And yet that is the necessary pre-condition.
Sharpe
5003
Right. And yet there’s no way that’s going to happen. Which means the two state solution is no longer viable.
Clearly seems that Netanyahu is not in control of his rightwing ‘partners’.
I think netanyahu is showing his true face. I consider Israel an evil government at this point on par with 70s South Africa, and one I’d cut off. Every dollar there is a dollar we could be doing good somewhere else, and israel blatantly supported f a scism in the US s uring Trump time.
I wish my congesswoman wasnt such a ridiculous Israel hawk.
US State Department: “Now now Israel, ethnic cleansing’s not nice. We’ve talked about this”
If such a furious response doesn’t do it, I don’t know what will.
jpinard
5008
This is exactly what they are now.
One challenge to principled opposition to Israeli policies is the growth of real antisemitism, accompanied by violence or threats of violence, here in the US. Like recently in Michigan, where the AG got death threats, etc. As soon as someone criticizes Israel, folks come out of the woodwork to denounce them as empowering the actual bigots and participating in an anti-Jewish campaign or whatever.
While, I’m sure, there are some folks who are both anti-Semites and critics of Israel, the idea that any criticism of Israel = antisemitism is both ludicrous and pernicious. Yet we get this time and again, even when Jews criticize the government there. It is really sad to see American Jews attacking each other because one group has drunk the Netanyahu Kool-Aid very very deeply.
I just wish those in Israel on the far right would take time to examine where they came from and say, “We don’t want to see anything like that ever again, even from us.”
I’m sure many Jews feel this way; it would be hard not to, really. But there is another force pushing on the community, and that is religion. “Jew” is a term rich with meaning. In some cases it is a religious label, in others, an ethnic marker, and for some, a biological or for lack of a better word “racial” term. It’s a culture, a history, a practice, an identity, like many other with the added complexity of having been around in one form or another for a very long time.
The religious aspect has always been powerful, even for secular (or pretty much atheistic, like many of us) Jews, because so much of everything else ultimately comes down to the stories we tell, in Torah, the Talmud, our literature about our collective relationship with a putative divine force that occasionally sets shrubbery on fire. Much of the time this doesn’t cause too many problems, maybe some awkwardness and a lot inconvenience. Sometimes, though, as is the case in every faith community, when the true believers, the zealots (and yeah, we invented that particular pox) get a hold on things.
For extremely religious, literalist (fundamentalist one could say) Jews, often called Ultra-Orthodox, the religious aspects of being Jewish are not just important, they tend to eclipse everything else. That is one of the contexts that allows a people who should definitely know better to engage in horrible acts. When you truly believe that you are Chosen (and not “chosen to be tested; this isn’t a reward, guys” like many Jews view it, but rather "chosen to be not only G_d’s favorite but to be the only people who matter), well, nothing is off limits.
I’m simplifying a bit, but in a nutshell there you have it.
An increasing number of IDF reservists are declaring they will refuse to serve if these changes will go forward. Currently these are mostly elite units, air force pilots, and intelligence personnel. As much as I’m rooting for then, it’s very scary. This is how civil wars start. Tearing the country apart is Netanyahu’s stay out of jail card :(
Lamalo
5015
I’m no elite soldier, just an ambulance driver while serving in the reserve, but I too won’t come when called upon. Fuck Bibi and fuck this country.
Still up for adoption though, somebody needs to hurry up before I’m turning 38.
Sorry, I didn’t mean to put down anyone. The news pieces I saw mentioned shaldag, 669, 8200, etc. I guess it’s more interesting to write about. I’m sure many others will refuse. We’ll be doing what little we can here.
jpinard
5017
I’ll adopt you! Not sure if Michigan is too cold though LOL :)
Lamalo
5019
Motherfucker trying to start a war. Neither he nor his followers serve in the army, but they expect the army to jump up and do their bidding and die for them for all the wrong reasons. I am full of dispair and there is nothing I can do beyond moving my money overseas and going on demonstrations while the country is freefalling and turning into religious dictatorship.
How I wish I had a foreign passport so I could leave this sinking ship.
Is there a reason you can’t get a foreign passport?
