Israelis' ideal state: A country without criticism
Let us imagine the dream-country of most Israelis - without criticism, neither from within nor from without. It speaks in one voice and is eternally united, with devotion and cohesion; all-Jewish, that goes without saying.
By Gideon LevyLet us imagine the dream-country of most Israelis - without criticism, neither from within nor from without. It speaks in one voice and is eternally united, with devotion and cohesion; all-Jewish, that goes without saying. It stands unanimously behind its government, every government, and also, of course, behind its army, the Shin Bet security service and the Mossad espionage agency - Israel's heroes.
There is not even a single "snitch," no human rights organizations or peace movements, no nonprofit associations and no critical reports that are published here, or, heaven forbid, abroad. Its press never criticizes, never exposes, never investigates, publishing nothing but praise and admiration for the government and the state. It recites official statements and quotes from government and security briefings.
Every war that this dream-country wages is met immediately by nothing but cheers of approval. Any atrocity it commits in the occupied territories automatically earns across-the-board support - the most moral, the most just, the most security-oriented, in harmony. All residents must swear their allegiance, all those who wish to visit, too. Those who are faithful to Israel are welcome. All the rest must take the first plane (or truck ) out. In short, the country of one's dreams.
But now let's answer truthfully. Is that really the country we wound want to live in? Moreover, would the world that is always-against-us appreciate and like Israel better if that was how we looked and spoke, uniform and devoid of all self-criticism?
The growing campaign of incitement in Israeli society against anyone who dares to voice criticism within on the grounds that will cause damage without is a campaign of mudslinging and lies. The shreds of Israel's image of decency abroad is based solely on the fact that there is still a degree of freedom and criticism here. The apathy and public silence in response to this slander campaign reinforce the apprehension that this is truly how the state of dreams appears to most Israelis.
Not just the extreme right, for whom this is a matter of doctrine, but the mainstream. Kadima Knesset members introduce fascist, anti-democratic bills, university faculty members are silent when their colleagues are thrown out, most of the media outlets are busy instilling fear and stirring up base instincts, or with trivial nonsense. The Supreme Court has been weakened and is silent, like the president, who in any event takes care not to comment on such situations in order to avoid annoying anyone.
Until now, the world admired Israel first and foremost because it was different from this land of dreams. From the day the state was founded the world applauded "the only democracy in the Middle East" as such. The kibbutz became an object of worldwide admiration, perhaps Israel's greatest ever, simply by dint of its egalitarian, democratic nature. Israel's technological, scientific, economic, cultural, agricultural and military achievements would be insignificant were they those of a dictatorship. Were Israel not a democracy, 100 brilliant military victories and 1,000 global technological inventions would not be considered great achievements.
Now the false patriots, who speak of nationalism and believe in loyalty, seek to destroy their state's greatest, most important achievements. They are fed up with democracy. The damage they are causing the country and its image is incomparably greater than the supposed damage caused by all those critics who still remain. One day of phosphorus bombs on Gaza caused more damage to Israel's image than all the reports by Breaking the Silence, B'Tselem and the Goldstone committee together, and the current campaign to undermine democracy is the most pernicious of all.
To our great misfortune, almost no one remains who will stop them. They seek to create the dream-country of the majority, and have gone a considerable distance toward advancing it. Pay attention to recent events - Not a day goes by without some dangerous draft law, threatening declaration, deportation from Ben-Gurion National Airport, political arrest, police violence, persecution of foreigners, judicial discrimination or incitement against any would-be critics.
To expel, destroy, punish, arrest, silence and make illegal: One half of the country undermines the fragile fabric of the government, while the other half remains silent. And who is considered the enemy of the people? Those who dare to criticize this state of affairs.
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Mr. Levy spends his time to blame everyone around for being below "midrange angel" level in their thoughts, deeds, and sleep dreams. Every coward has his price. What's yours? Why don't you nail some Israeli for doing something wrong. Name, face, concrete fact. That would be an easy fight. We want our country better. But you might get a black eye ( or even bullet ) from the family of the guy... so, coward Levy, when will you meet your own challenge instead of fighting windmills of global warming.
Gideon makes Israel seem like a waking nightmare and I say it's a dream compared to life in a shetl, a pogrom, being a Dimnhi, or ending up as ashes in an oven.
Silent indifference is the greatest threat to democracy, freedom, justice, and humanity. One would think that Israelis, and all Jews, would remain acutely aware of this, vigilant to its onset, and possessive of the courage to overcome it. But apparently not all. One can also suppose then, that the moral lapse of the German people which resulted in the Holocaust can also be understood, and even justified, in ways similar to those being used in Israel today; lest ye forget: it begins with the suppression and persecution of dissent - and the silence of morality and conscience.
Judaism has been a religion of diversity. With our common bond, we have accepted many persuasions of Judaism among our people. We are richer in culture for that very reason. There is a dark cloud of zealotry encompassing Israel. Much like the evangelical Christian zealots in the USA, these zealots conduct a war against reason, diversity, tolerance and human values. The most corrupt actions are rationalized in the name of God. Whether the USA or Israel, a blind nationalism becomes intertwined with this zealotry. It is time to reclaim our historic vision and commitment to truth and justice. That is the legacy we gave western society. We should not abandon that heritage and look with disdain upon those that are righteous. It is not too late to reconcile with the Arabs and work for peaceful coexistance.
This is a great article and whether or not it was properly written, Israel needs to understand that criticism is necessary. Both sides have made a lot of mistakes, but constantly attacking any report or article that criticizes Israel is not at all constructive. This government is stuck and it's time they start taking bits and pieces from their critics.
Anyone doubting Gideon Levy needs to read some of the thousands of comments posted on Israeli online media sites every month to read the poison and vile directed at any Jew who supports a two State solution and dares to criticize the current Israeli government. They are branded as self-haters, anti-semites, anti-Israel, and if they are a citizen of Israel, they are called enemies of the State. When the Defense Minister Barak spoke about insubordination in the IDF from religious soldiers who refused orders he received death threats, as did an Israeli general who spoke about removing illegal outposts. Obama's chief of staff, Rahm Emmanuel travels 12,000 miles roundtrip so his son can have his bar mitzvah in Israel and thousands of posters call him an anti semite who hates Israel and some threaten to disrupt the ceremony. When the anniversary of Yizchak Rabin's assassination was memorialized last year dozens of posts accused Rabin of being a traitor. If Israel succombs to right wing extremism it will destroy the dream of Herzl and Ben Gurion and be a fortress State no different than its worst neighbors and no different than Putin's Russia or Assad's Syria.
sounds very good but too text book ... u obviously not a businessman ie you dont run yr own company
So people who run their own companies don't use textbooks? Now that global credit crunch suddenly looks a lot less surprising.
Israel wants fair criticism. As of now, criticism of Israel is mostly unfair and fueled by anti-semitism in the Arab world.
It seems to me that given Mr. Levy's ability to condemn Israel week after week in Haaretz,, democracy is alive and well in Israel.
Read the majority of the "TalkBacks" and the justification for Gideon's thoughtful article becomes apparent.
Well, I don't often enjoy Gideon's overly pessimistic thinking but I must say that these days I feel, for the first time, that we in Israel are increasingly looking like the MacCartyist era of the US in the 1950s. La chasse aux sorcieres!
The existence of people like Gideaon Levi, Avi Shlaim,Ilan Pape makes it possible for me not to hate Israel and not to become an antisemite
Anyone that can make a comment like that crossed the line to anti-semitism long ago. What if i was to say "The existence of people like Alan Keyes, Condoleezza Rice and Larry Elder makes it possible for me not to hate black people"? What would that make me?
It captures the opportunity which is slipping away. It should be a call to action.
but the majority clearly understanding that there are those who wish to abuse the privilege of freedom in order to undermine Israel and the Jewish people. Something you and your followers choose to ignore.
Since the NGO's that Levy loves completely twist reality and support the terrorists, no thoughtful, moral person would want them in an ideal country. Would you?
Cite some examples - with credible proof - otherwise your talk is meaningless generalization.
Mr. Levy's previous article made the unjustified comparison between the extent of democracy in Israel and that in North Korea. Now, he seems dismayed that people find his criticism of Israel unpersuasive. The problem is not that Israelis are unwilling to consider criticism; rather, it is that Mr. Levy's criticism of Israel is often, though not always, unfair.
I left Germany in 1939, came to Israel as MACHAL in 1948 from England. At the age of 81 do I have to go back to GermAny to live in a DEMOCRACY?
Nobody is speaking of a dream state, and this dreamworld is the exclusive territory of the Left. Compare the speeches of Rabin and Peres at the time of Oslo - they were speaking of peace in 9 months, of an end to all bloodshed and criticism. The realists, eg the opposition on the right, predicted with great accuracy the outcome of the Oslo "peace". What I predicted 22 years ago, prior to Oslo, was that once the PLO was givn legitimacy, it will open the anti-semitism of the world, and that Terros will becoem rearded. this is exactly what happened. Israel is not being criticised only for its alleged occupation, but also for its very existence, and right to self defence. The use of a Phosphorous smoke screen in war time, was actually a technical mis-use. However, it was the democratic nature of Israel which admitted to this, which won the praise of its chief critic in the Londont Times.
The bad thing about this kind of talk-backs is that you can't see if another poster is able to keep a straight face when he's spreading blatant lies. I don't suppose that you would want to enlighten us as to how you know that the IDF's use of White Phosphor was a "technical mis-use"? By the way, you might like to know that this war crime was exposed by human rights organisations and journalists and was vehemently denied by the IDF. Is that what you meant when you said Israel's democratic nature admitted?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/8491444.stm compare this to war crimes of the Hamas - terror, which goes unchallenged, or war crimes of US and UK in iraq and afghan, which go unreported. The Israelis admitted they misused the Ph, as a smoke screen in crowded areas. It was not used as a weapon or targeted at civillians or even militants/ terorrists.
http://www.hrw.org/en/reports/2009/08/06/rockets-gaza-0
I border on despising Gideon Levy. But I liked this piece. I still don't think his description of the situation - "The growing campaign of incitement in Israeli society against anyone who dares to voice criticism" - bears much resemblance to reality. At any rate, my only point is this: edit this article. Edit all articles. The new and supposedly improved Haaretz site is attempting to run before it can walk.
When have you ever criticized the pals ?
The dream state of most Israelis is one of no war and no occupation. Unfortunately, the "mud-slinging and lies" that you deplore have frequently come from the extreme left that you so admire. When you call the Interdisciplinary Center an institution of army officers and the rich, and its head one who doesn't understand a thing about democracy, is that not mud-slinging? How about when you call Kadima fascist? Mr. Levy, you don't even know what fascism is. And when the Israeli public dares criticize the mud-slinging and lies emanating from your beloved extreme left - You call them anti-democratic. You expect us not to respond when organizations (and you yourself) spread viscious lies about the country. Admit it - What really upsets you is that most Israelis (thank God) disagree with you - And that is what you consider "anti-democratic".
Levy's imagenary country is quiet and does not suffer from terrorism, nor from a Pal separatist movement, because all Pals want to live in that country
Palestinians are not separatists. To be considered as such, they would have to enjoy Israeli citizenship. But they are not Israeli citizens, so they can't be separatist. They are rather fighting to free themselves from the colonialist military dictatorship that has been imposed on them for the past 43 years.
We are here because we are Zionist. We are making a political statement. We expect societal cohesion and mutual support. It is your right to not like what you see as the ongoing changes in the Israeli society. In that case, assume your political choice and or go somewhere else like France, Greece, UK where you would be able to express your anti-Zionism and be treated as a star. Here, you are not influential, you are just a marginal joker.
Whether it's Iran, USSR/Russia, U.S., West/East-Germany, Lebanon, South Africa,...a truly tired argument.
Allegiance is owed to those who earn it. Your demand for social cohesion is pie in the sky foolishness in the first place. Social cohesion between the ultra-religious and liberals, between hill top extremists and that part of the Israeli still sane? First demonstrate your humanity is not limited to your immediate family only, then ask for social cohesion.