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Response / Henry Siegman on Burston and 'Israel's pathology'
By Henry Siegman
Tags: Israel News, Henry Siegman 

Click here for more articles by Bradley Burston
____________________


The following is a response by Henry Siegman to Bradley Burston's column 'Why do Israelis dislike Barack Obama?'
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Bradley Burston is offended by my characterization of Israel's inability to let go of the occupied territories as a pathology, a characterization he says can only be made by someone who hates Israelis.

Perhaps to soften the blow, Burston also wrote (rather bizarrely, I thought) in his column of November 3, 2009 that "No one, not even the Palestinians, hates Israelis the way Israelis do." However, in the
version of his article that appeared the following day, the sentence was omitted.

The pathology I described is invoked most frequently by Israelis themselves. The term for it in Israel is a "galut [diaspora] mentality," the tendency of diaspora Jewry to see itself as friendless, isolated, and always at the edge of a looming pogrom.

No one has described this pathology better than - guess who? - Bradley Burston, in an earlier column (October 20, 2009) in which he criticized an "Israeli approach which borrows from the very worst of our aging instincts. It says: We're moral, our enemies are out to exterminate us along with our state, that's all you need to know. No modifications necessary. Stay the course. Concede nothing. Ease no siege. Give no ground. Ever."

If that is not a perfect description of a pathological mindset, it will do until a better one comes along.

Yitzhak Rabin, whose assassination by a Jewish right-wing extremist is being remembered this week in Israel, did not take much of a different view of this mindset. On the occasion of his inauguration as prime minister in 1992, Rabin told Israelis in his Knesset inauguration address that Israelis are militarily powerful, and neither friendless nor at risk. He urged that they stop thinking and acting like victims.

In my op-ed, I compared Rabin's self-confident, proud and open-to- the- world attitude to that of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who hammers away at the message that the whole world is against Israel and that Israelis are at risk of another Holocaust -- a fear he invoked repeatedly during his address in September at the United Nations General Assembly in order to discredit Judge Richard Goldstone's Gaza fact-finding report.

Burston writes that I consider Israelis "venal, deceitful, the source of the conflict and the obstruction to its solution."

I challenge Burston to cite a single instance of my having touched on the subject of the "venality" of Israel's leaders (i.e. that they can be bought with money) in any of the hundreds of columns I have written over the past forty years, although it is a subject that Israeli columnists have had a field day with. I have avoided it entirely, because my concern has been the damage that Israel's occupation policies and its denial of the human rights and national rights of the Palestinian people are doing to Israel's ability to survive as a Jewish and democratic state.

It is not true, as Burston claims, that I said Israelis lie when they tell pollsters they favor peace. I said that when the peace they favor is for all practical purposes defined as requiring Palestinians to accept the status quo, that is not a choice of peace over territory.

Yes, I have repeatedly written about the deceitfulness of proclamations by Israeli governments about their commitment to a two-state solution. The relentless pursuit by these governments of the settlement enterprise can only be understood as a commitment to prevent such an outcome. For years, successive Israeli governments have solemnly promised, again and again, to remove all "illegal" outposts and settlements (which, even if they had done it, would hardly have made a dent in the settlement enterprise). They have staged the dismantlement of one or two outposts for show, and these were immediately reoccupied.

Prime Minister Ariel Sharon claimed that he removed the settlements in Gaza as a prelude to further withdrawals from the West Bank and a peace agreement with the Palestinians. But the man who negotiated the deal for President Bush's letter of April 2004 to Sharon on the subject of settlements, Dov Weisglass, told Ari Shavit of Haaretz that Sharon's real purpose was to "effectively remove this whole package that is called the Palestinian state from our agenda indefinitely."

To impress President Bush, Sharon made a big show of appointing Talia Sasson to investigate alleged rogue ministerial involvement in the financing and promotion of illegal settlements, knowing that this illegal activity was ordered and orchestrated by himself. As acknowledged publicly by various of his ministers, instructions for this illegal activity came directly from the Prime Minister's office.

And it was none other than Bradley Burston who courageously reported
in one of his columns that Brigadier-General Shmuel Zakai, a former commander of the IDF's Gaza division, accused Israel's government of having failed "to take advantage of the calm [during a six-month truce agreed to by Hamas and Israel] to improve, rather than markedly worsen, the economic plight of the Palestinians of the Strip ..." Zakai added, "When you create tahdiyeh and the economic pressure on the Strip continues, it is obvious that Hamas will try to reach an improved tahdiyeh, and that their way to achieve this is resumed Qassam fire ... You cannot just land blows, leave the Palestinians in Gaza in the economic distress they're in, and expect that Hamas will just sit around and do nothing."

That is not quite the story told by Israel's government, or by Israel's media, of why the IDF had to scorch Gaza, is it?

I do not for a moment believe that Palestinians are faultless, and have repeatedly said so in my writings. But there is little that Palestinians could do - even if they were faultless - to compel overwhelmingly powerful and politically well-connected Israeli governments to accede to a viable and sovereign Palestinian state, as called for by the Road Map, with territorial changes made only by mutual consent. However, if Israeli policy had truly aimed at a two-state solution, it could and would have happened long ago. Nothing would have more encouraged Palestinian efforts to overcome their many shortcomings, or to oppose their rejectionist groups, than a credible Israeli commitment to such a state.

To blame Palestinians, rather than their occupiers, for their responsibility for remaining under a forty-year, oppressive military occupation when Netanyahu's government refuses to consider anything resembling a viable or sovereign Palestinian state, insists on retaining far more Palestinian land than was demanded by previous Israeli governments, rejects the idea of equal land exchanges, and has taken Jerusalem entirely off the table, is to add insult to injury.

If and when Palestinians achieve a state, which they deserve no less than do the Jewish people, it will be time enough to hold them accountable for their shortcomings. Until then, blaming Palestinians for their misery is nothing more than a pretext for the continuation of a colonialist enterprise that every other democracy in the world has relegated to a shameful past.

Henry Siegman is president of the U.S./Middle East Project, and a former executive director of the American Jewish Congress.

_________________


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Previous Blogs:
Why do Israelis dislike Barack Obama?

RESPONSE BY ISI LIEBLER: On 'exorcising' Israel bashers from the Jewish mainstream

Soupy Sales, Rod Serling: Prophets who raised a generation
Dovish Jews? They love Israel? Excommunicate them
Goldstone, Israel's Frankenstein monster
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The cowardice, the vanity, the sin of boycotting Israel
The Gaza War 'victory' - Has Israel grown dependent on terror?

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  1.   Respect to You, M. Siegman 15:36  |  Silex 09/11/09
  2.   There is Palestien... its Jordan duh! 15:40  |  ben 09/11/09
  3.   Do you honestly think that they want a state? 15:51  |  Moshavnik 09/11/09
  4.   Ben 16:41  |  american 09/11/09
  5.   they do deserve it less 16:46  |  joe 09/11/09
  6.   Very sad ... 17:38  |  Victor 09/11/09
  7.   The enemy of ignorance 18:16  |  Yionkel 09/11/09
  8.   `If Israeli policy... 18:31  |  Ami 09/11/09
  9.   Good article 18:34  |  Sylvie 09/11/09
  10.   Palestinian pathology 18:39  |  Harold 09/11/09
  11.   little Palestinians could do???? 18:41  |  Proud Zionist 09/11/09
  12.   Siegman and pathology 18:50  |  Yesh 09/11/09
  13.   Burston/Siegman razor sharp analyses 18:56  |  Proud Israeli 09/11/09
  14.   No matter what any one sais..... 19:05  |  john 09/11/09
  15.   Sylvie Klingenberg ,Segman lies on Rabin too 19:12  |  Absolute Sweden 09/11/09
  16.   Wow. Jewish truthfulness at its` best. 19:15  |  Lou Medel 09/11/09
  17.   #2 Ben. Does that include the `48 borders? duh 19:21  |  Lou Medel 09/11/09
  18.   All 40 years of problems can`t be blamed on Netanyahu 19:32  |  Lee 09/11/09
  19.   Wipe the slate clean 19:52  |  r cummings 09/11/09
  20.   If and when Palestinians achieve a state, which they deserve no 19:52  |  Raed Kami 09/11/09
  21.   A special experience in reasoned debate 20:08  |  Mark Lincoln 09/11/09
  22.   The real problems Lee 20:11  |  Mark Lincoln 09/11/09
  23.   Baseless assumptions 20:51  |  RfaelMoshe 09/11/09
  24.   Henry Siegel`s curious connections 21:04  |  Shmuel Gomez 09/11/09
  25.   Raed Karmi 21:07  |  rich 09/11/09
  26.   Are you sure it merits a condemnation on your part? 21:15  |  Richard Witty 09/11/09
  27.   Been there, done that 21:16  |  Curious George 09/11/09
  28.   To Cummings--what about me 21:44  |  Ex-syrian Jew 09/11/09
  29.   A two State solution is vital for Israel 00:42  |  Mark Jeffery Koch 10/11/09
  30.   Siegman 00:45  |  J-Practical 10/11/09
  31.   Siegman`s ties 00:45  |  Fred Grubnik 10/11/09
  32.   One Country, One human, One vote 00:51  |  honestywithoutmercy 10/11/09
  33.   #12 you conveniently leave out negative acts committed by Arabs 00:54  |  McQueen 10/11/09
  34.   Burston was right - Siegman really does hate Israelis 01:06  |  Maya 10/11/09
  35.   Siegman is wrong, Joe is right, they do deserve it less. 01:49  |  Dr. L. Brnd 10/11/09
  36.   R KARMI. Re"It is OUR land. Jews have no claim to it" SEIGMAN ??? 01:54  |  PETER SM 10/11/09
  37.   ben - Jordan was for the people that lived in the particular area 02:13  |  CJ 10/11/09
  38.   facts & fiction 02:34  |  Ron 10/11/09
  39.   seigman 04:09  |  paul berger 10/11/09
  40.   What`s The Use? 05:02  |  Yosemite 10/11/09
  41.   The Only Class I Ever Got An A In... 05:05  |  Yosemite 10/11/09
  42.   Thank you for a great piece 06:26  |  One 10/11/09
  43.   Raed Kami, Jews bought land 08:22  |  Bill 10/11/09
  44.   A strong Israeli Primer Minister is needed 09:54  |  Naser Abul Haj 10/11/09
  45.   IGNORING Rabin was undermined by ongoing terror suicide bombers 10:11  |  PETER SM 10/11/09
  46.   Raed Kami" When" Who stopped a Palestinian state 60 years ago 10:35  |  PETER SM 10/11/09
  47.   Orientalist? 01:27  |  Anonymous 11/11/09
  48.   #45 PETER SM 15:41  |  BDS 11/11/09
  49.   To call one of the world`s smallest nations a colonial empire... 20:08  |  Chaim 11/11/09
  50.   To Number 3, Thank you. 06:14  |  Edward 12/11/09
  51.   To 49, Thank you Chaim, There is nothing more to add!!! 06:15  |  Edward 12/11/09
  52.   #8 Ami 11:57  |  Said 12/11/09
  53.   #27 Curious George.You got what you deserved in Gaza 22:05  |  Ron 12/11/09
  54.   Siegman 22:50  |  Michael Greenberg 12/11/09
  55.   re Ron history not your strong suit is it 10:52  |  36 chambers 13/11/09
  56.   #56, 36 Chambers. As a History major, this should be easy. 21:40  |  Ron 13/11/09
  57.   #8 Ami two propaganda attention getters 23:11  |  Ron 13/11/09
  58.   #53 Said 23:36  |  Tim R 13/11/09
  59.   #5 Joe. Palestinians didn`t need Jews to exist 01:39  |  Ron 14/11/09
  60.   To 36 chambers`56 re:Ron...It just slipped his memory 02:10  |  Just Me 14/11/09
  61.   McQueen - before Israel was established.... 03:57  |  CJ 14/11/09
  62.   with much words... 17:32  |  albert paul ortiz 14/11/09
  63.   #56 Chambers. As a History major this should be easy 19:46  |  Ron 14/11/09
  64.   #8 Ai. Barak and Olmert bogus peace offers 19:53  |  Ron 14/11/09
  65.   Israel`s pathology 22:02  |  Miles Pinedo 15/11/09
  66.   #65 Bill Clinton Disagrees With Your Account of History Ron 22:31  |  Tim R 15/11/09
  67.   BDS Objects to mentioning Arab terror during Rabins leadership 09:32  |  PETER SM 16/11/09
  68.   A Myopic Battle 10:46  |  FOX 16/11/09
  69.   RON Mr History major.Qassams were landing in Israel years before 11:43  |  PETER SM 16/11/09
  70.   The Land of Israel was GOD given= Palestinians go home 2 Egypt 23:50  |  sam 16/11/09
  71.   #71 Sam You misread Genesis. Deliberately??? 20:06  |  Ron 18/11/09
  72.   #70 Peter SM.Some things more important than rocket dates 20:14  |  Ron 18/11/09
  73.   # Tim R. Some question Clinton`s judgement 20:28  |  Ron 18/11/09
  74.   Ron`s myopism #72 #73 10:40  |  FOX 19/11/09
  75.   #74 Fox. Genocidal blockade 00:18  |  Ron 20/11/09
  76.   #74 Who To Believe ..... ? 03:18  |  Tim R 20/11/09
  77.   #77 Tim R. Question is clarity of thought. 20:44  |  Ron 20/11/09
  78.   Ron Prefers War? 22:09  |  FOX 20/11/09
  79.   #78 So Camp David and Taba Were Entirely Unrelated? - 4th Try 15:03  |  Tim R 21/11/09
  80.   #79F0x. Overestimated Israeli 21:27  |  Ron 21/11/09
  81.   #76 Yes ... I Agree With "Mr Fox" ... Ron 22:13  |  Tim R 21/11/09
  82.   #80 Tim R. Camp David and Taba not connected 22:34  |  Ron 21/11/09
  83.   re "whitewashing all Arab sins" 22:40  |  Alex 21/11/09
  84.   #83 What`s My Point Ron? 06:43  |  Tim R 22/11/09
  85.   #83 What`s My Point Ron? 09:47  |  Tim R 22/11/09
  86.   RON Thousands of Gazans receive medical care in Israel 09:49  |  PETER SM 22/11/09
  87.   RON Thousands of Gazans receive medical care in Israel 09:49  |  PETER SM 22/11/09
  88.   To Henry Siegman 14:16  |  Clear Thinker 22/11/09
  89.   To Mr. Siegman and to Bradley Burston 14:20  |  Clear Thinker 22/11/09
  90.   #74 Fox. Jebusites built Jerusalem 20:43  |  Ron 22/11/09
  91.   #81 You agree what with Mr. Fox? 20:57  |  Ron 22/11/09
  92.   #88 Clear Think. Olmert`s offer 23:01  |  Ron 22/11/09
  93.   too cool for school 06:32  |  ricki bobbi 23/11/09
  94.   RON that just proves common semitic heritage as descendents 06:53  |  PETER SM 23/11/09
  95.   RON that just proves common semitic heritage as descendents 06:53  |  PETER SM 23/11/09
  96.   Ron, When Blockades Fail 10:02  |  FOX 23/11/09
  97.   #91 Yes I Agree With "Mr Fox" ... (3rd Try) 10:34  |  Tim R 23/11/09
  98.   rickibobbi so cool it`s for a useful fool 13:34  |  PETER SM 23/11/09
  99.   The problem of Siegman 15:44  |  Abecassis 23/11/09
  100.   Ron 90: "Usually when a Jew doesn`t like what he reads..." 17:07  |  Lee 23/11/09
  101.   Ron: RE Clarity of Thought 17:11  |  Lee 23/11/09
  102.   #92 Really Ron? 21:00  |  Tim R 23/11/09
  103.   #97 Tin R. You agree with everything pro Israel 22:03  |  Ron 23/11/09
  104.   I am Henry Siegman and I disagree with the comment by.. 00:12  |  Henry Siegman 24/11/09
  105.   #102 And You Are Anti Everything To Do With Israel Ron 00:41  |  Tim R 24/11/09
  106.   #95 Peter SM. The subject is Jebusites and Palestinians 01:34  |  Ron 24/11/09
  107.   #87 Peter SM Aussie arrogance 03:22  |  Ron 24/11/09
  108.   #85 Tim R. There was no point! 03:37  |  Ron 24/11/09
  109.   #92 Really Ron? 04:57  |  Tim R 24/11/09
  110.   #102 And You Are Anti Everything To Do With Israel Ron 04:59  |  Tim R 24/11/09
  111.   #92 Really Ron? (3rd Try) 10:22  |  Tim R 24/11/09
  112.   #102 And You Are Anti Everything To Do With Israel Ron(3rd Try) 12:54  |  Tim R 24/11/09
  113.   Dear Henry 15:02  |  Deborah 24/11/09
  114.   Bradley Burston vs. Henry Sigman 18:57  |  shimoni 24/11/09
  115.   Thank you. Mr. Siegman 20:46  |  David 24/11/09
  116.   #110 Tim R. You have some reading to do 22:55  |  Ron 24/11/09
  117.   RON Lie 1.There ARE international media in Gaza 11:51  |  PETER SM 25/11/09
  118.   For Deborah@ 113 16:17  |  Whiskey/bravo 25/11/09
  119.   #109 Tim R. Some are confused by two subjects 18:05  |  Ron 25/11/09
  120.   #96 Fox. When excuses fail 18:11  |  Ron 25/11/09
  121.   Ron@ 119 18:32  |  Whiskey/Bravo 25/11/09
  122.   #104 Siegman in drag 18:51  |  Ron 25/11/09
  123.   #122Whisky Bravo No substantial remark 19:29  |  Ron 25/11/09
  124.   #118 Whisky Bravo is no Shakespeare 19:41  |  Ron 25/11/09
  125.   #116 You Have Gone Off On A Tangent Ron ..(3rd Try) 09:10  |  Tim R 26/11/09
  126.   #119 "Who Cares How Wide Israel`s 1967 Boundary Was"(2nd Try) 09:12  |  Tim R 26/11/09
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