viewpoints » S end letters to: letters@thejewishnews.com DETROIT JEWISH NEWS theJEWISHNEWS.com commentary Arthur M. Horwitz Publisher / Executive Editor ahorwitz@renmedia.us Principles vs. Reality W e are in for a vigorous and heated debate between diaspora Jews in the U.S. — particularly those who identify as liberals — and Israelis given a March poll that revealed that almost half (48 percent) of Israelis would favor the expulsion or transfer of Arabs from Israel. The poll results will surely bring condem- nation, particularly from those who believe Israel’s intransigence is blocking the peace process and have a vision of Arabs and Jews living in peace side- by-side — someday. Indeed, the condemna- tion has already started in Berl Falbaum the New York City-based Forward where its editor, Jane Eisner, wrote an editorial in the paper’s March 18 edition under the headline, “When Israeli Opinion Makes Me Cringe.” Here is some of what Eisner wrote: “… I had to face up to the disturbing fact that many Jews in Israel simply do not share my pluralistic American values, nor my lived experience. They do not appreciate the mix of races, ethnicities, religion and nationali- ties that I bump up against every day on the street and in the subway that color my friendships and enrich my life. “Instead, those Israelis support something I find abhorrent and at odds with Judaism … we are supposed to share.” Her views and that of others of her political persuasion are commendable. Who would not favor living in a diverse popula- tion with the enrichment and rewards it brings? The problem is this pie-in-the-sky view as it relates to Israel is naive; it lacks historical context. The results of the poll, if accurate, did not develop overnight but came after living in a state of war — daily — since the birth of Israel in 1948. This is stated not to defend what may be defined as “extremism” but to understand it. The real question is why Israelis did not adopt this attitude much earlier. Those who blame the “settlements” or the “occupation” for the ongoing crisis between Israel and the Palestinians need to answer some serious historical questions: • What was the cause of almost daily ter- rorism between 1948-67, before Israel won the Six-Day War? After all, the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) was founded in 1964 by Yasser Arafat, and it defined only one objective in its charter — the destruc- tion of Israel. • Or, what was the reason that five Arab nations attacked Israel the very day it became a nation? • Or, what was the reason for the violence against Jews before 1948, dating back to the Hebron Massacre in 1929? True, Eisner included a paragraph or two recognizing the dangers Israel faces, but she quickly returned to her theme that somehow Israelis lack the sophistication to understand the benefits of diversity. In enumerating the advantages she has derived from living in a pluralistic society, she fails to understand she has not “bumped up” against terrorism for even one day, let alone her entire life. She might have stopped to read her own paper, which also published a story about how this will further the divide between American Jews and Israelis. In one story, Steven M. Cohen, a research professor of Jewish social policy at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in New York and adviser on the Pew study, summa- rized it fairly well when he said: “The main difference is that Americans live among non-Jews who love them and Israelis live among non-Jews they think want to kill them.” Inevitably, someone will make a com- parison to proposals made in the presiden- tial campaign to deport 11 million illegal immigrants from the U.S. But the analogy is flawed in that those immigrants, while here illegally, are basically law-abiding citizens not planning terrorist attacks on Americans. Indeed, even those who oppose deportation make exceptions for those who have engaged in criminal activities. There are other differ- ences, not the least of which is that the U.S. does not face an existential threat. Yes, diversity is a desired goal and undoubtedly Israelis, as a matter of prin- ciple, share that view. But they also deserve understanding for being forced to separate principle from reality even if it makes the left “cringe.” silence in the face of the administration’s racist position that Jews should be denied civil rights beyond the 1949 armistice lines [in Judea, Samaria and Jerusalem] makes it difficult for me to take a sympathetic or understanding view of its leaders’ assault on their own supporters and donors.” AIPAC tries to be diplomatic and not appear to side with Democrats or Republicans but AIPAC CEO Howard Kohr spoke to appease liberals, insisting that Israel’s supporters believe in the possibility of an Israel “living with security alongside a demilitarized Palestinian state.” I and so many others have stopped believ- ing in the possibility of a two-state solution as AIPAC still does. I agree with Glick when she asks, “Why? Why is it the job of American Jews or American politicians to try to force Israel to give its land to people who want to annihilate it?” B’nai Moshe’s Special Employee * A veteran West Bloomfield journalist and author of eight books, Berl Falbaum, was an adjunct journalism faculty member at Wayne State University for 45 years. letters AIPAC’s Rebuke Of Trump Questioned I’ve always believed that AIPAC (American Israel Public Affairs Committee) was one of the most staunch defenders of Israel but after AIPAC President Lillian Pinkus told the AIPAC crowd in Washington, D.C., that “we do not countenance ad hominem attacks, and we take great offense against those that are levied against the president of the United States of America from our stage,” I began to wonder. Was it so terrible when Donald Trump said that President Obama “may be the worst thing that happened to Israel?” I’m no fan of Trump but like many other Jews, I agree with Caroline Glick of the Jerusalem Post when she wrote on her Facebook page (March 23) that “Obama is the most anti-Israel president in U.S. history.” Glick questions AIPAC’s tacit acceptance of the administration’s policy: “Why should [AIPAC] ignore the rights of Jews? AIPAC’s 6 March 31 • 2016 Arnie Goldman Farmington Hills The article “Part Of The Family” (March 17, page 10) recognizing long-term non- Jewish synagogue employees was very nice. I was disappointed, however, that no one contacted Congregation B’nai Moshe to give us the opportunity to tell you about our Michael Taylor, a 22-year employee who we don’t know what we would do without. Michael not only maintains our build- ing, but sometimes knows that we need help before we do. He is not only a syna- gogue employee, but a most dependable, kind and helpful friend. We want our extended community to know about this special man. F. Kevin Browett Chief Operating Officer kbrowett@renmedia.us | Editorial Managing Editor: Jackie Headapohl jheadapohl@renmedia.us Story Development Editor: Keri Guten Cohen kcohen@thejewishnews.com Arts & Life Editor: Lynne Konstantin lkonstantin@renmedia.us Senior Copy Editor: David Sachs dsachs@renmedia.us Editorial Assistant: Sy Manello smanello@renmedia.us Senior Columnist: Danny Raskin dannyraskin@sbcglobal.net Contributing Editor: Robert Sklar rsklar@renmedia.us Contributing Writers: Ruthan Brodsky, Suzanne Chessler, Annabel Cohen, Don Cohen, Shari S. 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