Clear as a bell. Israelis like myself need both kinds of support from American Jews. We like to think that it is we tat are a majority - in every poll 2/3 of Israelis favor a two-state political accomodation with Palestinians. I doubt even the 25% hard-line Bibi supporters really agree with all of these shananigans that Bibi has acquiesced to. SO, let's say 75% of Israelis are having the flawed by functioning democracy smashed by a manipulation between extreme factions. The Greeks knew that this could never be called democracy and reserved for it a speacial name as the single worst form of goverment - ochlocracy (ochlos is a mob). Israel needs a strong voice that supports -and wants to defend - and of course improve - the State of Israel. Bibi and his crowd would like nothing batter than to alienate Jews of America and then discredit their voice as "enemies." In short, what Gary has written is that if you want to have a voice in Israel and for Israel, speak against Bibi, speak for democracy, don't scream against Israel.
Agreed. And in all public forums in the Diaspora we should let Israeli government officials know that we do not support "the tyranny of the majority." Some defenders of the Israeli government's desired actions -- particularly having the Knesset alone vote on Supreme Court justices -- not that this is how it's done in the United States. However, that's assuming the United States has a better system than Israel, which is not the case. In Israel, Knesset members, judges, lawyers and citizens groups help pick justices. I have always bragged that this -- as well as a mandatory retirement age of 70 for Israeli Supreme Court justices -- is what the U.S. should do.
Likewise, diluting army command on the West Bank (Judea & Samaria or whatever you want) can only bring an element of chaos to the command structure so necessary in military matters.
One of the most effective things liberal minded Jews can do is to make aliyah and change the demographic makeup of the country. But how many of us are prepared to do that? I'm not. I might have once, but I didn't and I won't now. The gap is already too wide.
Agreed. This is a now-or-never moment for Israeli democracy, and the American Jewish community needs to make it clear to the Israeli government that all mainstream support will end if they take these steps. I say this is an Israeli: your voices are truly needed now.
Clear as a bell. Israelis like myself need both kinds of support from American Jews. We like to think that it is we tat are a majority - in every poll 2/3 of Israelis favor a two-state political accomodation with Palestinians. I doubt even the 25% hard-line Bibi supporters really agree with all of these shananigans that Bibi has acquiesced to. SO, let's say 75% of Israelis are having the flawed by functioning democracy smashed by a manipulation between extreme factions. The Greeks knew that this could never be called democracy and reserved for it a speacial name as the single worst form of goverment - ochlocracy (ochlos is a mob). Israel needs a strong voice that supports -and wants to defend - and of course improve - the State of Israel. Bibi and his crowd would like nothing batter than to alienate Jews of America and then discredit their voice as "enemies." In short, what Gary has written is that if you want to have a voice in Israel and for Israel, speak against Bibi, speak for democracy, don't scream against Israel.
Agreed. And in all public forums in the Diaspora we should let Israeli government officials know that we do not support "the tyranny of the majority." Some defenders of the Israeli government's desired actions -- particularly having the Knesset alone vote on Supreme Court justices -- not that this is how it's done in the United States. However, that's assuming the United States has a better system than Israel, which is not the case. In Israel, Knesset members, judges, lawyers and citizens groups help pick justices. I have always bragged that this -- as well as a mandatory retirement age of 70 for Israeli Supreme Court justices -- is what the U.S. should do.
Likewise, diluting army command on the West Bank (Judea & Samaria or whatever you want) can only bring an element of chaos to the command structure so necessary in military matters.
One of the most effective things liberal minded Jews can do is to make aliyah and change the demographic makeup of the country. But how many of us are prepared to do that? I'm not. I might have once, but I didn't and I won't now. The gap is already too wide.
Agreed. This is a now-or-never moment for Israeli democracy, and the American Jewish community needs to make it clear to the Israeli government that all mainstream support will end if they take these steps. I say this is an Israeli: your voices are truly needed now.