Wakeup call to US Jewry

The AIPAC conference opened few days ego is one of the most important conventions of the Jewish communities in the US. It has always been regarded as one of most focal events that Israeli leaders – especially the prime minister – regularly attended. There they would present Israel’s case and their views while expounding what has to be done in order to make sure that Israel continues to prosper. They would ask for the continued approval, support and cooperation of American Jewry.

But this year, for reasons unknown, Bibi Netanyahu did not bother to take part in the convention: he did not go to the US, he even cancelled (at the last moment) a pre-arranged meeting with President Obama.

It seems that Bibi is absolutely certain that no matter what he does, he has the support of American Jews; he takes it for granted because he is the Jewish state Prime Minister. He even completely ignores the effect of his behavior on the Jewish American community.

So I’d like to put a few questions to AIPAC leaders:

How did it come about that universities with a very large number of Jewish students became out-of-bounds for the representatives of the state of Israel?

How did it become easier to wave an ISIS flag in Berkeley than an Israeli flag?

Can it all be explained by antisemitism, which has always been around? Or could it be that the conduct of the Israeli government and its action are not in keeping with the Jewish values on which you brought up your children?

How could you let a prime minister offend your president? It was so clear that such move not only would not be useful – it would be downright detrimental.

Can you imagine that all members of the Israeli Knesset will be present when the prime minister of a foreign country comes to make a speech against our PM’s policies? Did you not see the insult of the symbol of your country which has always supported Israel and still supports it as a proper action which promotes Israel?

Why did you not stand up and say ‘No more’? What did AIPAC gain from this maneuver? What did Israel gain? We all lost, big-time.

How can you support a government which is disdainful of the way you chose, most of you, to practice your Jewish faith?

The danger now does not center on the decrease in public support for Israel in the US and the Jewish community. The danger is that your sons’ generation will cut themselves off not just from the state of Israel but from the Jewish values they grew on; because when you blindly support a policy which is the opposite of Jewish values, this is the inevitable result.

Whenever I talk to Jewish audiences around the world I notice their reluctance to ask difficult questions or voice doubts; when I encourage them to speak up they tell me that when they do so they are usually told by Israelis that they have no right to criticize, since “neither you nor your children have served in the IDF or lived on the border so don’t tell us what to do”.

It is then that I go back to the Declaration of Independence and say that the state of Israel’s right to exist stems only from that dream-come-true to realize the Jewish people historical right to live in a state of their own and stress that they have the duty to fight for the character of that Jewish home so that it is suits all the Jews who believe in Jewish values.

Now is the time for you to express your opinion because it is important and it counts no less than mine or that of other Jewish inhabitants of the state of Israel.

The danger looms over all of us. Without strong support of Jewish congregations around the world but especially in the United States, Israel is a state whose national security is deficient, while in any place in the world a Jewish congregation without a principled, strong Jewish state, will go back to be a persecuted congregation whose continued existence is uncertain.

Brig. Gen (Res) Asaf Agmon initiated and planned the rescue operations of Ethiopian Jews with the IAF Hercules planes during Operation Solomon. He has also been awarded the highest decoration of the IAF commander for extraordinary professionalism over enemy territoryn. Currently Agmon is leading the Nature Defense Force project, aiming to create a cultural revolution in the IDF  to safeguard the unique environment and nature of Israel. Agmon is also the founder of several hi-tech and technology companies and sits on the board of directors of the Ramat Gan College for Law and Business.