On Israel-Diaspora relations, Israelis are quite clueless

When B'nai Brith released its new survey earlier this week, it was defining the findings "surprising." It is the third annual Survey of Contemporary Israeli Attitudes Toward World Jewry and my colleague, Shlomo Shamir, has already reported about its findings (Poll: 76 percent of Israelis feel safer living as Jews in Israel than in Diaspora).

Thanks to Alan Schneider of the B'nai Brith world center I now have the full results at hand, and am ready to write about it too. My headline, though, will be different: When it comes to Israel-Diaspora relationships, Israelis, again, proved to be quite clueless.

Here is why:

1.
I will start with the obvious: 77 percent of Israelis believe that it is safer ? safer! ? for a Jew to live in Israel than it is in the Diaspora. The problem, of course, starts with the question: what do they mean when they say "Diaspora"? Yemen? France? Argentina? Turkey?

If you go by the numbers, the vast majority of Diaspora Jews live in the U.S.. Is it really safer to live in Israel as a Jew than it is in the U.S.? 77 percent safer? Not even a close call?

While there's a strong case to be made that living in Israel is the right thing to do, the argument that it is also safer can hardly be part of it.

2.
Israelis were also asked whether the principal goal in the Israel-Diaspora dialogue should be more aliya (immigration to Israel) or more investment in Jewish education and culture. Again, my problem is more with the question than it is with the answer. I suspect that most Israelis thought it was a practical question and responded in a practical way: education (46 percent). Is it because they believe that the time of Aliya has passed, or is it because they understand that spending time and money convincing American Jews to immigrate is a waste of energy?

Whatever the case, there's a contradiction here: If Israelis believe, as they say, that Israel is safer (77 percent) and that Israel also bears the principle responsibility of confronting anti-Semitism around the world (4 percent said Israel, 23 percent said Israel and Diaspora communities, only 24 pervemt said local communities) ? then calling on Diaspora Jews to make aliya still makes a perfect sense.

3.
Apparently, the more right-wing the Israeli, the more he believes that it is Israel's duty to fight anti-Semitism - rather then leaving it to the local Jewish communities. 77 percent of Yisrael Beitenu voters (the rightist party headed by Avigdor Lieberman) said it was Israel alone that bears the responsibility to combat anti-Semitism, compared to 59 percent of Shas voters and 54 percent of Likud voters. Next time people complain that Diaspora Jews support right-wing causes in Israel ? the right wing has a perfect response: we care more for them because they care more for us.

4.
75 percent of Israelis think that their government should not take Diaspora views into account while deciding the future borders of Israel. This is not surprising: a previous B'nai Brith survey showed that Israelis want the state of Israel to be the one making the decisions regarding Jerusalem (rather than the Jewish world).

However, as I've shown in the past, the more traditional the Israeli, the more he opposes concession in Jerusalem, and the more he supports Diaspora involvement in the decision making (believing that Jewish Diaspora will be more inclined to also oppose concession). I suspect the case will be similar if we take a closer look at the numbers in the new poll.

Unfortunately, I don't have all the numbers with which to do such thing. But here is one revealing number I do have: the only group that supports aliya over Jewish education in the Diaspora is the one of Zionist religious Israelis (52 percent). Maybe it's because many of the new olim (immigrants) tend to be religious, right wing, supporters and voters?

My point, as usual: don't look for new revelations related to Israeli values. These responses mostly reflect political tendencies.

5.
Last but not least: 50 percent of Israelis would like to see a measure that will stop Diaspora Jews from meddling in Israeli politics. A minority of 40 percent would want Diaspora Jews to continue their involvement.

A couple of notes on these numbers:

A. B'nai Brith is right to say that 40 percent support for continued involvement is quite high, considering recent events (Prime Minister Ehud Olmert allegedly taking cash from an American Jew, and the trial he may face).

It is not surprising though, if you go back to my previous argument: those who believe their view will benefit from Diaspora involvement want it to continue.

B. How can 75 percent say they don't want the government to take Diaspora opinion into account on borders, while 40 percent still say they want Diaspora money to influence Israeli politics is an anathema. I see it as another proof that Israelis are mostly clueless when it comes to Israel-Diaspora relations. Their answers often don't make sense because it's a subject they rarely think about seriously.

C. But what about the 50 percent saying no to Diaspora money? Two problems I have with their opinion:

It is naive (stupid) to think that it is even possible to stop such involvement. Of course, it is possible to legislate in a way that will make it more difficult for politicians to ask directly for support and money abroad. It is also possible to make it more complicated for parties to use such funds. But can you really stop Diaspora funds from promoting political ideas and ideologies? No you can't.

The second point I'd make here is that I'm not even sure it's advisable to stop Diaspora Jews from getting more involved in Israeli politics. Involvement is an expression of interest, and no Israeli wants Diaspora Jews to stop caring about Israel.

Other posts on Israel-Diaspora
It's up to Israelis to bridge the gap with American Jews
Should Diaspora Jews have a say in the political negotiations about Jerusalem
How A.B. Yehushua lost his crowd