Fulfilling our Zionist destiny
An atmosphere of disappointment, despondency and anxiety prevails in Israel in its 59th year.
Haaretz EditorialAn atmosphere of disappointment, despondency and anxiety prevails in Israel in its 59th year. There is no point in trying to dull the power of these feeling when we mark Memorial Day and Independence Day.
A new government, headed by a new political movement that undertook to end the occupation, has led - or more accurately, was led - by an arrogant, rusty army to a painful, frustrating and dangerous defeat in a war against Hezbollah.
The war put an end to the plan to pull out of the West Bank and remove illegal outposts, and stifled hopes for an arrangement with the Palestinian Authority.
Inside Israel, one scandal followed another. Rejoicing at the cleaning out of the stables was loud, but at times McCarthy's image seemed to hover in the air. And poverty and discrimination did not recede.
Despite all this, economic growth soared. There was a feeling of prosperity, entrepreneurship and construction. Investments flowed in, including money from Jews who not only sought profits, but also wanted to send a message. Many Jews from various countries even chose to invest in homes in Israel. A new model of immigration was formed in which people divide their lives between Israel and their country of origin.
In an era of multicultural interests and diverse identities, Israeliness and Jewishness are expanding and diversifying. There is nothing wrong with that.
No less important, it seemed during the past year that all our feelings of frustration and anxiety were also being experienced by Jewish communities throughout the world. The arguments that tore us apart shook them as well. Granted, the reverse trend also appeared - Jews, mainly young ones, drifted away from Israel and even felt estranged from the state that was drawing fire from every direction.
However, here too there is a paradox that seemed to grow with Israel's hardships in its 59th year.
Like classic anti-Semitism, which did not allow even the assimilated, estranged Jew to escape his Jewishness, today's anti-Zionism, which does not depend on any policy, is confusing and infuriating - and threatening Jews regardless of their opinions.
While Israel, with its foolish policy throughout 40 years of occupation, managed to crack and split Jewish solidarity, the burning hatred toward the country is now increasing the general Jewish solidarity and sense of mutual responsibility.
This is not blind support for the State of Israel and its government. The days of blind support are long over, and just as well. Public opinion polls and direct contact demonstrate that half of the nation living outside Israel is no less sober and critical than Israelis themselves about the state's behavior.
Most of them, both those living in Israel and abroad, are yearning for a day in which the two-state solution is implemented.
The Jews' solidarity, support, investments, immigration - and their dependence on us and our dependence on them - merely increase Israelis' historic responsibility to ensure that their country finally finds a way to live in peace with its neighbors, so that it may fulfill its Zionist destiny.
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---5---------2 6-----4---1-----3 1-----3---6-----4 ---2---------5 ---5---------2 4-----6---3-----1 3-----1---4-----6 ---2---------5 If you add numbers from left to right or from top to bottom the sum is 14 (Matthew 1:17 Bible)
that they are capable of bringing peace to the land on their own. Sad. Sad. Sad. The answers are in your scriptures and so are the borders. Humility is a good thing and most helpful in bringing others to acceptance. However, humility should never extend to the opposition of the Word of God. When every nation rises against you, God Himself will save you. The story has already been told. The day we have peace will be the day that "The whole Earth is filled with the knowledge of the Lord". Perhaps rethinking your "Zionist Destiny" is in order now. I've said before and I'll say again, Zionism is not about a "land for a people", Zionism is about A People for God!!! Think about it. When peace comes, the Glory will be HaShem's alone. His peace alone will be a lasting peace. Everlasting, Hallelu Yah! Come our Mighty King!
Ha'aretz should today, Israel's Independence Day, not only blandly decry anti-Zionism, but see how it -due to a cynical epidemy of holier-than-thou political correctness- contributes to it in daily doses. It's time to change the editorial ideology, and remember Zionism was meant to make the Jewish people, a free people in its homeland.
1. IL did not lose the war. it was a poor performance, but no defeat. in my opinion, it was actually good it happened so ZAHAL can work on the strategy for the infantery. what do you want? you was busy in gaza and beforehand, even Ariel Sharon hesitated to do something about the northern border during intifada 2 because scumbags all over the world, especially in europe, would have accused him of being bellicious and cruel. 2. it is not foolish to keep a piece of land to which people are emotionally attached after having been attacked from all sides. it is USUAL. 2state solution, yes - when the time is there, i.e. when the neighbours have become a respectable and responsible society, which in my opinion they are not. people do not win wars only to give back things when the (defeated) enemy claps his hands. 3. Israeli youth is moving abroad not because they are alienated from the policies, but because money and fame are rather available abroad.
What a bunch of depressed, self hating, pessimistic anti-jew Jews you are. There is a lot to be proud of and you used your newsprint rag today to condemn this country. You are the enemy within and in time, the tide of Jewish pride and courage will swamp your vessel of defeatism. Happy Birthday, Am Yisrael!
Paul -You're right. Sadly, it wasn't meant to turn out the way it has. And the end does not justify the means. Both end and means must be good in themselves, good for all involved and something that with G-d's help we can work for through to the consummation.
Ah, Ha'Aretz. Substitute "Israel" for "the Left" and the editorial begins to make sense. Fortunately, the days of the Party = Israel are long gone, and the Israeli left has dwindled to irrelevance (and Ha'Aretz). I didn't think I saw you, dear Editorialist, at the celebrations last night, and I don't expect to see you at the mangal today. Shame, that. You should really come to Israel (we're just outside North Tel Aviv) and see for yourself. We're doing just fine.
The problem with Ha-aretz as all socialists is that they want to force a socialist disaster like was forced on Eastern Europe and then fell apart. Paul, I knew there were a lot of problems in northern California but continuing lies? Arabs steal our land, then we buy it back, is that stealing? How twisted!
Israel = Banana Republic ?? As long as the PNA and the Hizbollah can extort us by abducting Isreali citizens and imposing their conditions we deserve this status !!
will be sauce for the gander !!! One day, there will be a law criminalising Nakba deniers.
judaism is a very exacting religion and psychology of constant self-criticism . no jew should be fully joyous since the destruction of the temple the schulchan aruch warns . thus a negativety and sadness envelop judaism like the clouds in the wilderness during exodus .but the arabs though dispossessed of their homes have life and any measures but genocide are justified to save jewish life and guard it so an israel in some form jews should fight for.
is a Palestinian State instead of the State of Israel. This sentiment is endorse by such persons as Gideon Levi, Amira Hass and friends.
They are guilt ridden and self-destructive liberals. This article is proof of that.
Matthew, i commed you for your writing and completely agree with what you are saying. Long live Israel! nad have a great Indepedence Day!
Your editorial states: "Israel, with its foolish policy of 40 years of occupation". This accusation covers a wide range of Israel's governments. Your paper consistently favors a two-state policy and just as consistently bashes Israeli governments over 40 years. What kind of Israeli government would you like to see? I know lots of people who believe that Haaretz has yet to come to terms with a sovereign state of Israel.
As an Orthodox anti-Zionist, I can say one thing: you are correct, but that won't stop narcissist Zionist from kvetching and whining about "anti-Semitism". I can hear Zionists: "Why should they hate us? We only invaded the land and kicked out most of its inhabitants, and for that they hate us, them there anti-semites!!"
The editorial claims Israel suffered a "rustrating and dangerous defeat in a war against Hezbollah" The writer obviously does not know what defeat means, however I consider this kind of partisan irresponsible writing "dangerous and frustrating" A pessimist will never be disappointed neither will he be fulfilled. Put that in your pipe...
In a world of primitive hatred and overt anti-semitism, Israel stands as a beacon to what is noble and possible in the human condition. After 2,000 years of painful exile, Israel has uplifted and protected its people (regardless of race) scattered around the globe seeking shelter. Israel is a vibrant, technological, democratic miracle. We cannot forget that. It is a modern miracle and we are blessed to witness it. Ignoramuses such as Paul Fingerhut see more value in an SUV or an I-Pod than in the most dramatic piece of history in 2,000 years. As a non-Jew, we pray for your continued prosperity in the face of the abject, inhuman evil that surrounds you. You have created an amazing history that continued to unfold despite the hundreds of millions of violent racist misogynists that seek to harm you. The USA overwhelmingly stands with you. Happy Independence Day!
The major line of the Haaretz editorials is the song about the ?horrible occupation?. The are three arguments that prove this thesis wrong: a) The standard of leaving in the ?occupied territories is much higher than that in the neighboring Arabic countries (Egypt, Jordan, Syria). b) The number of Palestinians killed by Israeli forces is smaller than the number of Palestinians killed by Palestinians themselves and smaller than the loss to the traffic accidences. c) Palestinians are the most educated among Arabic nations. None of these facts is compatible with the thesis of a ?horrible occupation?. Why would the people who cannot complain on a lack of education be engaged in blatant falsifications? Because they are paid agents of the enemies of the Jewish people. Most of the left-wing politicians get their main income from the hostile foreign sources (European Union and state agencies of the Gulf countries).
Dispossessing and subjugating a people is proving to be more difficult every year. The problems began with the Nakba, which will be remembered all over the world for thousands of years.
You speak of anti-Zionism as a cause of Jewish solidarity. I disagree. The Jewish movement to end the occupation and bring justice to the Palestinians, includes many, like myself, who would classify themselves as anti-Zionist. Whatever good intentions Zionism may have started with, it was hijacked by those who used the movement to justify stealing another people's land. As long as Israel waves the banners of Judaism and Zionism while it commits war crimes and human rights abuses in the occupation, Jews everywhere will pay the price for Israesl's folly
Haaretz has done more to "crack and split Jewish solidarity" than anyone else with their constant motto of "Occupation". History has proven you wrong time and again. The leaders you have elected have promised security threw withdrawal and delivered the exact opposite. When will you wake up? I'm not saying Israel should rule over the Palestinians, but I have no doubt that your foolhardy and naive mentality has done more harm than good. Palestinians will have peace the day they stop blaming other people for their problems, not a day sooner. Trying to force one-sided concessions on Israel has prevented the Palestinians from taking responsibility for their actions and has actually pushed peace *further* away. Most Israelis haven drawn conclusions from Oslo and the Gaza withdrawal. Why can't you?