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Last update - 12:57 21/03/2008 Macho U.S. Jews, pantywaist Israel By Bradley Burston Tags: Burston, Jerusalem, U.S. Jews  What a disappointment Israel is for machismo-oozing leaders of the American Jewish right. What a shameful wuss is this state. If only these leaders lived here. They'd show them Arabs - and this Israeli government - what for. Just let that Olmert, and that Livni, and G-d knows who else, think one thought about horsetrading the future of Jerusalem, these leaders have put Israel on notice. No way. They'll have to get past us. American Jews. Jews like cosmetics heir Ronald Lauder, president of the World Jewish Congress, who took the trouble of personally informing the prime minister last month that Diaspora Jewish opinion must be a factor when it comes to negotiations over Jerusalem's future status. Advertisement Yeshiva University rabbinical school head Herschel Schachter, meanwhile, was considerably more direct when addressing the possibility that Israel might make territorial concessions over Jerusalem. Using the Hebrew words for Jerusalem and the Prime Minister, Schachter was caught on video telling American students at Yeshivat Hakotel, which overlooks both the Western Wall and Al Aqsa: "If the army is going to give away Yerushalyim, then I would tell everyone to resign from the army - I'd tell them to shoot the Rosh Hamemshalah." "No one should go to the army if they [the army] are doing aveirus [sins]," the rabbi continued, adding, "I'm not sure if the army is doing the right thing - we have to look into that." The respected Talmudic scholar apologized this month for his remarks, saying that they were not meant seriously and did not represent his real views. There is every reason to believe his disclaimer. The remarks, however, are a symptom of a wider phenomenon, led by the likes of Zionist Orgnization of America National President Morton Klein, the ZOA-ization of debate over a future Israeli-Palestinian peace. In recent months, the right wing of U.S. Jewry has lined up to tell Israelis that, where it comes to a possible division of Jerusalem into Israeli and Palestinian capitals, right-wing American Jews know best. During a recent Jerusalem meeting of the Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish Organizations, Boston real-estate developer Joshua Katzen was quoted as saying that Diaspora Jews can see the bigger security-diplomatic picture that Israelis sometimes miss. "They lose sight of the wider jihad in the world," said Katzen, former chair of the rightist CAMERA media advocacy group and a board member of the Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs whose advisors include John Bolton and Richard Perle, Thus American Jews can show Israelis that granting Palestinians any kind of sovereignty over Jerusalem would be a mistake because it would give an increasingly radicalized Islamic world a foothold in the city, the Jewish Telegraphic Agency quoted Katzen as saying. The problem is not that these men are critical of Israel, nor that they have an opinion on Jerusalem, not that they want their feelings to be respected. They have every right to be critical, they have every right to care about the holy city. Their feelings should be respected. The problem is, in part, one of tone. These are, after all, powerful men. They are the last people who will countenance being talked down to. Perhaps they should consider what it's like when they themselves are talking down, when what they are saying amounts to "Someone has to save Israelis from themselves." But the more profound problem is one that was raised by rightists repeatedly when the Likud dominated Israeli politics for much of the latter part of the 20th century. At the time, defenders of the Begin, Shamir, and Netanyahu governments stressed that American Jewish critics of Israel do not face the direct and potentially lethal consequences of the policies they propound. They were right. Yet what was once true for the American Jewish left, applies equally to the American Jewish right. It is specious to suggest that the views of rightists are perforce better for Israel's overall well-being that those of leftists. The same day that right-leaning presidents of major North American Jewish organization lined up to rule out any division of Jerusalem, a panel of experts warned the conference that the city was in danger of losing its Jewish majority, due to the continuing exodus of Jerusalem's Jewish residents. Allow me to suggest to those U.S. Jews who so passionately argue against any division of Jerusalem might want to expend a portion of their considerable energy in helping find ways to aid the Jews still remaining in the city, those who have not already been driven out by high housing costs, bleak job opportunities, depleted cultural life, and the mounting fundamentalism and polarization of the population, both Jewish and Muslim. Jerusalem needs the help of all those who love the city. But to suggest that the best way for Israel to relate to the city, is by keeping it at close as possible to the way it currently is, is to ignore dangers at least as potentially destructive as those inherent in ceding areas on the outskirts, Palestinian neighborhoods which no Jews in their right mind have gone near in years. ______________ Previous blogs: Ten Commandments for Arab and Jew at war To the Westerner who 'understands' the terrorist Nine immoral solutions for Gaza - a guide Islam will win Palestinians' doomsday weapon, non-violence, fails test Bookmark to del.icio.us   The gift of dignity T.A. charity provides female drug addicts with shower, meal and counseling. Sign of life Hamas leader says Gilad Shalit is still alive after two years in captivity.   1.   I start not like Mr. Burston 11:48  |  Atilla Karagözoğlu 21/03/08   2.   Burston ignores that 84% of Palestinians back Mercaz attack 11:55  |  Mladen Andrijasevic 21/03/08   3.   I was realy trying to help Mr. Burston 11:56  |  ... 21/03/08   4.   haaretz, send Mr. Burston to Arutz 7, please 11:58  |  ... 21/03/08   5.   why Mr. Burston and Mr. Rosner have privite places in haaretz ? 12:00  |  ... 21/03/08   6.   excellent article 12:09  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 21/03/08   7.   bradley israel is in trust FOR all jews! 12:10  |  v hardman 21/03/08   8.   #2, fool 12:15  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 21/03/08   9.   An opinion from an original Jerusalemite 12:36  |  Bandar Michaels 21/03/08   10.   G*d bless the ZOG! 12:48  |  samos 21/03/08   11.   #9 Cipora Julianna Kohn 12:50  |  Cipora Juliana Kohn 21/03/08   12.   IT SHOULD BEEN RESOLVED BEFORE 1979 13:06  |  indrajaya 21/03/08   13.   Right-wing American Jews are a danger for the future of Israel... 13:21  |  Swiss (Dino) 21/03/08   14.   A silly article by BB 13:47  |  Monty B 21/03/08   15.   Macho U.S. Jews, pantywaist Israel 14:06  |  Julian 21/03/08   16.   No, you are wrong Bradley B 14:21  |  Jane the Austrian 21/03/08   17.   CAMERA Not "Rightist" 14:24  |  Ron Jones 21/03/08   18.   What is a jew? 14:35  |  Marilyn 21/03/08   19.   They sit out wars they start 15:16  |  El-Birawi 21/03/08   20.   ten commandments 15:25  |  mohd amin 21/03/08   21.   Marilyn sleepless nights! 15:27  |  Stranger 21/03/08   22.   Bradley, go back to fundamentals 15:47  |  Jack Goldberg 21/03/08   23.   Marilyn`s Outburst 15:54  |  ATLAS 21/03/08   24.   They did their Job and we must not let them down. 16:08  |  Akram Zekaria 21/03/08   25.   It isn`t just the US Jewish Right 16:20  |  Mark Lincoln 21/03/08   26.   Diaspora 16:31  |  Choni Davidowitz 21/03/08   27.   Macho U.S, Jews... 16:32  |  Curiousgeezer 21/03/08   28.   American Zionists catch first plane home when trouble starts 16:33  |  Chanalau, Tova 21/03/08   29.   #13 Swiss , lately is very wrong 16:38  |  TOMY 21/03/08   30.   A guideline for Diaspora Jewish interference 16:40  |  Tosefta 21/03/08   31.   CAMERA is rightist?!?!?! 16:40  |  Joshky 21/03/08   32.   #18 narylin have you ever heard of the nuremburg laws 17:01  |  v hardman 21/03/08   33.   Dear Mr. Bradley Burston 17:01  |  Jeff Northridge 21/03/08   34.   BB 17:01  |  j10 21/03/08   35.   I Didn`t Know ZOA Was That Zionist 17:03  |  Yosemite 21/03/08   36.   YOUR ALL MISSING THE POINT!!! 17:25  |  Dr Eric 21/03/08   37.   The views of rightists are infinitely better for Israel`s wellbei 17:28  |  Chaim 21/03/08   38.   Chanalau 17:30  |  x-ray 21/03/08   39.   Cause the Israelis have done such a GOOD job so far, right? 17:30  |  Better then Burston 21/03/08   40.   WHAT DOES IN MEAN TO WANT PEACE???? 17:31  |  Dr Eric 21/03/08   41.   Have you read the latest poll, Bradley? Most Israeli Jews oppose 17:32  |  Chaim 21/03/08   42.   It`s very important to hear the opinion of US Jews!!! 17:37  |  Dr Eric 21/03/08   43.   Ha-ha-ha! Strange Americano behavior.... 17:37  |  Magnify 21/03/08   44.   #18 Sorry, Marilyn, you`re just wrong on that one. 17:41  |  JP 21/03/08   45.   Opposing forfeiting land = Peace lovers!!! 17:43  |  Dr Eric 21/03/08   46.   The Westener who does not spare you, believes 18:09  |  Kris Lazar 21/03/08   47.   what a silly article 18:15  |  ... 21/03/08   48.   HAARETZ IS NOT PERFECT BUT THE BEST WE EVER MET 18:17  |  ... 21/03/08   49.   # 29 TOMY, I don`t think that Olmert can be called a "Leftie".... 18:27  |  Swiss (Dino) 21/03/08   50.   Rack off Melbourne cretin 18:28  |  Marilyn 21/03/08   51.   Dr Eric 18:33  |  Marilyn 21/03/08   52.   Some Valid Points, But... 18:36  |  Tod Zuckerman 21/03/08   53.   The Diaspora requires a place at the table, 1 18:50  |  David Turner 21/03/08   54.   The Diaspora requires a place at the table, 2 18:51  |  David Turner 21/03/08   55.   Bradley Burston accurately explains divide... 18:53  |  Smadar 21/03/08   56.   US and US Jews don`t understand small countries. 18:54  |  Michael 21/03/08   57.   Chag Purim Sameach to all Talkback posters & Haaretz Staff 18:55  |  Smadar 21/03/08   58.   Al Kaidas best friend in the world: Right-wing Israel/Diaspora 19:00  |  Swiss (Dino) 21/03/08   59.   #18 Marilyn , NY times says 19:04  |  TOMY 21/03/08   60.   Peace Process 19:12  |  I.S. 21/03/08   61.   chickens come home to roost 19:17  |  Michael N 21/03/08   62.   Jewish right 19:27  |  Sari 21/03/08   63.   Burston misses the point, has nothing to do with "macho".. 19:28  |  Dr. L. Brnd 21/03/08   64.   New Idea 19:32  |  Matt 21/03/08   65.   Why is Slowman so slow on Fridays? 19:41  |  Bursting Bradley 21/03/08   66.   swiss donkey talks of compromise 19:45  |  peter 21/03/08   67.   33 Jeff Northridge - Lest We Forget 19:49  |  Mark of Lewiston 21/03/08   68.   # 18 Marilyn...where does all your resentment 19:58  |  Lynn 21/03/08   69.   Swiss..Right Wing? 20:01  |  Lynn