Liberal Zionism in the Era of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions Movement

[Jefferson23]

Three comments on the recent landmark decision by the American Studies Association to boycott Israeli academic institutions, and to express solidarity with the global BDS movement:

First, most readers, even sophisticated readers, have never heard of the global BDS movement. But this will no doubt change if there are more New York Times front-page articles about the movement’s successes.

Second, even fewer readers have read the anti-boycott reactions appearing in the media in the last few days, written by the usual suspects, i.e., the Zionist baby-boomers whose views of Israel crystallized in the late ‘60s, and who have been repeating their “I-am-against-the-occupation-but-we-cannot-delegitimize-Israel” mantra ever since. Perhaps we should now call them the Ari Shavit generation (for an excellent review of Shavit’s book by a member of a younger Israeli generation, see here).

Third, the almost total silence in academic circles about the ASA decision outside the pro-Israel chorus is deafening. Only the anti-academic boycott absolutists, like the American Association of University Professors, have criticized the decision. But that organization criticized the boycott of South African universities during the apartheid era.

in full: http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/12/20/liberal-zionism-in-the-era-of-the-boycott-divestment-and-sanctions-movement.html

[shira]

1. Response to Haber from comments section

Jerry Haber writes:

"Since liberal Zionists have failed to end the moral scandal of the occupation"

Actually, liberal Zionists have nothing to do with the continuation of the perfectly moral occupation, to which the Palestinians are signatory.

It is Palestinian society that has failed to come to terms with Israel, just as it failed in pre-state days.

You have two ways of looking at this. The first is to persist with the lie that there is such a thing as "Palestinian civil society" that is able to come to decisions and mobilize forces. If this is so, then this society has persisted in rejecting all peace deals with Israel that would enable it to form its own state, with Jerusalem as its capital, tens of billions of dollars in reparations and positive relations with its closest neighbor and biggest trading partner...Israel.

The second is to admit the truth that Palestinian society is a top-down affair led by Fatah and Hamas and bullied into submission (when not being brainwashed with these groups' overwhelming control of media and education in Palestinian society) and that this ruling class persists in evading signing a peace deal for a state.

In either case, the failure of peace has nothing to do with Israel which has made 3 offers in the past 13 years and everything to do with Palestinians which has refused all offers. However, the important thing to note is that whichever of these two views is the correct one, both indicate the false premises underlying the entire BDS movement. If it's Palestinian Civil Society that drives this movement, then a people who have rejected peace and compromise are seeking to leverage foreign influence to achieve their goal of destroying Israel and evading peaceful resolution. If it's Palestinian leadership that drives this movement, then a people who have rejected peace and compromise are seeking to leverage foreign influence to achieve their goal of destroying Israel and evading peaceful resolution.

The most important thing to note, however, is that BDS successes truly highlight the hypocrisy and moral turpitude of this movement which ignores far, far worse actions all over the world while focusing on a country where Arabs have more rights than in all Arab countries. In fact, even the Palestinians under Israel's jurisdiction in Judea and Samaria (the Gazans are no longer under Israel's jurisdiction) are predominantly restricted in their freedoms not by Israel but by their own leaders.

Manipulative articles don't change the fact that your views are not only wrong, Haber, but morally repugnant as well.

[Jefferson23]

3. the continuation of the perfectly moral occupation...

Did you write that comment?

[shira]

4. You really think I wrote that comment? Seriously?

I don't think it's perfectly moral, but it's more moral than the alternative (another Gaza style pullout, allowing Hamas/PLO terror on Israel's coastal plain, more war with 10's of thousands dead, Israel having to re-occupy as a result).

[Jefferson23]

5. More moral..thanks for the clarification. n/t

[shira]

6. I realize you cannot counter that one rationally. Thanks right back at'cha. n/t

[Jefferson23]

7. No, I can't..I am incapable of rationalizing your opinions. n/t

[shira]

9. It's called reality. I know u guys don't like going there...

You have your opinions and ideology, and by golly you're never gonna budge!

It's like debating religious fundies. No difference...

[Jefferson23]

10. Her posts are a revelation..of sorts. n/t

[Jefferson23]

12. Sounds like a solid plan, and I agree with you on the description. n/t

[oberliner]

14. What happens on Jan.6/14?

Just curious.

[oberliner]

16. Huh?

Can you explain what you mean?

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

18. Actually it's 6/6 I believe.

[Violet_Crumble]

19. What happens is the new rules come into effect on Jan 6th...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10133332

Shira's one of the 7 DUers (as at the date Skinner posted this) who'll be affected and won't be able to post at DU until their transparency page is no longer visible. A rough guess without looking at her profile is it'll take around a month...

Hope that helps

[azurnoir]

13. fascinating -once again you accuse our POTUS and SoS of aiding terrorism/terrorists

shira (20,177 posts)
4. You really think I wrote that comment? Seriously?

I don't think it's perfectly moral, but it's more moral than the alternative (another Gaza style pullout, allowing Hamas/PLO terror on Israel's coastal plain, more war with 10's of thousands dead, Israel having to re-occupy as a result).

http://www.democraticunderground.com/113454597#post4

the PLO is one of our Democratic administrations negotiating partners so going by your standards of guilt by association then you must also feel our government is aiding those who would destroy Israel, right?

[shira]

17. No more than Bush 2 or the EU supports the PA. Israel supports the PA too.

Nice try, though...

[shira]

2. Another response to article, from comments

Hey Jerry, this is today's story: http://www.timesofisrael.com/i-injured-in-explosion-on-bat-yam-bus/

You know what's interesting in that story? Those of us who know Israel well have all been trained to spot the "suspicious" bag because of the history of Palestinian Arab violence targeting civilians.

You can play all the intellectual games you want, but at the end of the day your vision ends up with the type of civil war that this type of attack exemplifies. If you look at Syria, Egypt and Lebanon, you can see what will happen if you and your partners ever succeed in destroying Israel. Go ahead, be honest with yourself and your readers. Take a look at the region, see how these societies are constantly embroiled in INTERNAL conflicts except when there's a strongman at the top, consider the real history of Jews in Arab and Muslim lands (not the BS, everything was wonderful before Zionism that the anti-Israel crowd likes to spout), take a look at how the minority Christian groups and sects in the Middle East are being destroyed and attacked and tell us how your vision ends differently.

You can't, because the conclusion is so obvious.

And so, in your little mythical world, where you actually think that advancing the argument that the age of Israel supporters is a legitimate approach to criticism, the only thing you're really touting - and I say this on the basis of irrefutable historical evidence - is a society that will be driven by sectarian violence.

Now you may return to your supercilious pontificating.