One doesn't boycott the only free society in the Mideast
Earlier this month, supporters of the BDS (Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions) movement scheduled a meeting at the prestigious Ecole normale superieure in Paris. When the school’s administration canceled the meeting, there were news reports that Bernard-Henri Levy and Alain Finkielkraut had pressed for that action. Here, Levy responds to the charge, and goes on to say what he thinks of the BDS campaign.
By Bernard-Henri LévySince it is necessary to spell things out, let’s do so.
Obviously, I have never, directly or indirectly, pressured anyone to cancel a meeting in support of the partisans of the boycott of Israel, with Palestinian Leila Shahid, Frenchman Stephane Hessel and others scheduled to appear, at the Ecole normale superieure in Paris.
This would have been all the more absurd because, by nature and by conviction, I believe in the power of ideas and, even more, in that of the truth. In such circumstances, I am always in favor of debate, the clash of opinions, even the confrontation of convictions − hence, not of censure.
And the fact is that, in this particular circumstance, that is to say in the matter of the BDS campaign that was to be the main subject of the Ecole normale meeting, I would have been more than happy to be able to present those who speak sincerely with facts and, basically, evidence that seems to have escaped them: namely, that we are faced here with a skillfully orchestrated but calumnious, bellicose, anti-democratic and, in a word, despicable campaign.
Why?
First, because one boycotts totalitarian regimes, not democracies. One can boycott Sudan, guilty of the extermination of part of the population of Darfur. One can boycott China, guilty of massive violations of human rights in Tibet and elsewhere. One can and should boycott the Iran that is oppressing Sakineh and Jafar Panahi − a country whose leaders have become deaf to the language of common sense and compromise. One can even imagine, as we once did with regard to the fascist generals’ Argentina or Brezhnev’s USSR, boycotting those Arab regimes whose citizens’ freedom of expression is forbidden, and punished, if necessary, with blood.
One does not boycott the only society in the Middle East where Arabs read a free press, demonstrate when they wish to do so, send representatives to parliament, and enjoy their rights as citizens. Regardless of what one thinks of the policies of its government, one does not boycott the only country in the region and, beyond the region, one of the unfortunately limited number of countries in the world where voters have the power to sanction, modify and reverse the position of said government. To such an extent that finding, like Mr. Hessel, in his recent best-selling book, the source of his “main indignation” in the workings of a democracy that, like all democracies, is by definition imperfect but perfectible (yet, on the contrary, having nothing to say about the millions of victims of Africa’s forgotten wars, about the persecution of Christians in the Middle East, or about the massacre of Bosnia’s Muslims) is at best profoundly stupid and at worst, disgraceful.
And then, because, in any event, this boycott campaign is in reality indifferent to the stance of Mr. X or Mrs. Y. on their government. It is unaware of, nor does it care to know, what Israeli citizens themselves think, for example, of the resumption of settlement construction in the West Bank. It doesn’t give a hoot about demands, parameters, actual conditions of peace between the citizens in question and their Palestinian neighbors. Of the latter, their aspirations, their interests, their possible hopes and the way the Hamas regime has smashed those hopes in Gaza, it doesn’t give a tinker’s damn and never says anything, either.
No. Regardless of what its promoters and its useful idiots say, the only real, accepted, hackneyed goal of this boycott campaign is to delegitimize Israel as such. That is what the comparison with the South Africa of apartheid implicitly expresses. That is what the anti-Zionist rhetoric that serves as the common denominator of all the groups constituting the BDS movement explicitly says, and, if words have any meaning, what signifies their intent to undermine the very idea that today, like it or not, binds the Israeli nation. And that is why this campaign, in fact, contravenes the customs, rules and laws of international and, in this case, French or American national law.
And then, lastly, there are those at the heart and, sometimes, at the origin of this campaign whose inspiration is, to say the least, not that of de Gaulle’s Free French nor of those who penned the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, nor of those in favor of a just peace between the Israeli and Palestinian peoples.
I submit, to whomever wishes, the declarations of Omar Barghouti, one of the founders of the Palestinian BDS campaign, affirming that his goal is not two states but two Palestines. And those of Ali Abunimah, co-founder of Electronic Intifada and also opposed to the two-state solution, who does not hesitate to compare Israel to Nazi Germany and this or that of its philosophers to the columnists of Der Stuermer. And the declarations of the leaders of Sabeel, that group of Palestinian Christians firmly implanted in North America, who, anxious to lend the idea of “responsible investment” a “theological” basis, do not hesitate to subtly but surely reactivate the stereotype of the Christ-killing Jew. Not to mention some rather shady initiatives whose purpose is to mark Jewish − sorry, Israeli − merchandise with supposedly derogatory stickers intended for the attention of the vigilant French consumer.
All that is deplorable and, once again, indisputable. Presenting the promoters of this discourse of hatred as victims speaks volumes of the current state of confusion − intellectual and moral − of a Western world one would have hoped had been cured of its worst criminal past.
Philosopher Bernard-Henri Levy is the author, most recently (together with Michel Houellebecq), of “Public Enemies: Dueling Writers Take On Each Other and the World” (Random House).
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Israel is a democracy only for a portion of those who live within its sovereign territory. Others are systematically denied suffrage, movement, economic opportunity, even healthcare. South Africa was such a democracy. The international community opposed apartheid without delegitimizing anything more than apartheid. Likewise, I can protest Israeli racism without opposing Israel. Israeli citizens opposed to Israeli racism should welcome a boycott since they appear powerless to stop it. Did Hamas smash hope in Gaza, or was it the Israeli blockade? I don't need to draw comparisons with Nazi Germany. Mainstream conservative voices in Israelis who talk of death camps for Amalekites have done so for me.
And Saudiarabia, China, Russia, USA, Brazil and Norway. If you look carefully enough, you will find faults and crimes - even in glorious Sweden! But then it´s all about the political fashion of the day - and at this present time, Israel is a favourite subject of the young activists in Europe. It has become The Issue. Once upon a time everbody talked about Vietnam. Than they forgot about that, and talked only about South Africa. And one day all the righteous activists that now are campaigning against Israel, will forget about our sins, and move on and focus on Saudiarabia and Iran. That would indeed be a miracle.
... one has the feeling they live like privilege guests on some holiday resort. Philosopher unknown to philosophers, BHL carpet bombs us with 'facts,' 'obviously,' 'one does, and 'one doesn't,' in his trademark mind-numbing mix of everything and everyone and every period in time. I would argue that, this time, his subterfuges do little to hide the impossibility in France today to criticize Israel without being associated to Hamas or to Hitler, courtesy of hitmen in sheep's clothings. Quite the contrary; for a sober look onto his own words should prompt him to realize that he has achieved just the opposite of what he purported to do: his words confirm that the BDS campaign is gathering pace and that those justifying the cleansing of Palestinians grow anxious. For they begin to realize that they're running against human progress and history, and that there is nothing they can do about it.
Mr Levi is wide off the mark. Israel is no democracy. It has ruled over people for over 40 years denying them basic rights. It's has discriminatory practices in areas such as land, property and marriage against non-Jews in Israel itself. It refused to accept the results of democratic elections in 2006 becuase they along with the USA didn't like the result. It's quite easy to paint oneself as 'the only democracy' whilst denying it to others. And supporting dictators on your doorstep, as Israel does with Mubarak.
when it denies millions of people their human rights of self-determination by FORCE ! The author is a pseudo intellectual puffed up by his own grand image of himself. Societies are not excused from barbaric behavior towards others by crying "oh, but we're a democracy" . Believe me, I know this about my own country (US) and it's certainly true of Israel in regards to their despicable treatment of the Palestinians for over 40 years.
The democracy in Israel itself is in danger because of the siege, the settlements, the bypassroads, the checkpoints and the occupation. All the more reason to put pressure on it, so that its self-correcting capacities can finally do their job. If those capacities are no longer there, Israel's democracy is already dead.
Yes, Mr. Levi, Tell this to Ms. Livni, who wanted 'more Jews, less Arabs' as revealed by the Palestine papers. These are the words, which summarise and explain the actions of Israeli governments and many of its citizens from the beginning. Israel could be described as a 'Jews only' democracy, at best.
You're hanging your moral hat (and raison de even) on the last thread you have: it's about democracy and the imperative of defending it that's at stake. It doesn't matter whether it's an Arab dictatorship or authoritarian regime or an Arab democracy, or a Turkish democracy, or a royal fiefdom, or a Muslim oligarchy - or a European country. It doesn't matter what form it takes, we're rejected, if not detested as conquers of their brethren or of a weaker people, or both. The bottom line is that the cards are lining up against us. And we shouldn’t think the U.S. will let itself go down with us, sooner or later, they are going to quit us. We have to compromise, and yes give up a lot…and we need to do it sooner than later.
I am also against the cultural boycott, it is like the total punishment of people instead of state but we have a problem here. There was a long term apathy towards the atrocities, violations in this part of the middle-east. What did we get? Further violence! Israel lost its self judgement capacity to change its direction to prevent future mistakes. Turkel fiasco is a clear example. Finally, any philosopher even the greatest ones can not justify the total sanction on 1,5 million people in Gaza . Levy accuses Hamas for Israeli impositions on Gazans but he does not accuse Israeli government for worldwide boycott efforts against Israel. It seems a dichotomy. Even Beshir declared he will respect the will of the people for self determination in Sudan while Israel is trying to impose Lieberman's handmade drawings to others or evading the real agreements to move on remorseless status quo. Let's stand against Israel's delegitimization but not by sweeping its fatal mistakes under the rug. Manipulation is not a branch of Philosophy but Ethics is a major branch of it since Antique Greek.
This guy is like Kouchner, many beautiful ideas and discourses but Israelis are part of this world and the Pals only a kind of Half-slaves jailed in their own land! I'm sure he would change he's mind if he has to spend a couple of weeks leaving in the West Bank or a few days in GAza...
Mr Levy, why don't you ask yourself the right questions : occupation, illegal settlements, land grab, army, check-points, jewish extremism, nuclear power, sacralization of the conflict....these are the right questions. Instead you prefer to intellectualize, victimize and avoid the core issues...like most israelis. Your moral is above all. Please don't pretend you're a humanist. You are voluntarily blind. You justify Israel's policy. Critics and frustration, violence and revenge all over the world and particularly amongst the palestinians are generated by Israel's policy towards the palestinians. Israel deserved to be sanctionned and boycotted for its criminal acts. Israel is a democracy ? fine. Being a democracy does not prevent you from being against the law. If you don't understand that basic, you can't understand this conflict.
Strange that Apartheid SA is missed out of the discussion on boycotts. Is that because it could be represented as a kind of democracy, by its supporters, and that its racial superiority ideas are not entirely dissimliar from those in Israel?
Levy cuts to the quick and leave all of us wondering how the entire world could be so blind to simple clear realities. When he refers to "useful idiots" one can't help but think of the idealistic but tragically misguided writers of Haaretz whose obsessive, self-flagellating tirades contribute centrally to current efforts to deligitimize Israel.
Erez Israel is not a free society. The Israel that BHL refers to does not exist.
Tell that to the displaced Palestinians.
The problem is only Jews are free in Israel. Unfortunately you fail to see this. White people were free in the Apartheid regime in South Africa. And Nazi party members were free in Hitler's fascist Germany.
How can they explain the 67' embargo, on arms that were already paid for. People don't realize it today, but, if normal military history would have applied, 67' was planned to be the second Holocaust. This 67' European embargo is an contestable proof of deeply rooted European antisemitism. In the USA Christianity is taking a different route, more converging to its origins, and getting closer to Israel.
The term "boycott" is very appropriate to be used in the context of Israel and the occupation of Palestinian lands. Captain Boycott was an English landlord who in the late 19th century "Land War" was ostracised by the local population for his mistreatment of the local people. Anyone see the similarity between the colonists in Ireland and the "settlers" in the Occupied Territories ?
Thanks for standing up for us, a challenge, as bashing the tiny state called Israel is ever so fashionable. Clear and direct writing.
A few points: I am not a BDS advocate, but at the same time one should not be forced to eat pork if one keeps Kosher. For many people the Occupation is not kosher, it is like pork or shrimp or a cheese burger... In that respect I am not in favor of avoiding all food just to make sure one eats only kosher, but the pork in Israel is readily apparent and growing: The so called University Center in the settlement of Ariel - What about that? Are Europeans allowed to avoid associating with it? Can European Universities or Journals for instance, refuse to accept its graduates or publish its academics and do so because they see it as academically non kosher/treif because it is in Occupied Territory and furthers the Occupation while at the same time maintaining normal ties with universities and colleges inside of Israel proper? What is democratic, BTW, about Ariel? Do you support Israeli academics and thespians who refuse to play in its "cultural center" or be involved in the "university center"? What about a Marathon that runs into East Jerusalem? Are we allowed to oppose it and demand that the route be changed (not canceled) so that it just runs in West Jerusalem? Would you support such a call? Are we allowed to ask its economic sponsors to demand such actions? What is allowed?
Israel’s political system has nothing to do with BDS. You boycott whomsoever you want to boycott. It is a freedom to do so and you may boycott on your own or as part of a group. As with any other activity, you may also seek to encourage others to join you in it. It is not illegal. Personally I am grateful for the movement as I don’t want to be buying goods manufactured in settlements in occupied territory.
He praises democracy. By his rationale if the Government is represented by the people and Israel is a democratic society, then, the Israeli people, not the Government is responsible for the crimes against the Palestinians, like the shooting of this teen yesterday. In this case, what solution does he proposes other than saying to Israeli people: " listen, if you behave badly, there is a price to pay". Touch on their pocket and they will behave nicely immediately.
We all know the mantra: Israel is the only democracy in the Middle East (lie, most Palestinians under Israeli occupation for 40+ years do not have the vote), the IDF is the most moral army (lie, shooting a bound man in the leg for fun results in a lack of promotions, nothing more), and etc., etc.. The BDS causes such ire and concern among Israelis and Isreali-firsters because it's working. I won't buy another Israeli cherry tomato, or Glade toilet freshener, until the occupation is over. Your definition of totalitarianism and mine do not match.
is partial and not completely honest. Here is proof : he says : "One does not boycott the only society in the Middle East where Arabs read a free press, demonstrate when they wish to do so, send representatives to parliament, and enjoy their rights as citizens." I say Levy forgets one important thing to mention : ocupation. Don't get me wrong, I advocate the idea that Judea and Samaria are jewish ancestors land for more than 3000 years. But according to the law, which every democratic state has to obey to, at this moment and under these circumstations Judea and Samaria are not Israeli land, but palestinian land and under occupation. Levy is referring to free press and fredome of demonstration and arab Knesset members. Levy is only telling half the truth. The palestinians in Judea and Samaria have no right to vote for the Knesset. I could go on with more arguments but this is enough to make my point. While I agree with most of Levy's arguments, I dont buy his story. Its just not correct. sorry Levy, you didn't convince me.
because israel finances the settlements, protects them with their military and continues to imprison a civilian society and break international laws. its not good enough to go after the criminals you must also target their bosses as well and in this case israel is the criminals leader
i have nothing to add to this very excellent and complete article. such an article was long overdue. merci infiniment.
Well done. A courageous voice in the Haaretz wilderness.
Can one boycott a society where by law Jewish can reclaim properties in East Jerusalem but Arabs cannot do the same in West Jerusalem, where supreme courts orders in the West Bank are not implemented by the army, where Palestinian citizens of Israel suffer continuous discrimination in terms of access to public services, access to the labour market, pay conditions, where scholars like Chomsky and Finkelstein are not allowed in the country for their criticism of Israeli policies? Can we boycott a state which supports targeted killings inside private houses of asleep men by its own military, a society which has created the largest outdoor prison in the world through a siege on Gaza? Oh but you must be right, who cares about all this if its Arab citizens are allowed to read the free press!!
Boycottins is not final and fatal, it is a means of regulating faulty policies which cause unjustified suffering, in this case to the Palestinians... boycotting is not curtailing democracy, which in any case most Pals do not enjoy vis-a-vis Israel...
do you not realize that this is the EXACT, verbatim, identical argument that pro-apartheid people used to discredit the south african boycott in the 80s? "why boycott the only developed nation in southern africa?" "but look at our neighbors, they are so much worse!" "you may disagree with us but we have to keep this system in place to protect against 'the savages'!". why do so many jews have such a moral blind spot when it comes to israel? what the country is doing to palestinians is wrong and indefensible. shame on you, you are an educated man and should know better.
Personally I;m not at the stage of boycotting Israel yet. However, I do boycott the settlers. I would not knowingly buy anything made in the settlements. The trouble now, is the Israel itself has a settler government, a bunch of extremists and oppotunists whose heart is with the settlers. And settlers increasingly fill the IDF. I do have a certain admiration for the way Israel proper has allwoed Arabs legal equality, but no admiration for the ghastly apartheid settler system it has erected in the West Bank. Oh and by the way, Bernard, if you take into account the West Bank mess, then Turkey and Lebanon and now Tunisia are societies at least as free as Israel. And I would tend to avoid buying products from North Korea and the north of Susan, if there were any to buy, As to China and Tibet, I leave that to our governments. China is so big in the world today, owning half of America by debt, for instance, that it's impossible to boycott.
How can a State which maintains a brutal occupation and continued colonisation and which refuses equal rights to its non-Jewish citizens be called a 'free society.' Such a society is tyrannical and discriminatory and hardly 'free.'
Go check it out: the Afrikaaners set up bantustans, and then declared that the blacks were "citizens of their Bantustans", not "citizens of South Africa". And since they were foreigners.... well, no vote for YOU in South African elections. So don't be too quick to claim that Israel is a "democracy", because this is a "democracy" that RULES over another people in the same way that the Afrikaaners contrived *their* "democracy".
I guess Levy with all his intellectual might wants to convince us his the truth matters more to him than his loyalty to his tribe? Is Levy blind to make a riduculous statement about the "only free society in the Mideast"? The boycott is not to punish Israel for the freedom it affords Jews but for the oppression and bruality it dishes out to it's non-jewish natives. The fact Levy can't bring himself to connect the dots with the occupation, land thieft, oppression and endless checkpoints but sees only the glistening beauty of a "free society" of Jews is not surprising. Such denial of truth negates any credibility to his self-serving arguments.
May I ask the writer if he is aware of the murders of two Palestinians who sought to protest for their rights and freedom ? Where is the freedom you are describing ? BDS is compelled to act in response to countless crimes and brutal oppression on the part of the Israeli state.
A Free Society says BHL! A brutal military occupier (40 years) of a helpless and down trodden people is the truth. No matter how hard BHM tries, nothing can change this tragic reality.
Levy is perhaps a philosopher, but this column consists of very thinly reasoned magical incantations. The only democracy! Calumnious agitators! Across the border from Israel, there is a country with free elections and free press. A democracy. Is it perfect democracy? Well, we can compare Lebanon point by point with Israel. Distasteful parties in the ruling coalition? It kind of depends on your sense of taste. I trust that Lebanese will at least select someone less thuggish that Avigdor Lieberman as FM. Operating death squads/assassins? Again, perhaps regional characteristic. Political parties that are fronts for hereditary theocrats. Again, regional characteristic. Like China, Iran and other "boycott worthy" countries, Israel runs a massive and repressive security apparatus. It is easier for Tibetans to move around and build houses than for Palestinians. Defenders of Israel never tire of comparing their opponents to Nazis. Foreign Ministry of SoI instructs ambassadors to lecture their hosts about Nazi connections of Palestinians. It is only fair to use the same perspective in both directions. "Countries whose leaders are deaf to the language of common sense and compromise" -- again, a "regional characteristic" shared by Israel? Israel elects its government, like Iran, has a state religion, like Iran, kills protesters, like Iran. Shia women are allowed to ride in front of a bus (seven days a week!). Another question: Turkey is at least as good a democracy as Israel. A movement to boycott Turkey was quite popular in Israel. Any comments on that?
A BDS strictly limited to the settlements in the occupied territories, including those in both the West Bank and "East" Jerusalem (the border of which were unilaterally redefined to include lots of what had been considered the West Bank, but not including the Old City, would be a positive step. If only the BDS movement could be clear and honest on that, and if only pre-peace/pro-Israel left like Levy in France and J Street in the U.S. could be brave enough to endorse.
They clearly and openly state that Palestine should be created in place of Israel, not alongside it.
As the last few days have shown pro-peace and pro-Israel are not the same thing.