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Are the Words "Israel" and "Jews" Synonymous?

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Somehow many in our media have turned the words Israel and Jews into synonyms, as if all Jews are hard-line Zionists who automatically back the policies and practices of the Israeli government, every Israeli government. Ironically, there is more debate among Jews in Israel on these issues than is reported, or somehow allowed in the United States where Jewish critics of Israel policies are often ignored or labeled "self-hating" Jews.

Many organizations, especially in Democratic Party circles (and even the blogosphere) would prefer to ignore the issue for fear of being divisive or attacked. Notice how many in the Congress rallied to Israel's side before the facts were even in. Notice how few, even in the anti-war contingent, had the courage to speak out. (Read Tom Hayden's recent piece apologizing for how skillfully he was co-opted by the Israeli Lobby when he ran for office in California.)

Some organizations are just shilling for the Israeli government-- no matter what it does-- out of both tribal loyalty and political fealty to neo-con/Likudnik politics, a perspective which enjoys unrivalled and disproportionate access to the media and its think-alike punditocracy. Some are just money generating mechanisms sending money to Israel, a developed county that gets $3 billion dollars annually in US aid intended for developing nations. The Federation which supports many social services just sent millions. One wonders how much of this will go to Israeli Arabs who have also had homes bombed?


It's not surprising that many Jews are unaware of what's happening largely because of the information diet they are exposed to, every day and in all media--just like the rest of us. They are expected to recite the "official" mantraï ¿ ½"not think for themselves.

On Tuesday, I received an invitation from the president of the American Jewish Congress. It was for a 4 day "Israel Solidarity Mission." Cost per person: $1000.

It is described as "Not only solidarity but much more!"

"Touring the embattled North of Israel and personally sharing our friendship with families there who have lived through the terror of Katyusha rockets falling on their homes;

"Visiting an air force base where we will thank the brave pilots who are defending Israel and see, up close, the advanced F-16-I jets they fly;

"Receiving a briefing from the Brigade Commander and his troops defending against Hamas terrorism in Gaza;

"Meeting with top officials of Israel's government to hear what lies ahead and to learn how we can help."

There's not one word of interest or concern here with the civilian victims of bombing in Lebanon or the conditions of Palestinians in Gaza. Not one word of compassion or interest in meeting prominent Israelis who feel this war is not in Israel's interest. It
strikes me as more reinforcement for the already deeply held prejudices.

Writing in the Israeli newspaper Ha'aretz-- which far too many American Jews know nothing about-- and in fact know little about Israeli political reality (preferring to live with feel-good myths dating back to Leon Uris' book Exodus)--Nehemia Shtrasler contends:
"Israel has always said it has nothing against the Lebanese people and does not want to harm Lebanon, only the PLO (then) and Hezbollah (now). But in practice, it has harmed, destroyed and humiliated the Lebanese time after time. Their fate did not interest us."
What does interest us? What should interest us? I know the great Rabbi Hillel once said, "If you are not for yourself, who will be for me." But then, he added, let us not forget, "If I am not for others, what am I? And if not now, when?"

And then, there is also, always, that golden rule, forgotten by war-makers across the ages: "Do not do to others what you would not have them do to you."

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News Dissector Danny Schechter is blogger in chief at Mediachannel.Org He is the author of PLUNDER: Investigating Our Economic Calamity (Cosimo Books) available at Amazon.com. See Newsdisssector.org/store.htm.
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