Opinion

September 14, 2011

Opinion: It’s time for a Jewish Spring

By Judea Pearl

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Recent weeks have not blessed us with much good news. Turkey’s bullying threats to Israel in the Eastern Mediterranean, the Palestinian determination to pursue its bid for statehood recognition at the United Nations this month, and the mob attack on the Israeli embassy in Cairo signal a very bleak winter for Israel and a very dark cloud over the entire Middle East.

These are unusual times, and the impending vote at the United Nations, in particular,  illustrates ever more clearly the urgency of Israel’s need for the Jewish people to stop bickering and to unite in support for the very existence of the Jewish state. Even with the U.S. commitment to veto any proposal for Palestinian recognition in the U.N. Security Council, a yes vote for statehood in the U.N. General Assembly would embolden Israel’s adversaries to reject any peace proposal that does not entail her eventual demise, and would further isolate Israel beyond anything we have seen in the past.

We are facing one of those critical moments when a sense of real urgency awakens nations to take charge of their destiny and act together to change the course of history. Are we ready for a Jewish spring?

In view of all this, the only bright light I have spotted in recent weeks’ news is the decision by J Street to oppose the Palestinians’ upcoming move to seek recognition at the United Nations.

I read the J Street statement very carefully, and it struck me as rather odd in its flatness and dryness — it reads like a diplomatic dispatch from the Swiss Embassy in Kamchatka more than a statement from a caring party facing a critical event in the history of our people. It certainly was a far cry from the creative, “out of the box,” “now is the time” statements we have heard from J Street in the past.

True, we can find there the usual “it will [not] advance peace, enhance security and improve conditions on the ground” and the obvious “the creation of a Palestinian state will not necessarily resolve the conflict” and the now dead-tired call for “jump-starting efforts to reach a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.” What we do not find there is an earnest assessment of the situation that led to this unexpected decision.

Indeed, if we are to believe previous declarations by J Street leaders, then their decision to oppose the Palestinians’ bid to the United Nations is truly unexpected. If the Palestinians have been craving a peace agreement all along, and the only things that kept them from expressing those intentions were their hardship and hopelessness under the occupation, what could be more effective in boosting their self-esteem than granting them a bona fide state, full membership in the United Nations and a stronger microphone to broadcast their peace proposals worldwide? And if the only things that kept Israel from making painful concessions toward peace have been greed, lack of American pressure and the blindness of Israel’s leaders to Israel’s growing isolation in the word, what could be more conducive to ending this blindness than to shake them into a new reality with a hostile sovereign neighbor — more vocal and more demanding — which would make Israel’s isolation many times more painful and no longer ignorable? So, why did J Street decide to oppose this desirable scenario?

Some commentators are interpreting the J Street move to be a calculated decision to compromise on their agenda and tame their rhetoric in order to increase their influence and relevance among potential Jewish supporters. This makes perfect sense in view of the growing solidarity mainstream American Jewry now feels toward Israel in her new predicament. It might also reflect the understanding that going “all-in” for a conflict-bound Palestinian tactic could mean organizational suicide.

I would like to believe, however, that J Street’s decision reflects a more profound process of introspection, a more realistic assessment of Palestinians’ intentions vis-à-vis Israel’s future and, most important, a more enduring change in the way the Jewish community in general speaks, acts and stands for Israel.

I would like to believe that what J Street’s decision represents is the beginning of a Jewish spring — a period where we do wake up to the urgency of standing united against the rising threats to Israel’s existence, a day of reckoning with the centrality of Israel to our existence as a people, and an earnest commitment to take these threats more seriously than we have done in the past. It is, I believe, imperative to reassess our priorities and to act again as one people, in one big tent, to move toward a genuine and lasting peace.

If others have springs, why can’t we have one?

A version of this article appeared in print.

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Judah—

Thanks for that well reasoned piece, despite the conjecture about J Streets motives.

Jews on the right have jumped all over J Street in a paranoid fashion inventing conspiracy theories, hidden agendas and even psychological torment.  Perhaps if its critics had not been so mean spirited, the organization might have had more courage to speak more forcefully.

Jeremy Ben-Ami is a State Department guy, so the language was too careful as you said.  I am glad you found some hope in it.

But why not ask him directly and exchange views for all to see?  The process of change might be instructive to us all…especially J Street’s most rabid critics.

Comment by The Logician on 9/14/11 at 5:38 pm

I have been on the left of Israeli politics for over 60 years.  I have witnessed the many peace proposals and attempts at a two-state solution and watched the “Palestinians” turn down or walk out of every agreement so far.  What J Street did not understand is that the only “solution” that the “Palestinians” will agree to is a “one-state solution” with the destruction of Israel and takeover by the “Palestinian state.”  I hope their statement is their wakeup call.

Comment by Dani El on 9/14/11 at 6:04 pm

Years ago, someone named, Mr. Drekfus alike, got bunch of traders in Bvrly Hills Prk on Olympic Bl. and pronounce his offer to exchange liberated territories for peace.
Previous evening, Friday, rabbi in S. Wise Temple supposed that Jews could counter this betray.
I was not able to locate familiar faces.  Big man was playing accordion, a few men stand close by.
I approached them.  “Men, Jews are getting together, Arabs and traders getting in the middle, to the tables”
Shalom started “Hava Nagilla”.  Who knows where from, dozens of Jews joined us.  Loud music, songs, slogans…  “Conference” was destroyed.  Somebody smashed Mr. Drekfus face.
Is not this time for Jews to get together?

Comment by Arkady on 9/14/11 at 6:32 pm

Dani—

You seem to wish it so. 

Why is it that so many converts, whether religious or political, embraqce their new found faith with such zealousness.  Is it out of self-defense?  Or insecurity with their new faith.

Could it be that there are other possibilities that neither side can imagine?  And why do we have to divide up into “sides.”

Elie Wiesel has warned us all about the dangers of the notion of “The Other.”

Comment by The Logician on 9/14/11 at 6:39 pm

Mr.Pearl, you’ve judged J-Street kindly, as the Talmud says “dan et havercha l’caf z’chut”. However, your conjectures about the motive behind the J-Street statement are more accurate than your benevelance. Ben-Ami knows that, at this very precarious stage in our history, any statement other than his surface rejection of the UN move would be seen as revealingly traitorous to our people. Thus, the shrewd, calculated “rejection” of the PLA move at the UN frees him at a later point to resume his obsessive need to be the savior of the Palestiian people at the expense of Israeli sovereignty.

You said it well, between the lines, Mr. Pearl.

Comment by Irving S. White on 9/14/11 at 6:49 pm

Turkey’s sabre-rattling is an attempt to once again become the leader of the Muslim world like the old Ottoman Empire with the Caliphate at Istanbul. Obama is doing nothing to protect Israel’s security, which suspiciously appears that he is a closet Muslim and wants Israel to disappear. It is time for the Jews of the world that survived Hitler to form International Brigades and start to accumulate heavy weapons, aircraft and naval vessels to come to the aid of Israel. With the Islamic powers of Iran, Turkey and Egypt now threatening Israel and an indifferent and possibly hostile President in the White House, the world’s Jews must now prepare to do the inevitable fighting themselves.

Comment by Earl. on 9/14/11 at 11:57 pm

It is probably too much to ask readers of the Journal to see that Israel’s problems are of its own making and the hubris of the Netanyahu regime which only seems to care what the US Congress thinks and not a whit for the opinions of the rest of the world. Israel’s settlement policies which have been designed from the very beginning to prevent a Palestinian state from coming into being are opposed, unconditionally, by America’s allies and the BRIC states, yet we are told by Israeli and American Jewish leaders that “settlements are not the problem.” They are the only ones, apparently, who think so.

Comment by HollywoodJeff on 9/15/11 at 12:28 am

The withdrawal from Gaza was only a step back, not walking away, and the collective punishment by Israel of the residents of Gaza not only strengthens Hamas which otherwise would lose popularity, is viewed negatively by countries that have otherwise backed Israel, including Turkey, which happens to be a NATO country and a major US strategic asset. To have antagonized Turkey with its raid on the Mavi Marmara and then refusing to apologize has not only inflamed the Turkish government, it has left Israel isolated with only the US at its side.

Comment by HollywoodJeff on 9/15/11 at 12:29 am

At some point, Americans with no vested interest in the conflict are going to begin to question the value of maintaining the “special relationship.” Add to that, the pressure being brought on the Obama administration to stand again alone as Israel’s champion by vetoing the Palestinian statehood resolution seems guaranteed to produce, at best, a Pyrrhic victory, that will end up further fraying the relationship by making the US appear to be Israel’s lap dog which, in essence, it has been. At some point, the American public is going to say,“Enough!”  The goose that has been laying the golden eggs may choose to fly away.

Comment by HollywoodJeff on 9/15/11 at 12:36 am

HollywoodJeff pooped again.  Israel did not punish Gaza but slapped terrorist’s finger.  Is a few single shots an answer for thousands of rockets?
Problem is that when other countries see Israel, despite of seemingly superior army and excellent weaponry did not respond on open aggression and murders of her citizens, they suspect hidden weakness.
And who wants to be with the looser?
Israel shall respond OVERWHELMINGLY.  People respect power.

Comment by Arkady on 9/15/11 at 10:31 am

Professor Pearl…while I agree with your sentiments about the various Jewish & Israeli
factions working together,,,you know what they say…you get two Jews together, you get three opinions…and a shouting match!

I guess I wouldn’t have it any other way….ask my wife.

Comment by Goldstein on 9/15/11 at 10:33 am

Arkady—

A really strong person doesn;t worry about surface appearances as much as substantial and real strength.

The Palestinians do not suspect hidden weakness, b ut they do try to play the pity card a lot and manipulate Israel that way.

Your cowboy attitude and bravado is juvenile and primitive.  You win the war, not every battle and you obviously do not have the imagination or sophistication to interpret real political science.

Comment by The Logician on 9/15/11 at 11:35 am

People love paradoxes.  A man with no logican touch and unable to tie a few events together called himself a Logician.  Another Jew with neandertale level of English writes in English paper.  Yes, I speak and even write with an accent, but my thoughts and understanding is clear and on the target, as it was confirmed by independent parties.
Victory ‘67, Entebe, gave Israel World admiration.  Resort style murderers keeping in Israeli jails and TLC of terrorists gained disrespect.
Did somebody mentioned Logic around here?

Comment by Arkady on 9/15/11 at 12:13 pm

So…Jeff you seem to believe the Israelis should continue to walk backwards until sea water gobbles them up???? Give the PLO/Hamasniks any thing they want??? Don’t say anything to upset Israel’s neighbors…be quiet…it will pass???
Didn’t Neville Chamberlain try that???
Where are you supposed draw the line & say enough is enough???
Have you ever been to Israel….were you to the borders????

Comment by Ari Ben on 9/15/11 at 1:16 pm

Logic in the middle-east is impossible it is an illogical place…if you want to try to get something done there…...one must master the art of the illogician.
One must think backwards….....what the hell the arabs have been doing that for years and look where that got them!!!

Comment by Goldstein on 9/15/11 at 2:10 pm

Arcady:  You are a cowboy, best men on earth.

Comment by Honey Bee on 9/15/11 at 3:39 pm

HollywoodDrek, don’t forget to flush after you. Thanks.

Comment by Mini on 9/15/11 at 10:20 pm

Whatdoyoumean Hollywood Dreck??? A good “western” hero can’t be beaten by a “MidEasterner”...it ain’t in the script!!!
It’s gonna take a lot more than John Wayne, Hoot Gibson, Tom Mix, Crash Corrigan and Broncho Billy Anderson to hop on a horse and put the Middle-East back together again!!!...it would be fun to try, though.
Maybe we need a Jewish Cowboy…Broncho Billy was one…perhaps with some help from the Frisco Kid…yuh think pardner???

Comment by NateDuhGrate!!! on 9/15/11 at 10:52 pm

To all of you—

I agree that Israel is very much threatened.  And that threat is as much from bigots and zealots like you as from Palestinian rockets.

Be smart, not just Jewish nationalists, and think long term.  If you were a Palestinian, would you negotiate with an Israeli with your attitude?

You don’t have to love them, but you do have to deal with them. 

Really, your emotions drive your lack of factual understanding or strategic planning.

You and Rick Perry will joyfully perish in Armageddon, and all your dreams of Israel as a free state with you.

Comment by The Logician on 9/15/11 at 11:02 pm

Logician ...you s asume that “All of Us”  are crazy conservatives following perry, palin & bachmann???  I doubt that, I think you would be surprised to find the majority of us (here) are Liberal Democrats as are most American Jews…I’m a “Clinton” Democrat…Being a liberal works for us here…however in the complicated “Illogical” middle-east I believe you have to talk softly and carry a “Big Stick”.  Israel just can’t take a chance on being wrong about their security…it would be fatal!!!

Were I living there I definitely would be a cowboy!!!
Sooo I’ll accept the zealot label but what’s this crap about being a bigot???

Comment by Stormin'Norman on 9/16/11 at 12:28 am

Do any of you know a real working cowboy or rancher, much dfferent then the movies.  And yes there are Jewish ranchers. They are more like Israli stockmen, then Israeli stockmen are LA Jews.

Comment by Honey Bee on 9/16/11 at 9:25 am

Honey, you sound like a cowgirl…No offense please, I love movie cowboys. In fact I collect movies and I have just about every great western ever made.
My use of the term “cowboy” is strictly positive….not as a reckless person, rather one who stands up, usually alone,  for his (her) rights!!! Useing that definition, you could almost say that Israel is a cowboy state…and you don’t screw with the Duke!!!

Comment by Stormin'Norman on 9/16/11 at 10:46 am

This is a JumpCut:
Broncho Billy Anderson, The First Movie Cowboy, was born Maxwell Henry Aronson in Little Rock, Arkansas.. His family was Jewish.
I guess “Broncho Maxie Aronson” didn’t work on the marquee as one of the stars of The Great Train Robbery (the first western movie milestone…. filmed in N.J.)
in 1903 America.

The Hollywood moguls of the time thought anything even sounding Jewish was bad for business!!! That thinking continued on into the 70’s or 80’s.

Comment by NateDuhGrate!!! on 9/16/11 at 11:37 am

Sorry to lump in with the others, but most of the people in this thread are decalred conservatives, supply-siders who claim Milton Friedman changed their lives, that Sarah Palin is good for Israel, and that taxes on the top 2% should be reduced for benefit of the working classes.

Sorry tio have lumped you with them, but the selfishness and lack of objectivity of the above stated attitudes often accompany their attitudes about Israel, Palestinians and Arabs. 

One even called Palestinians “vicious bugs,” so you should call her out for lumping rocket launching creeps with children and Palestinians who want a state that can co-exist with Israel.

Your in bad company buddy.

Comment by the logician on 9/16/11 at 11:50 am

Who but vicious

bugs would slit the throats of the Fogel family!

Comment by Honey Bee on 9/16/11 at 3:39 pm

LOGICIAN…Because of incidents like the massacre of the Fogel family and Danny Pearl, the lynching of the israeli soldiers who drove by accident into a palestinian town… and then the reaction of the “innocent” arab street people when such incidents occur such as dancing in the streets….burning flags, etc.
I find it very difficult to feel sorry for the so called Innocent palestinians. I know that a majority would probably prefer to just live a quiet life BUT by not reining in their leaders they are responsible for their actions!!! Therefore they must suffer the consequences. If that makes me a bigoted cowboy…so be it!!!

Comment by Stormin'Norman on 9/16/11 at 4:25 pm

Stormin’Norm: It makes you an angry cowman.

Comment by Honey Bee on 9/16/11 at 5:52 pm

Honey Bee and Norman—

This is what you don’t understand about your generalizations, that you must appeal to the reasonable people while still being vigilant for your own self-defense.

I blame middle class American Muslims for not speaking up, but I do not blame poor Palestinians who do not rise up against their leaders.  If the leaders are as bad as you say, then the innocent have every right to fear them.

So you are an angry cowman and may run off with Honey Bee, although you will find the ghost of Milton Friedman in the middle of your bed.

Comment by The Logician on 9/16/11 at 6:01 pm

Logician ...we agree ...hard as that is to admit…!!!

Most of the time I’m in very good humor…however I do have an angry streak particularly on the subject of Jews & Israel!!!  Actually I think that’s good.. if you can’t get pissed off over some issues you’re just a piece of “fleisch”!!!!

Forget Uncle Miltie…YOU can run off with Honey Bee & Me & my Wife…OK with you Honey Bee???

PS: the wife has always said that if I ever had an affair, She wanted to cater it!!!

Comment by Stormin'Norm on 9/16/11 at 7:11 pm

Norman—

I agree there too.  Life with out passion is…marriage?
My wife is lucky I like her so much.

I too am very pissed of about the Israeli situation.  I understand why someone with limited powers of expression might call them “vicious bugs.”  But the Israeli’s do so much to shoot themselves in the foot that too is maddening.

Comment by The Logician on 9/16/11 at 8:49 pm

I don’t know if this makes sense…but I think the Israeli’s are just too smart for their own good… they’re so cock sure of themselves being much smarter than their enemies (which they certainly are) that sometimes they don’t properly prepare before they commit to a situation…they’re over confident,  too sure of themselves.
That’s how they screwed up the with the “flotilla” incident…they didn’t expect armed opposition.

...Also PR… which Hollywood Jews have perfected to a high art form..seems to be missing from the Israeli’s playbook…would it be tooo hard for Bibi to contact the best Hollywood PR Firm and put them on a retainer???...They would eat the arabs alive!!!

Comment by Stormin'Norm on 9/16/11 at 10:37 pm

Stormin’norman:  Tell your wife to begin cooking, she can start by sending Logician and his Palistinian pals some Colorado cantaloupe!

Comment by Honey Bee on 9/17/11 at 9:19 am

HoneyBee…
the lovely Rachel Rebecca says it’s not nice to serve listeria laden cantaloupes to your palestinian neighbors unless they’re trying to kill you…hmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

Comment by Stormin'Norm on 9/17/11 at 10:21 am

Storm’norm;  Your meed a new wife.  My cowboy hangs his spurs on the bed-post at night. U of T is beatiing UCLA must o watch the slaughter.

Comment by Honey Bee on 9/17/11 at 4:21 pm

U see..U…Who????

Sorry Bee…We’er Baseball Fans!!!

Comment by Stormin'Norm on 9/18/11 at 1:01 am

Sorry about the baseball,but it takes all kinds to make a world.  University of TEXAS football the salvation of the universe.

Comment by Honey Bee on 9/18/11 at 4:09 pm

The “big tent” position Mr. Pearl suggests is J Street’s: urgently supporting negotiations for a two-state solution but opposing symbolic unilateral measures that could make the situation worse.

Israel would never be in the position it’s in today if Netanyahu had taken Obama’s lead and engaged in serious negotiations for a two-state solution based on the 1967 borders with agreed land swaps. As Livni put it on the floor of the Knesset last week: “The Palestinians could have turned to the UN for years, but they didn’t because they understood that we wanted to reach an agreement. Due to the lack of a dialogue, they are turning to the UN.”

Comment by Joel Silberman on 9/23/11 at 6:16 pm

J Street stands with Livni, the Kadima Party, the majority of American and Israeli Jews and 15 of the 18 living retired heads of Israeli security organizations (including the Shin Bet and IDF) in recognizing that the greatest threat to Israel’s Jewish, democratic future is diplomatic stagnation. If that’s not a big tent, what is?

Comment by Joel Silberman on 9/23/11 at 6:16 pm

Joel…it’s easy to say sit & negotiate…however you have to have a willing partner…the facts show that every time the Israelis make an offer the arabs refuse…that’s because for the last 62 years or so they are all on the record stating that they want the Jews gone…one way or another…that’s the fly in the honey pot…the damn Jews refuse to leave!!!

Comment by goldstein on 9/23/11 at 8:28 pm

There is no tent that is large enough when you are sharing the tent with a grizzly bear

Comment by Honey Bee on 9/24/11 at 9:20 am

Honey Bee—

That is why you give them their own tent next door, make sure they have enough to eat on their own, and give them their dignity.

They will ignore you and fight it out among themselves, as bears will do.

Enough of your absolutist generalizations. Youtr unrealistic and generalized attitudes are naive and as dangerous to Jews and Israelis as the Arabs.

Try taking your atitudes and applying it to the unfair power and position of the Ultra-Orthodox in Israel, who have been used as pawns in the West Bank by the Right.

Israel is laboring under those blunders and enfoces them with bad social policy favoring those neanderthals.

Comment by The Logician on 9/24/11 at 9:35 am

Loician darlin, you know what YOU are Bear Bait.

Comment by Honey Bee on 9/24/11 at 9:42 am

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