Subscribe to Print Edition | Tue., December 08, 2009 Kislev 21, 5770 | | Israel Time: 09:45 (EST+7)
Haaretz israel news English
web haaretz.com
Jewish World Haaretz Toolbar
Diplomacy
Defense Opinion National
Print Edition
Car Rental
Focus U.S.A. Strenger than Fiction Business Travel Magazine Week's End Anglo File Books
Share |
Last update - 08:10 11/11/2009
Response / On 'exorcising' Israel bashers from the Jewish mainstream
By Isi Leibler
Tags: Jewish World, Bradley Burston 

Although no stranger to controversial encounters, I was nevertheless taken aback by the extraordinary misrepresentation of my views by Bradley Burston (Dovish Jews? They love Israel? Excommunicate them) and especially Carlo Strenger (Memo to Jewish haters of Liberals: The Middle Ages are over).

I have written a number of columns criticizing extremist Israeli and Diaspora Jews whose principal political activities are geared toward delegitimizing the Jewish state and who currently occupy leading roles fuelling global anti-Israeli campaigns (Why Make a Fuss about JStreet? and Marginalize the Renegades).
Advertisement
I referred in particular to a number of Israeli academics who abuse academic freedom by exploiting their universities as launching pads to vilify Israel, identify with Israel's enemies and even call for global boycotts of their own institutions. It would be inconceivable for the authorities to adopt a laissez-faire approach toward racists or radical right wing extremist academics behaving in this manner. In a nation under siege and facing existential threats, people exploiting academia for such purposes have crossed the red line and should not retain tenure at institutions funded by Israeli taxpayers and Diaspora Zionist philanthropists.

I also related to a small but increasing number of Diaspora Jews who share a one-dimensional global agenda of demonizing and delegitimizing Israel. I am not referring to "doves" or critics of Israeli policy but those who exploit their Jewish antecedents solely in order to demonize Israel. For example, those who partake in demonstrations with groups supporting Hamas and Hezbollah. Or those responsible for disseminating what was subsequently proven to have been malicious libels against the IDF which created the climate for the global campaign depicting us as war criminals - as embodied in the Goldstone report.

In this context, I was also critical of J Street not because of their views but their preposterously false attempts to portray themselves as pro-Israel. J Street has never endorsed any substantive Israel government policies and their principal objective is to lobby the Obama administration to exert more pressure on Israel to provide additional unilateral concessions. They opposed Israel's role in the Gaza war, lobbied Congress to oppose sanctions against Iran and recently urged Congress to water down a resolution criticizing the Goldstone report. The "pro-Israel, pro-peace" pretensions of J Street are reminiscent of the Jewish communists who sponsored state sponsored Soviet anti-Semitism in the guise of promoting bogus "peace" campaigns.

Their right and that of other Israel bashing groups to express their views are not being challenged. But that does not mean that establishment Jewish groups should indulge in kumbaya with those systematically trying to undermine the Jewish state.

I stand by my view that those whose primary goal is to delegitimize and demonize the Jewish state - such as radical right wing extremists or racists - should be marginalized from the mainstream Jewish community. That is not fascism. It is common sense.

I observed that self loathing Jews are not a new phenomenon in Jewish history. During the Middle Ages, Jewish apostates were exploited by the church to promote the most obscene libels against their kinsman. That paved the way for subsequent pogroms and massacres. I noted that during that period, such renegades were excommunicated. To suggest as did Burston and Strenger that I seek to reintroduce "excommunication" to deal with "doves" or critics of Israeli policy is an unconscionable misrepresentation of what I wrote.

More disturbingly, Carlo Strenger joins those exploiting the memory of Yitzhak Rabin to cynically intimidate and silence their opponents. But he goes further. He implies that my views "could be taken seriously by someone like Yaakov Teitel," the alleged fiendish deranged Jewish terrorist. I will not dignify such an obscene assertion by a response.

On a broader level, Strenger's references to Rabin are symptomatic of an increasing trend by those on the far left to invoke the memory of our assassinated Prime Minister in order to suppress public criticism of their agenda.

I was privileged to know Rabin and met with him on numerous occasions. I remember how he repeatedly reiterated his hope that "the gamble for peace" as he described the Oslo Accords, would succeed. Alas, in the absence of a genuine peace partner, his gamble failed and became the incubator for our current problems.

But even after the Oslo Accords proved to have been an absolute disaster, most of us recognized that Rabin's sole motivations were to promote the interests of the Jewish state and achieve a genuine peace settlement. Rabin was above all a consummate Israeli patriot and a true Zionist.

It is thus disturbing to observe post-Zionists and extremists, whose views Rabin utterly detested, abusing his memory in order to promote their discredited policies and silence their opponents. I can just visualize the expletives he would have uttered had he been asked to send an Israeli ambassador to participate at a convention of American Jews like J Street whose principal objective was to persuade their president to exercise "tough love" on Israel because they decided that the Jewish state needed to be treated like a parent who treats a drug addicted child.

Israel and the committed global Jewish community encompass a wide range of opinions on matters relating to the future of the Jewish state. However, I have no doubt that had Rabin been alive, he too would have endeavored to "exorcise" (Thesaurus "disentangle" or "remove") from the mainstream, those Israelis and Jews who actively seek to demonize the state, defame the IDF, lobby foreign governments against Israel or oppose a Jewish democratic state.

Email Isi Leibler at ileibler@netvision.net.il
PROMOTION: Mamilla Hotel
Bookmark to del.icio.us  
 
Palestinian sues Bruno
Man playing 'terrorist' in Sasha Baron Cohen's film says the movie 'ruined his life'.
Why Hitler hated Jews?
Book claims Hitler's hatred stemmed from belief his mother was poisoned by one.
  1.   these kinds of split hairs lead to split skulls 10:09  |  drdan 10/11/09
  2.   Isi your on right 12:19  |  arthur 10/11/09
  3.   the excorsist. 12:38  |  rm 10/11/09
  4.   sober analysis 13:00  |  ron 10/11/09
  5.   Legitimate criticism and support 13:27  |  eyal 10/11/09
  6.   Haaretz needs more of this 13:29  |  Gabe 10/11/09
  7.   Anti-Israel anti-semitic Jews 13:40  |  Elise 10/11/09
  8.   please, let`s not start this 13:46  |  bored 10/11/09
  9.   Haaretz needs more of this 13:48  |  Gabe 10/11/09
  10.   Isi Leiber 13:50  |  Jeremiah 10/11/09
  11.   J STreet supports Israel`s basic law 14:05  |  Richard Witty 10/11/09
  12.   Pleasantly surprised to see that here. Start w/you Bad Brad? 14:07  |  Surprised American 10/11/09
  13.   Academic freedom 14:08  |  Damian Lataan 10/11/09
  14.   Markedly less strident...bless his heart. 14:20  |  HPL 10/11/09
  15.   Isi Lieber raises an interesting point 14:30  |  Chris Linthwaite 10/11/09
  16.   Finally Haaretz publishes Leibler`s response 14:35  |  Peter Williams 10/11/09
  17.   self loathing? 14:52  |  Richie 10/11/09
  18.   Bravo, Isi Leiber. 14:53  |  Abecassis 10/11/09
  19.   Thank you, Mr. Leibler, for your words. They needed to be heard!! 15:32  |  Eitan 10/11/09
  20.   Chris Linthwaite (#14) how about 15:53  |  Gil 10/11/09
  21.   Nice rewriting of history! 15:54  |  newageblues 10/11/09
  22.   Lets admit , there some Jews among us who 16:12  |  TOMY 10/11/09
  23.   Freedom of Expression 16:58  |  Peter 10/11/09
  24.   J Street bashing misguided 17:20  |  Raz Barak 10/11/09
  25.   Kudos for publishing the article 17:23  |  Peter 10/11/09
  26.   Agree with every word 17:45  |  Ex-leftist 10/11/09
  27.   Gil 17:46  |  Jeremiah 10/11/09
  28.   Excellent Isi! & to the point. Needs to be stated again & again.. 18:27  |  bat yam 10/11/09
  29.   #20 Gil 18:42  |  Chris Linthwaite 10/11/09
  30.   Response to Leibler 18:57  |  LEEGUY 10/11/09
  31.   arthur 2 19:22  |  potobac 10/11/09
  32.   Such a thing as "self-loving" jews? 20:33  |  hollingsworth 10/11/09
  33.   Isn`t it obvious? 20:35  |  hollingsworth 10/11/09
  34.   #32 Hollingsworth "Self loving Jews" 21:05  |  H 10/11/09
  35.   Illogical Rant 21:29  |  Wayne 10/11/09
  36.   #31 Potobac there is a time and place to criticise Israel! 21:32  |  arthur 10/11/09
  37.   Well done 21:41  |  Elliott 10/11/09
  38.   Mr Christian Lintwat on who decides 22:16  |  Ari 10/11/09
  39.   Hollingsworthless throws in his thrupence worth 22:17  |  Joe V. Moer 10/11/09
  40.   Isi Leibler is Spot On. Well Said 22:27  |  Tim R 10/11/09
  41.   The Likes of Liebler Provide the Impetus 23:06  |  Yaakov Sullivan 10/11/09
  42.   Thank you Mr. Leibler 23:12  |  Proud Israeli 10/11/09
  43.   Wonderful piece of hate writing 23:12  |  Murray 10/11/09
  44.   #20, Gil 23:13  |  Iamashamed 10/11/09
  45.   #31 Potaboc : J-Street`s influence on Israel 23:26  |  Proud Israeli 10/11/09
  46.   Jeremiah (#27) 00:38  |  Gil 11/11/09
  47.   ANOTHER BELLYACHER! 00:55  |  EL 11/11/09
  48.   Anti-Semitic Jewish Communists 01:37  |  David 11/11/09
  49.   a direct discussion betw. Leibler & Burston would be interesting 01:45  |  ivo 11/11/09
  50.   Isi and J Street 02:13  |  bronxite10 11/11/09
  51.   When the bill remains un-paid you get a reminder. 02:13  |  CJ 11/11/09
  52.   Attacking loyal opposition to perpetuate settlements 02:25  |  Aaron 11/11/09
  53.   One need only repeatedly post to talkback 04:11  |  Mark Lincoln 11/11/09
  54.   Conservatives have no need to exorcise the left 04:13  |  Mark Lincoln 11/11/09
  55.   to Jeremiah, #9 04:40  |  Justin White 11/11/09
  56.   also, black is white 06:02  |  Tony 11/11/09
  57.   Same old crap ..... Different day 07:08  |  One 11/11/09
  58.   Hatred of Jews is easier to develop than liking for Palestinians. 07:08  |  B. Gold 11/11/09
  59.   Chris Linthwaie (#29) 09:24  |  Gil 11/11/09
  60.   what you propose, isi leibler, is to shun ANY jew or israeli... 10:22  |  eric 11/11/09
  61.   #55 Gil I answered your questions 10:47  |  Chris Linthwaite 11/11/09
  62.   Leibler is honest, and fair- and a true supporter of Israel 11:12  |  Shalom Freedman 11/11/09
  63.   #57 One and # 60 eric. 12:09  |  Ben Alofs 11/11/09
  64.   ERIC read it again"Their right and that of other Israel bashing 12:43  |  PETER SM 11/11/09
  65.   To Those Try To Build Their Straw Man and put words into Isi`s... 12:55  |  Tim R 11/11/09
  66.   Leibler`s mainstream is not that mainstream 13:19  |  sh 11/11/09
  67.   Polite hysteria from a worried man 13:30  |  Ussishkin 11/11/09
  68.   obstruction 13:44  |  Mandy 11/11/09
  69.   `under siege and facing existential threats` 13:45  |  Roo 11/11/09
  70.   I laud and identify with both sh #66 and U#67, but... 14:00  |  Esther 11/11/09
  71.   sh #66: what decision & plans ? (on Rabin) 14:45  |  ivo 11/11/09
  72.   self loathing 14:49  |  Boris N. 11/11/09
  73.   hi, newageblues (#21): the lessons of oslo - 15:15  |  ivo 11/11/09
  74.   The Triumph of Tribalism 16:18  |  Yaakov Sullivan 11/11/09
  75.   Crossing a red line 16:37  |  r cummings 11/11/09
  76.   Businessman 17:25  |  Michael Perloff 11/11/09
  77.   CJ naughty boy 17:46  |  arik 11/11/09
  78.   Demonization 18:15  |  frustrated 11/11/09
  79.   Demonizers 18:32  |  PC 11/11/09
  80.   Standing against tribalism 18:44  |  Mike Friedman 11/11/09
  81.   Look at the comments and count 19:06  |  Boris 11/11/09
  82.   Chris linthwaite is right... 19:14  |  had enough 11/11/09
  83.   No state or country is an island especially in a global economy 19:19  |  Dutch 11/11/09
  84.   Exorcism 19:28  |  Motic 11/11/09
  85.   Isa Liebler is typical jingoist Jewish Israeli 19:52  |  Czarkazem13 11/11/09
  86.   Wether you like it or not, J-Street is pro-Israel 20:35  |  Ben 11/11/09
  87.   On exorcizing Israel-bashers from the Jewish manistream 20:35  |  Francis Landy 11/11/09
  88.   When They Come For Those On Isa Liebler`s List,,... 02:42  |  Reader 12/11/09
  89.   Liebler`s reaction to Carlo Strenger 05:20  |  Roberto 12/11/09
  90.   more on Leibler`s inquisitorial attitude 05:27  |  Roberto 12/11/09
  91.   #64 the author shuns "jews" who oppose israeli policy, peters m 05:41  |  eric 12/11/09
  92.   #Dutch 83 08:23  |  arik 12/11/09
  93.   Mr. Isi Leibler, 09:36  |  zeev 12/11/09
  94.   JStreet 10:13  |  Clap Hammer 12/11/09
  95.   Liebler 11:15  |  John Spear disgusted 12/11/09
  96.   Isi is Correct 11:38  |  Observer 12/11/09
  97.   to Observer #94 12:31  |  zeev 12/11/09
  98.   #92 Zeev and His O-C-C-U-P-A-T-I-O-N Mantra 21:00  |  Tim R 12/11/09
  99.   sh #92: i`m not projecting anything - 21:50  |  ivo 12/11/09
  100.   Yaakov Sullivan 20:04  |  Carl Yastrzemski 14/11/09
  101.   "Jewish democratic state" 08:43  |  Baruch 15/11/09
  102.   to Tim R #103 - 4th try 16:15  |  zeev 15/11/09
  103.   to Baruch #100 19:17  |  zeev 15/11/09
  104.   #103 Your Own Post Confirms That Israel DID Make Concessions Zeev 22:48  |  Tim R 15/11/09
  105.   To Mr.Isi Leibler Good Show and bravo for saying and .. 17:47  |  James 25/11/09
  106.   Zeev @103 By your own words... 20:01  |  James 25/11/09
  107.   Zeev you see how you do not correspond with equanimity? 20:08  |  Fervent Zionist 25/11/09
  108.   Baruch in Shangrila@ Does it matter how we call our country?BUT! 20:16  |  James 25/11/09
  109.   Impressive rhetoric 08:47  |  Colin Wright 08/12/09
Special Offers
Advertisement
Eldan Rent a Car
Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on online reservations
Award-Winning 'Obsession'
Watch 'Obsession: Radical Islam's War Against the West' Online FOR FREE!
Protea Hills
A Retirement Village in Nature Nestled in the Foothills of Jerusalem
Date Local Jewish Singles
Ready to meet your match? Join Jdate today!
Junkyard
Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt
More Headlines
08:54 Netanyahu: Syria dropping Golan condition for talks
02:50 On peace with Syria, Israeli politicians only talk the talk
09:42 Justice Minister: Halakha should be binding law in Israel
08:48 Akiva Eldar / Israel may have frozen settlements, but does it want peace?
06:14 MKs pass controversial bill to set up biometric database
09:44 More Israelis watched 'Big Brother' than film on Shalits
08:18 Chelsea Clinton to marry into prominent Jewish political clan
22:30 TV ROUND-UP: Did doctors visit Shalit in Gaza?; Jewish boxer's quick loss
08:41 Climate conference / Israel anxious not to harm industrial growth
06:25 Settler rabbis to tell Barak: Don't oust extremist yeshivas
04:28 Haredi women outraged over men-only business convention
06:01 Cash strapped British airline ending direct Tel Aviv-London route
20:45 Why did Adolf Hitler hate the Jews?
23:54 Palestinian 'terrorist' takes aim at Sacha Baron Cohen
Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Site rules |
| Advert: Recommended Restaurants | Makom: Engaging on Israel
| Search engine marketing
Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.
© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved