Shmuel Rosner, a political editor at The Jewish Journal, and a “Contributing Writer” at the New York Times, is all pissy at American Jews. You see, despite decades of nationalist conditioning, some American Jews who ‘identify’ with Israel and Zionism are upset about all this killing of Palestinians, and feel that they can criticize the Israeli government’s policies. And Rosner doesn’t like it! After all, he writes, “If all Jews are a family, it would be natural for Israelis to expect the unconditional love of their non-Israeli Jewish kin.” (my italics)
http://www.nytimes.com/...
Rosner’s politics, as I glean it from his opinion pieces in the Times, are a bit to the left of Netanyahu; which means, that within the framework of discourse in the western world, they are somewhat to the right of rationality. This is, after all, the state of Israeli politics and political culture right now, where the “shoot and cry” liberals have mostly disappeared, moving rightward.
http://www.nytimes.com/...
Apparently, only 4% of Israelis believe their military has used “excessive force” in Gaza.
http://www.nytimes.com/...
But in the United States, “shoot and cry” is still a going concern. And Rosner doesn't like that these criers try to play the morality card: “Sometimes it feels as if liberal Zionist critics are trying to ensure that Israel’s deeds do not rub off on them. At other times, it feels as if they’re trying to clear their conscience of something for which they feel partially responsible.”
So, to hell with you, Rosner says. “If they still want to root for a Jewish state, there’s no substitute for Israel. If they believe there is a need for Jewish sovereignty, Israel is the only option available to them.” And, he concludes, “Israel will have to learn to survive without that support, and I’m certain it will.”
Hopefully, Israel, and Mr. Rosner, are also prepared to dispense with the $3 billion subsidy that the US provides yearly, and "learn to survive without that support." What benefit, exactly, do the American people receive for this handout, except being implicated in thousands of deaths?
By the way, Mr. Rosner, the idea of "fair weather fans," as crafted by Tom Paine (there, fair weather patriots) refers to those who abandon the cause when (or because) it is difficult; which is far different than abandoning it because it is reprehensible. Hopefully, more American Jews, and more Americans, will learn to survive without supporting Israel and Israeli policies, as they now stand, period.