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, t 4. e e

ISRAEL page 61

can short story. I am writing
something that is very Israeli. Be-
cause today, there is interaction
between those elements and Is-
raelis, and therefore, to portray
today's reality, I have to include
such things as McDonald's. It is
part of today's reality. What in-
terests me as a writer is the con-
nection between these elements."
Although he finds some aspects
of Americanization troubling —
he calls the criminalization of
marijuana a "capitalistic con-
spiracy" — he sees just as much
danger, if not more, in some of
the critical reaction to it. He
particularly worries about the
rise of the Orthodox political
parties.
"We live in a very dangerous
era," he says. "Fundamental-
ism is the only answer right
now to Americanization. We
saw it in Iran, and now we see
it here."
Although the religious re-
sistance to Americanization
has been relatively mild in Is-
rael, it has picked up momentum
in the recent elections, when thou-
sands of secular Jews voted for
religious parties to help preserve
Jewish culture in face of a chang-
ing world.
One of the election campaign
pamphlets for the right-wing Na-
tional Religious Party (known as
Mafdal), which won nine seats,
featured enthusiastic quotes from
several secular Israelis.
Some of them specifically men-
tioned the term Americanization,
others alluded to it, saying Maf-
dal has an answer to the unwel-
come cultural changes that have
occurred in the country in recent
years.
"The party, its ideals, its edu-
cation systeni and its youth are
deep roots standing against the
drift of Zionist and Jewish ideals
and against the current Israeli
culture that is fast becoming
American and vulgar," says
farmer David Canani of Kfar
Yehoshua.
It is a dangerous fallacy to
think the religious parties will
shield Israel from Americaniza-
tion, Naveh says. 'The only thing
they will do is give rise to chau-
vinism and illusions."
In fact, the secular Israelis who
gave their ballots to the religious
parties for this reason continue
to live much of their lives accord-
ing to American ideals, noted
Michelle Grundman of Petach
Tikva. The 22-year-old Tel Aviv
University student says she and
her relatives and friends voted for
Mafdal for the first time. But they
wear American clothes, watch
American TV shows and movies,

eat American food and listen to
American music.
"I know that Americanization
is bad for Israel," Ms. Grundman
says. "But I feel that somehow,
America is a better place — that
people there are more hip, more
cool. That they lead a better life
there. And I have been there,
three times, and I saw that this
is not the case, and yet this is how
I see it. It is as if I have been
brainwashed."
Israelis should not try to fight
Americanization — they should

their children in front of the TV."
But, as convenient as it may be,
the Americanization of Israel is a
discomfiting thought and an un-
fortunate reality, says Aviad, who
worked in the Israeli embassy in
Washington for three years in the
1970s.
"It's not that it is bad — it's just
not ours," Aviad says. "It is as if
you borrowed your brother's shoes
— [they] won't fit you."
It hurts, she says. "It bothers
me because we are wasting our
heritage."
Aviad and other critics of the
Americanization of Israel, in-
cluding Yehoshua, stress that
they do not blame the United
States — they hold the Jewish
state responsible.
"America is not forcing the
world to become Americanized,"
Yehoshua says. "The world is
copying America."
It is perfectly logical for Israel
0 to use America, and not, let's say,
Europe, as a model, Keret says.
That's because the Jewish state
When cruising around Tel Aviv, you can
has been receiving monetary, mil-
stop at Planet Hollywood
for a taste of America.
itary, diplomatic and, some say,
emotional support from the Unit-
simply work to take the best of it ed States for years, and the two
and leave the rest behind, Naveh countries share interests and
says. 'There is no 'solution' to this. have similar histories.
America has a lot to offer us. For
They were both created by im-
example, we can take the idea of migrants as democratic refuges
religious reform, and the idea of for people seeking freedom.
being polite and saying, 'Have a
'e can relate much better to
nice day.' We can take the idea of the Americans than to the E -uro-
having respect for teachers."
peans because, like the Ameri-
cans, we are recent arrivals in our
country," Keret says.
Wkrt .eme See
This, however, is where the
similarities end, Yehoshua says.
Zekte *tie4 let
Besides making Israelis feel Lost in this logic is the funda-
cosmopolitan, the Americaniza- mental difference between Israel
tion of Israel has added a sense of and the United States — one that
stability to their daily lives, Keret can be traced to the countries' dis-
tinct beginnings.
says.
'We are not a gathering of in-
When you turn on the televi-
sion and flip the channel to MTV, dividuals," he says. 'We are first
CNN or other stations; when you and foremost a cohesive commu-
watch sitcoms such as "Friends" nity. The pluralism of America
or movies such as Independence does not exist here. In that sense,
Day; when you put on clothes Americanization is not good for
such as Levi's jeans; when you eat us. We do not have different eth-
American food such as Big Macs nic groups."
Israelis must realize this quick-
— you know that you will get ex-
ly, before it becomes too late to
actly what you had expected.
There are no surprises, Keret preserve the Israeli identity, said
Dr. Giora Peri of Caesarea, who
notes.
"When people go to eat, or to lived in Palm Beach, Baltimore
shop, or to be entertained, they and other parts of the United
want no adventures, no stom- States for 13 years.
'e are gradually losing every-
achaches. They want to know
what they are getting," Keret thing — our sense of together-
says. "America gives them that." ness, pride, culture," said Peri,
The Americanization of Israel who returned to Israel last year.
has especially made the lives of 'We have to fight the American-
mothers easier, says Tamar Avi- ization of Israel. We have to re-
ad, a veteran journalist who turn to our tradition."
writes a profile column in Boaz Dvir is a staff writer for our
Ma'ariv. . "Mothers can buy fast sister publication the Palm
meals at McDonald's and seat Beach Jewish Times.

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