Web Letters: Israel's Strategic Threat

Neve Gordon's article is fundamentally flawed, making its central point almost meaningless.

Despite its surface focus on the specific case of Bishara and Balad, the essence of this piece is the presumption that, if Israel were to simply give up its commitment to being a Jewish homeland, its long-suffering and kind-hearted Palestinian citizens--and their helpful Arab neighbors and friends--would welcome the chance to help establish a multicultural "one-state" democracy on the land currently occupied by Israel, and share its resources and opportunities with its Jewish citizens on the basis of fairness and reciprocity. Any minor deviations from this picture would have to be accepted by the Israelis as the inevitable and justified consequences of their egregious effrontery in imagining that they were entitled to a life of self-governance and peace, as are, for example, the Saudis or the Syrians or the French. The article reflects disappointment that "the secret service has no respect for democratic practices and procedures"--a reasonable view. But I would like to know what secret service, anywhere in the world or in history, facing existential threats to the existence of its state and society (as Israel most certainly does), has paid much attention to such niceties? And, we should note, in the interest of fairness, other institutional players in Israel have staunchly defended democratic ideals, even under pressure; as the article itself notes, Bishara was "found not guilty twice"--an outcome I admit I find almost inconceivable for someone in a similar position in almost any Arab state today, and especially in a Hamas-controlled Gaza or even a Fatah-controlled West Bank. Even the prospect of a trial would be a stretch, much less a not-guilty verdict. Will a Jewish opponent of Bishara's envisioned "democratic" state, who urges a partition and the (re-)establishment of a separate Jewish state, and who travels abroad to obtain support for that proposal and who encourages (if they came to exist) external Jewish terrorist groups seeking to obtain that result--will such a person be treated as gently by this new "democratic" state as Bishara is treated by Israel?

The critical flaw is easily summarized: The discussion in this article lacks any understanding of the reality faced by Israel.

This lack of realism means that the "solution" envisioned and supported by the author (and Bishara) is simply not a credible option, given all the history of the region and peoples involved--even if the Israelis were to accept the premise tomorrow (as a significant number of them would clearly like to do, based on all political indications). The result of going in this direction would simply bear no relation to the idyllic fantasy suggested by the words "a democracy for all its citizens"--in fact, it clearly would become much less of that kind of state than Israel proper is now (admitting all its imperfections). The deeply unrealistic assumptions underlying the analysis resemble nothing so much as the assumption of the "New Soviet Man" as enabling and supporting the prospect of "pure Socialism" as the end-product of the Russian Revolution--a prospect that had zero chance of realization largely because that assumption (along with others) bore absolutely no connection to the realities of either individual psychology or social institutions. Any realistic analysis would make it clear that a Palestinian-majority (as it would eventually become) democratic state with no commitment to being a Jewish homeland would devolve almost immediately into an Islamist (or other authoritarian) Arab state suppressing and persecuting its Jewish residents (perhaps not even citizens by then) to a degree that, were Israelis to behave analogously, would have already led to a massive UN intervention to reverse the perceived outrage. We all know that no such intervention would even be seriously considered if it was Jewish Israelis being persecuted (perhaps a mild "condemnation" forgotten after the last victims were removed from the scene). It is likely that the "Palestinian elite" among Israeli citizens referred to in the article will be among the earlier victims, as they are likely to be judged insufficiently zealous (either politically or religiously) by the new elite. As do most revolutions, this one would also eat its children. And, when all this comes about, those protesting that the "plan" was to build a multicultural democracy would be told, as though they were little children lacking understanding, that they couldn't have ever imagined such an absurd result was possible, that the inevitable forces of history and Arab nationalism demanded that the Jews be "put in their place" (which would be, essentially, nowhere), and any promises to the contrary were simply necessary bargaining tactics for which the rightful conquerors could not possibly be held accountable.

Having obtained numerous Israeli concessions over the last several decades, in return for which the only real concession by Palestinians has been a "conceptual" acceptance of the idea of a two-state solution and (something resembling) peaceful coexistence, we now see both the Palestinians in Gaza (now ruled by Hamas, having just demonstrated the peaceful nature of Palestinian conflict-resolution) and the Israeli Arabs supporting Balad saying, "Thank you very much for all you have given up, now we'll go back and think about that two-state thing--why don't you give that back, too?" Now, Hamas and Balad may be coating the one-state approach in different candy coatings (conquest or submersion), but both continue to attempt to undo the decision made by the UN in 1947 and deny that Jews have a right to a national homeland--even the truncated one envisioned in that partition plan. What kind of realistic Israeli could give any credence to assurances of a democratic future--or even survival--if left to the mercies of such a "partner"?

Jeff Rosenberg

Leominster, MA

Thanks very much for publishing this column. What is happening to Bishara is a sign of how unhealthy politically Israel has become. What I have always found odd is that Israel didn't try to coopt its Palestinian citizens more by offering them equal citizenship with accompanying equal economic rights, services, etc. Or does Israel think it can now strip Palestinians of their citizenship, because in fact they are a national minority, and the state trying to figure out a way to put pressure on its Palestinian population to leave Israel? Is Israel trying to do to its Palestinian citizens what it is trying to do to Palestinians in the Occupied Territories? If so, that's quite a risk, since it's one thing to pressure people without citizenship to leave but quite another to do it to citizens.

Deborah A. Gordon

Wichita , KS USA

Thank you very much for an insightful article into the myth of Israeli democracy.

Democracy and Zionism are at odds with one another because democracy gives an equal to voice to all participants, while the Zionist conception of the Israeli state gives a voice to only Jewish participants and rejects and oppresses all the rest.

It is easy to lump all Palestinians into label "terrorists" just as it is easy for rabid Zionists to accuse anyone who criticizes their inhumane treatment of the Palestinians as "anti-Semitic." The majority of the Palestinians and Arabs are not terrorists, not hate-mongers because if they were their sheer numbers would overwhelm. Instead the violent and hateful factions are a minority just as criminal and hateful people form a minority in each society.

However, what is the fault of a child born, amongst of hundreds of thousands, as a refugee in the West Bank or Gaza today? Why is that child born in an open prison? Why is he or she forced to live out a humiliating and unfulfilled life? Is that newborn a terrorist from birth? The Palestinians have the same dreams and hopes as Israelis, as Americans, why do their children have to live in fear of tanks and bullets? Why do their children have no hope for a better future?

There is only one solution for peace in the Middle East, for Israel and Palestine to become a single state with the Palestinian majority and Israeli minority living side by side, with the same opportunities. Let there be justice and liberty for all.

Sarah Rahim

New York, NY

An excellent article. It brings again to my attention the subversive and dangerous character of any true democracy. You can see how a majority can be threatened by democracy, just as much as minorities can be threatened by democracies. This leads us to the question, 'Why Democracy'? Why this historic love-affair with such a bizzare form of rule and order?

The answer has to be the Jewish state's close relationship with America. If Israel had a better relationship with other countries, Asian nations for example, they may well have been more enthusiastic about more useful forms of government, e.g. military dictatorships.

Clearly what we are finding is the relationship between democracy and anti-Semitism. What we must learn to do is call a spade a spade, and democratic principles are inherently anti-Semitic. It is time to move on.

Mordechai Benjamin Israel-Cohen

Washington, DC, USA

Don't just give one-sided arguments over Israel. You are forgetting the Palestinian terrorism, let alone the presence of Iran's nuclear ambitions to "wipe Israel off the map in one firestorm." Those who oppose Israel making one-sided arguments, looking at the glass as half-empty, can be just as bad as Hitler and the president of Iran. I've been to Israel twice already before on BirthRight and a social justice mission for volunteering in the community, and Israel is overall a very secure and safe state.

Their security is much more orderly than that of the US, apparently. Given the unpreparedness of the shooting spree at the VA Tech campus comes to show how much more prepared Israel would have been like they were when that suicide bomber attacked Hebrew University. Furthermore, hate is empowered through learning. There are children being brought up as terrorist, both Palestinian and afar training with guns in retaliation against the west and Israel. Israel is one of the few successful democracies in the Middle East, not just a "Jewish democracy," since Palestinians have their elections to elect their leaders, either Fatah, Hamas, etc.

Israel has done its best and is fully committed to the peace process with the Palestinians; unfortunately, there hasn't been a good and compatible peace agreement between the two. For more information, the Anti-Defamation League's website has a vast amount of resources on the case for Israel and how others can cooperate. There are far worser places than how Israel is claimed to be, such as Darfur, Iraq, Iran, and North Korea. Unfortunately, a big problem that goes around in this confusing and conflicting world is intolerance and miscommunication.

So, don't blame Israel as the root of the world's problems, even though it is easy to generalize when certain apprehensions and situations occur. All in all, while the West and Israel desire to prosper in freedom, the Arab world's threats of terrorism will only inflame conflict and fear, and won't merit any peace or prosperity. Therefore, Israel is not an apartheid, as Jimmy Carter claims it to be, because there needs to be a better choice of words than that of wha occurred in South Africa. A two-state solution between Israel and Palestine would be ideal as long as there is a reasonable and compatible peace agreement. Israel has done its part to secure for peace, so now Palestine should do the same to take responsibility for their actions as well.

Nick Rosen

Great Falls, VA

A terrific article providing background on the charges again Bishara. Congratulations to Gordon & the Nation for publishing the first subtantive article in the western media on the horrible charges.

However, Gordon doesn't note that the independent Palestinian news agency Maan reports that the 2 charges are receiving $5 million from Syria via an E. Jerusalem moneychanger; and communications w. Hezbollah during the Lebanon war. I'm not saying these are credible charges if this is indeed what he is charged with. I'm merely saying that this is what one media report says.

I've covered this story for the past week at my blog: http://www.richardsilverstein.com/tikun_olam/index.php?s=azmi+bishara

One should also note the horrid gag order preventing the Israeli media fr. fully reporting this story. Which is another reason it is so important for the western media to put pressure on the Shin Bet to come clean with the charges & conduct this investigation in the full light of day.

Richard Silverstein
Tikun Olam

Seattle, WA