Opinion

August 16, 2011

PRO: Glenn Beck’s unwavering support for Israel

by Sammy Levine

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Find the con column here: Glenn Beck Rally in Jerusalem: Bad for the Jews!

“Israel must have our support, and I’m not talking about military support; I’m saying they must have our support as a people. They have a right to survive and to be free from extermination and the people who want to vaporize them. They have a right to defend themselves. Will Americans stand up and say that? [Israel has] a right to hold on to the land taken as a buffer zone between them and the people who want to kill them. That’s the support they deserve, the support they have earned and the support that is required.”

No, this statement was not made by Benjamin Netanyahu; it was made by Glenn Beck during his program on Fox News a couple of months ago.

As the most hated cable news host among the left — and especially among liberal Jews — Beck emerged as the medium’s most pro-Israel commentator. This was very welcome news for me, as when he first began broadcasting for Fox News a few years ago, he focused almost exclusively on domestic issues, advocating strict libertarian policies for America. For the most part, he steered clear of issues related to defense and international relations. As such, I feared he was in the mold of Ron Paul.

But then something changed. About a year ago, when the flotilla incident occurred, Beck was out in front, reporting on Israel’s right to self-defense, while so many others in the mainstream media were ambiguous or hostile toward the Jewish state. I decided to watch Keith Olbermann on one of the nights following the incident, and his entire coverage was relegated to a biased interview with one of the “peace activists” on the ship.

Conversely, Beck did two consecutive shows devoted to defending Israel’s actions in the flotilla incident, as well as educating his audience about the creation of Israel, the history of the Jewish people and anti-Semitism. Furthermore, during the last several months,  Beck has devoted large segments of his shows to discussing how the tumultuous uprisings in the Middle East will affect Israel’s security. Unlike many in the liberal media who blindly cheer these revolutions, Beck — with the fate of Israel on his mind — is engaging the issue with a healthy dose of skepticism. Beck understands that Egypt, under the ousted President Mubarak, kept peace with Israel for 30 years. Now, the virulently anti-American and anti-Israeli Muslim Brotherhood is poised to take power. In addition, Egyptian presidential candidate Mohamed ElBaradei — the lauded “progressive” among Western leftists — said: “If Israel attacked Gaza, we would declare war against the Zionist regime.” It looks like Beck’s skepticism about the fate of Israel vis-a-vis the Egyptian uprising is well founded.

On his Fox News show, Beck repeatedly stated that Israel is the only country in the Middle East that shares America’s values of freedom and human rights. In March, Beck began the show with the statement, “Tonight I stand with Israel,” and then asked: “Tens of millions of Arabs have suffered atrocities at the hands of their own countries … but Israel is the evil one — that is the obstacle to peace? … How many homosexuals have been stoned to death by the Israelis? … How many terrorists are wearing a yarmulke?”

On his program during the week of Passover, Beck played the part of a rabbi giving a sermon or a Hebrew school teacher giving a lesson as he spoke beautifully about the seder. In fact, he sat down at his own authentic seder, complete with matzah, gefilte fish, maror, karpas and more.

He then explained why supporting Israel is a moral imperative: “The world wonders why it is that most Americans sympathize with the Israelis in their continual battle with the Palestinians and the Arab world. I don’t think it’s that hard to understand. Israel is a democracy. It’s the closest thing to what we understand as freedom in the entire Middle East. We relate to that. But maybe more importantly, we share common values.”

Beck also compared the story of the Jews leaving Egypt with the story of the Pilgrims coming to America, as they both faced hardships to escape oppression: “The story is the same for America and Israel and all over the world. … With Israel, Americans have a shared culture, shared history and values. We have been close allies since their inception. … There have been occasional bumps in the road with our relationship with Israel, but we have stood by them when no one else would. But now I fear that seems to be changing.”

There is absolutely nothing like this from liberal cable news hosts. Even Bill Maher, who normally defends Israel against the venom of his radical guests, said he understands how some could view the Jewish state as “thugs” for being an “occupying army.”

The truth is that if one wants to find consistent pro-Israel coverage, Beck is the person to listen to. The problem is that, for so many liberal Jews, hate of the right overwhelms their love for Israel. As such, they marginalize Beck, even though he is without question the media’s most outspoken supporter of Israel. This is unfortunate, as in this time when Israel is isolated internationally, decried as an apartheid state on college campuses and constantly threatened with annihilation, Beck’s voice is so necessary and precious. One of the most popular political commentators in America is using his fame for great good — to bring awareness and respect to the Jewish state.

On Aug. 24, Beck is holding a pro-Israel rally in Israel to bring awareness and support to the tiny Jewish state. Thank you, Glenn, for your unwavering support for Israel. We need more people in the media like you.

Sammy Levine is the creator of the pro-Israel Web site counterboycott.org. He has worked for the Dennis Prager Show and is now an assistant producer at PJTV.com.

A version of this article appeared in print.

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Just to make it clear, you mention Paul, but Paul was one of the VERY FEW Congressmen who voted NOT to renounce Israel’s attacks on Iraq’s nuclear facilities.

Paul argued that we should stay out of Israel’s business, and that they have a right to defend themselves as they see fit.  You can also see Paul’s scathing remarks towards Obama’s absurd Israel policy here:  http://eon.businesswire.com/news/eon/20110519007204/en

Giving Israel $3 billion and then giving her enemies $12 billion makes absolutely no sense to me!  Israel is a sovereign nation and we need to stop micromanaging her affairs.

Comment by James on 8/16/11 at 3:37 pm

As an Israeli, I am deeply embarrassed by this American support. Israel today has a developed an economy of $220 bil. which is 24th in the world. The US aid amounts to less than 2% of its budget. There is no need for Israeli government to live off the back of American taxpayers.

Comment by Avi on 8/16/11 at 4:31 pm

Sammy Levine works for Dennis P (pinhead).

All poor Sammy can do is list Beck’s consistently dogmatic postiions on Israel. He is a wolf in sheep’s clothing.

Beck is no more a friend of Israel than any other evangelical or crazy fundamentalist seeking Armagedon.

His dimwitted “philosphy” comes from a Morman, Skowden, who founded the John Birch Society and believed the US Constitution was a Christian document.  Proves they never read it.

Like Sarah Palin parading on Danny D’s elbow in ISrael, these self-promoteers are exploiting ISrael’s need for a friend.

The enemy of your enemy is not necessarily your firemd.

Comment by The Logician on 8/16/11 at 4:44 pm

Logi, wouldn’t it be would be peachy if the entire world thinks like you? No opposition, no challenge, no diverse opinion—all agree with a single thought—yours, of course. Just like the utopia your ilk created in the former USSR.

Comment by Mini on 8/16/11 at 4:54 pm

Mini, Logi’s utopian society is the USSR with Tikkun Olam, of course.

Comment by Truth Teller on 8/16/11 at 4:57 pm

I’m not Arab neither living in middle east, but I’m a Muslim. I believe Israil is a country and they should defend their people and their country

Comment by SALEEM on 8/16/11 at 5:09 pm

Without dwelling long on this or that “ism”
When viewed through a historical prism,
It seems beyond debate that the Israeli State
is an Oasis of Freedom in a Desert of Despotism. Is an Oasis of Democracy in a Desert of Tyranny.

Is an Oasis of Mental Health in a Desert of Psychoses.
Is an Oasis of Success in a Desert of Failure.
Is a Civilized Outpost in a Savage Region.

Hyperbole? Of course,
But only to accentuate the less sharply delineated underlying differences involved.
And until non-Israeli actors in the Mid-East change their ways
Problems of reaching a “rational” solution will not be resolved.

And Mr. Beck’s efforts can’t change any of the foregoing circumstances.

Comment by SpecialKinNJ on 8/16/11 at 5:34 pm

Sammy, Glenn has you bamboozled. His only support for Israel is that he wants to see Jerusalem in Christian/Morman hands. His desire is to lead the next crusade. His only concern for the Jews is how it relates to his “second coming” not the Jews First Coming of Moshiach.

Comment by Avram Baruch on 8/16/11 at 5:41 pm

Avram, what??  Where did you get that piece of bizarre propaganda about Glenn Beck?

Comment by PW4SP on 8/16/11 at 7:39 pm

Glenn Beck has talked repeatedly about end times prophecy on his programs. He also promoted virulent anti-Semitic writers including Elizabeth Dilling and Eustace Mullins. He is no friend to Jews but Beck has mastered the guidelines taught by Christian Zionists for approaching Jewish communities.  The classic text is by Don Finto, who led the prayer at Rick Perry’s Aug. 6 prayer rally and called for the conversion of Jews in Israel and worldwide. http://www.talk2action.org/story/2011/8/16/152647/490

Comment by Rachel Tabachnick on 8/16/11 at 10:22 pm

As the son of and brother of evangelical ministers, as a Jew and as the father of an Orthodox Rabbi, I take offense at the attacks on my evangelical family’s support of the state of Israel and Israel’s right to exist.  Only the stupid believe evangelicals support Israel to fulfill some prediction regarding the end of time prophecy. The major similarities between both religions is that each accepts the Torah as either the word of G_d or G_d inspired, a G-d we both worship. That is why Hitler considered Christianity a Jew religion.

Comment by Aaron on 8/16/11 at 11:41 pm

Logician wrote:
“Beck is no more a friend of Israel than any other evangelical or crazy fundamentalist seeking Armagedon.”
And you are an ignorant bigot. I’m serious. Beck is Mormon (LDS), and does not believe the theology you claim.

“His dimwitted “philosphy” comes from a Morman, Skowden, who founded the John Birch Society and believed the US Constitution was a Christian document.  Proves they never read it.”
Skowden was not a founder of JBS. And perhaps you missed the fact that 9 of 13 states had State Religions protected by the First Amendment.

Comment by Ron Lewenberg on 8/17/11 at 12:43 am

Avram Baruch wrote:
“Sammy, Glenn has you bamboozled. His only support for Israel is that he wants to see Jerusalem in Christian/Morman hands. His desire is to lead the next crusade.”
Sorry, bigot, but most Christians don’t consider Mormons to be Christian and would not join a Crusade with them.

RAchel Tabachnick wrote:
“He also promoted virulent anti-Semitic writers including Elizabeth Dilling and Eustace Mullins. “
How many antisemitic communists and atheists can I find quoted on your site?

Y’all cite an antisemite like Jim Lobe to misrepresent the beliefs of Leo Strauss, a Jew. Antisemitic much?
http://www.talk2action.org/story/2006/2/16/14189/7034

Comment by Ron Lewenberg on 8/17/11 at 12:45 am

most israelis don’t know who Glenn is!!!

the 3 things we are all concerned about these days are:
1. housing problem
2.the demonization of israel across the world.
3.september 20& 21 (palestinian bid for statehood + durban 3, which we would love to get your help with)

no Glenn Beck on our minds…

Comment by Diana on 8/17/11 at 1:01 am

Wake up People we need Becks, greatest thing that’s happened to Israel in my lifetime. Only in 60 years we will know how great he was and if we do’t support him we will be the losers.

Comment by Saifo on 8/17/11 at 6:38 am

Diana, let me put it in the right context so you understand. The JJ does not represent Israel. The JJ hardly represents Jews or Judaism. The JJ is just an extension of the liberal side of the DNC in the Jewish community of West LA.

Comment by Avi on 8/17/11 at 8:56 am

Aaron, a person like you, who has been surrounded by religion, you should have a better familiarity with human condition and man’s fallibility. What you read here is further proof that stupidity and bigotry are equal opportunity diseases.

Comment by Avi on 8/17/11 at 9:04 am

Logi:  The LDS church is neither fundamentalist or evengelical!  Before you make any more stupid statements at lest examine the LDS beliefs.  Take a visit to Salt Lake City, its very beautiful this time of year.

Comment by Honey Bee on 8/17/11 at 3:08 pm

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