild entering such a system. I’m relatively content being in the diaspora, until we as Jews are not, once again. And then what? We migrate as our history foretells?
"How is it that Jewish leaders are more focused on whether New York’s mayor has condemned a provocative Instagram account than they are on violence unfolding in the West Bank?"
Under mamdani, attacks against Jews have skyrocketed.
I was told that a large majority of Orthodox (including Modern Orthodox) Jews in America voted for Trump on the basis he would be good for Israel. I believe the Trump administration has been disastrous for Israel because it encouraged the worst instincts of Netanyahu and his government. It seems to me that one of the most practical ways for liberal Jews in the US to help is to do everything we can do wrest control of Congress from the Republicans in the midterms and then build durable Democratic majorities in the next general election and beyond. After all, how can we criticize Israeli voters for supporting Netanyahu when we elected Trump? I think we also need to provide political cover for those progressive Democrats willing to stand up to AIPAC's fire, if that is possible.
It strikes me that as a gentile I have felt the same way about the US. I see Republicans as a party that has sabotaged our country for 40 years. Trump a grifter, con man and pedophile. I see Israel as the same as our country, the right wing out of control. I have always wanted our country to support Israel. But what happened in Gaza, unfathomable considering what the Nazis did, the Jews treating the people of Gaza as less than human. What strikes me is the alleged ties of Epstein, Trump and Mossad. Not that far fetched that Maxwell got into blackmail through her father, that Putin has Trump as an asset. All this smells connected.
We of course are visiting the Gaza envelope and sat today in Hostage Square with the family of a released hostage. That's a vital part of getting a complete picture. So is traveling to the West Bank and sitting with families whose home have been destroyed by settler terrorists. That's the thing about getting the whole picture - you actually spend time with both sides to this conflict.
I sincerely hope there are enough people in Isreal willing to allow real sovereignty in Palastine but it doesn’t seem likely. Netanyahu belongs in prison in The Hague along with Trump and Putin.
Thank you for your tireless efforts and courage to wake people up. For the sake of all, the path needs to change.
All true. And very concerning.
Well said! Have a productive trip.
Thanks Larry. Off to a good start.
Very
Important and So Very Important to listen and Take To Heart.
It may be a shortsighted and overly emotional reaction on my part, but this boomer American Jew is done with Israel in its current form. It has lost all morality and is self-destructing; a country that had such amazing potential for good in the world. Very sad.
I ask you not to give up on all those in Israel fighting against Netanyahu et al and to save their country - as we in this country are not giving up on the US as we fight against those undermining our democratic foundations. The work is hard, the road is long - but the only winners if we give up are the very people we oppose.
I’m tempering my views, trying to stay in the game, remembering that there is a a significant( ?) minority in Israel that want fairness and equality in their country.. It’s perplexing and overwhelming often, both regarding Israel and here at home. Logically you are completely correct in equating our two countries in this moment. Time will tell how this plays out.
I totally agree with you. Netanayu is going to bring on the downfall of Israel. Which American organizations are sending delegates?
My personal connections are basically none, so as I regard Israel as a failing democracy from afar, I no longer have a desire to visit again where once I might have looked forward to a family trip with my grandkids. Could it still be a safe haven for all Jews when the ultra orthodox and settlers have no use for me and my so called secularism? And with antisemitism on the rise It’s a sad day for the Jews and maybe even a sadder day for Israel.
Heading there in March with NIF.
I appreciate you taking the time to respond to me. From my ambivalent viewpoint about ISRAEL well before Oct 7, it is ultimately their country and their decision as to what path they will take. But as Tom Friedman so eloquently and frighteningly writes in today’s NYTimes, the paths the government is taking may well be suicidal for the state of Israel. Let’s hope some amount of outside pressure may prevail on the Israeli public. Would you send your 18 year old to the military to learn to kill and hate the Arab? I know that may be an unfair way to portray national service, but Israel does indoctrinate their youth to expect a perpetual enemy. I wouldn’t want my grandchild entering such a system. I’m relatively content being in the diaspora, until we as Jews are not, once again. And then what? We migrate as our history foretells?
Jeremy Ben-Ami is a danger to all Jews.
He says nothing about terrorism from the west bank, he refused to listen to what the hostaged wanted regarding a Palestinian state (no way)
if it was up to Jeremy, Hamas would still be in Israel looking for people to murder rape and kidnap.
"How is it that Jewish leaders are more focused on whether New York’s mayor has condemned a provocative Instagram account than they are on violence unfolding in the West Bank?"
Under mamdani, attacks against Jews have skyrocketed.
This is shameful even for J Street
I was told that a large majority of Orthodox (including Modern Orthodox) Jews in America voted for Trump on the basis he would be good for Israel. I believe the Trump administration has been disastrous for Israel because it encouraged the worst instincts of Netanyahu and his government. It seems to me that one of the most practical ways for liberal Jews in the US to help is to do everything we can do wrest control of Congress from the Republicans in the midterms and then build durable Democratic majorities in the next general election and beyond. After all, how can we criticize Israeli voters for supporting Netanyahu when we elected Trump? I think we also need to provide political cover for those progressive Democrats willing to stand up to AIPAC's fire, if that is possible.
It strikes me that as a gentile I have felt the same way about the US. I see Republicans as a party that has sabotaged our country for 40 years. Trump a grifter, con man and pedophile. I see Israel as the same as our country, the right wing out of control. I have always wanted our country to support Israel. But what happened in Gaza, unfathomable considering what the Nazis did, the Jews treating the people of Gaza as less than human. What strikes me is the alleged ties of Epstein, Trump and Mossad. Not that far fetched that Maxwell got into blackmail through her father, that Putin has Trump as an asset. All this smells connected.
So in other words you only spoke to people who already agreed with you?
Just out of curiosity, did you visit the sites of where Israel was attack on 10/7?
We of course are visiting the Gaza envelope and sat today in Hostage Square with the family of a released hostage. That's a vital part of getting a complete picture. So is traveling to the West Bank and sitting with families whose home have been destroyed by settler terrorists. That's the thing about getting the whole picture - you actually spend time with both sides to this conflict.
Replying to bots is a waste of time.
I sincerely hope there are enough people in Isreal willing to allow real sovereignty in Palastine but it doesn’t seem likely. Netanyahu belongs in prison in The Hague along with Trump and Putin.
So in other words you only spoke to people who already agreed with you?