Beyond protest: War and the Israeli Left

[Israeli]

This article first appeared in Dissent Magazine.

Many Israelis who define themselves as “on the left” (about 20 percent of the population on a good day) support Operation Protective Edge. It’s a small and lonely subset that is both left wing and opposes the war. Over the last month, this little constituency has faithfully staged demonstrations of a few hundred—with last Saturday’s rally reaching somewhere between 3,000 and 5,000, by organizers’ estimates—and has written articles of protest. But the demonstrators tend to use such general slogans as “Jews and Arabs refuse to be enemies” or “No, no, we won’t let fascism come to pass” (the latter chanted at right-wing counter-demonstrators). The anti-war left in Israel is clearly upset, but it has neither generated a coherent line of critique about the war nor formulated demands or proposals for alternate approaches other than calling for a ceasefire. Its influence, as a result, is severely limited.

There are three main reasons why it is so hard to create an effective opposition line, let alone gather supporters and momentum: the circumstances of this particular war (and the two previous rounds); the general climate of opinion in Israel; and the left’s own weaknesses, including baggage of the distant past.

First, the current circumstances make opposition very difficult, on the surface. Hamas is a miserable political regime that imposes religious fundamentalism on Gazans, stifles women, and kills collaborators. It has fired rockets at Israeli towns for over a decade and dragged Gaza into wars that were bound to kill its civilians. Not content with rockets, it has dug tunnels for terrorists targeting Israeli civilians. It is not hard to understand, in these conditions, the case for a forceful response on Israel’s part.

Unless, that is, one considers history before June 30, when the bodies of the three kidnapped Israeli teens were found. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was already outraged by a Hamas-Fatah reconciliation deal made in late April that created an interim technocratic government without Hamas and called for Palestinian elections. That would have meant a more unified Palestine, something Netanyahu has worked hard to destroy. Using the abducted teens as a pretext, without providing evidence of Hamas’ involvement—an Israeli police spokesperson allegedly admitted this weekend that it wasn’t directly responsible—the prime minister ordered a sweeping West Bank operation against the organization, just as much a provocation as Hamas’s later actions. Rockets fell on southern Israel like clockwork. Before that, Gaza was under various forms of blockade for seven years. Even moderate Palestinians in Gaza would rather die now, I have had some tell me, than suffer slow suffocation. This alternate reality is rarely discussed.

http://972mag.com/beyond-protest-war-and-the-israeli-left/94656/

[Israeli]

1. more.....

Second, the Israeli climate of opinion is hostile. There has been right-wing rage and violence before: in 1983, a Peace Now demonstrator was killed; in 1995, a prime minister was assassinated. For now, extremists on the right are content to express hatred of the left, call them traitors, and call for their death, along with Arabs. There have been violent scuffles. As unpleasant as this environment is, though, the recent larger demonstration shows that it probably don’t intimidate anyone still committed enough to oppose the war.

The deeper scourge is apathy; Israelis on the whole show little interest in either peace or Palestinians. They didn’t pay attention to the peace negotiations and they aren’t paying attention to a few thousand demonstrators against a war they believe was forced upon them. “What is, is what will be,” goes a Hebrew saying. The counter-demonstrators may even be doing the antiwar camp a favor by getting them into the paper. Meanwhile, a Channel 10 poll shows that 87 percent of Israelis prefer to continue fighting rather than accept a ceasefire—a 14-point rise from a survey conducted before the ground operation began.

But the left itself also bears some responsibility for its weak impact. First, opposition to the war can easily appear as a knee-jerk reaction rooted in habit rather than reality. The lack of a coherent critical message feeds that image.

There are deeper problems, too. For most of its history, the left has argued that peace would bring security. In practice, that didn’t work. Israelis largely believe this conflict is symmetrical, but they reject equal Israeli and Palestinian responsibility for the failures of peace efforts. They instead blamed the aborted peace processes – Oslo and the Camp David negotiations of 2000 – for the security they never received. In recent years, they’ve ignored Palestinian Authority security cooperation and nonviolent Palestinian political tactics, and credit only the separation barrier for (relative) calm inside Israel.

The left needs to update its arguments. “Peace brings security” is inaccurate and unrealistic. Instead, the case needs to be made that a diplomatic solution is the only way to stop inevitable escalation by extremists and full-blown wars every few years. No country has eradicated violence. The question is how to contain it.

Justifiably losing patience, the left has searched for sticks, toying with boycott and international pressure—but those just reinforce the bitter accusation of betrayal among Israelis. Carrots—incentives—are a necessary alternative, but they are hard to find, since Israel has all the allies, alliances, and trade relations it wants.

Still, there are tactics that haven’t been tested: pressure from within—for example, in the form of civil disobedience—has not been widespread beyond a handful of draft refusers. Outside pressure from “our own”—imagine liberal American Jews appealing directly to their Israeli kin—is more likely to resonate with most Israelis than UN condemnations that make Israelis dig in and change nothing on the ground.

Different approaches must be found. Israel needs them—and Palestine, too.

Source:
http://972mag.com/beyond-protest-war-and-the-israeli-left/94656/

[Israeli]

2. " Different approaches must be found. Israel needs them—and Palestine, too. "

So lets hear them .....

R. Daneel Olivaw .....your for BDS ..so go here :
https://secure.avaaz.org/en/gaza_this_is_how_it_ends_loc/?boScdab&v=42589

Obama is not going to withdraw aid .....dream on .

I think Europe might ...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/113473310

[bemildred]

3. Europe might.

Here you could get some local action, but the Congress is too cowardly and "indebted".

But if Bibi continues like this, that could change.

[Israeli]

5. thanks for your responce bemildred....

...but honestly I dont see a different approach coming from America ....I dont agree with Dahlia Scheindlin on this ...

" Outside pressure from “our own”—imagine liberal American Jews appealing directly to their Israeli kin—is more likely to resonate with most Israelis "....

I'm with Nurit Peled-Elhanan .

[bemildred]

8. Well, I like what she has to say.

And it would have to be some future Congress, not this one. While they continue to be re-elected, most of them will continue to conform. They are timid souls, and fear to step outside the Washington consensus, fear to make waves, unless their jobs are threatened.

But since any hope of reversing the social decline in this country hinges on just such a change, an uncorrupted Congress, I continue to hope for it. For my kids sake if not my own.

[azurnoir]

15. True they are timid souls but an example of what happens when one steps out of line

it's from 2006 but

Now The Forward provides us with a perfect example of Aipac’s worst ‘take no prisoners’ style. Many of you know that the House recently passed the Palestinian Anti-Terrorism Act (HR 4681), a horrible wrap on the knuckles to both the Bush Administration and Hamas to guarantee that the former never backslides on its opposition to negotiating with the latter. The measure finally passed overwhelmingly. But I’m pleased to say that 37 members (mostly Democrats) voted “No.”

The fact that it wasn’t a unanimous vote didn’t sit well with the bullies at Aipac. So they decided to make an example of Rep. Betty McCollum (D, MN):

McCollum says that, in a recent phone conversation with her chief of staff, an Aipac representative accused the congresswoman of supporting terrorists because she voted against the Palestinian Anti-Terrorism Act of 2006 in committee…

As part of Aipac’s lobbying blitz, right after the International Relations Committee passed the measure in a 36-2 vote, Amy Rotenberg, an active member of the organization from Minneapolis, called McCollum’s chief of staff, Bill Harper. Aipac sources said that the purpose of the April 7 call was to express disappointment over the congresswoman’s vote against the bill. According to Harper, Rotenberg said that “on behalf of herself, the Jewish community, Aipac, and the voters of the Fourth District, Congresswoman McCollum’s support for terrorists will not be tolerated.”

McCollum immediately wrote the following letter to Howard Kohr, Aipac’s executive director:

“Until I receive a formal, written apology from your organization, I must inform you that Aipac representatives are not welcome in my offices for meetings with my staff.”

Rep. Betty McCollumRep. Betty McCollum demands Aipac apology

Apparently, Kohr somehow mollified her enough that she agreed to meet with him before receiving the apology. Even after meeting him, she still hadn’t received one

http://www.richardsilverstein.com/2006/05/26/aipac-calls-congressional-opponent-supporter-of-terrorism/

[Jefferson23]

4. Very difficult, there has been for a long time an almost perfect storm comprised of losers/

scoundrels as the players in this conflict, moving beyond Hamas, to include Abbas, the Arab League and US complicity
is a major factor. But what is striking is how rogue Israel became at the announcement of the unity agreement.
I give credit to the US/EU for being in support for that, realizing it was a necessary step...then of course we
know what occurred after that and where we are today.

[Israeli]

6. Yup ...

ref: " But what is striking is how rogue Israel became at the announcement of the unity agreement.
I give credit to the US/EU for being in support for that, realizing it was a necessary step...then of course we
know what occurred after that and where we are today.

We know Jefferson23 ..... but just look at some of the posts on here since it all blew up ...the ignorance is outstanding .

[Jefferson23]

7. It is troubling, very much so.

Hope all is well for you and yours, Israeli.

[Israeli]

10. I know you do Jefferson23...

ref: Hope all is well for you and yours, Israeli.

.....but its not .

every dead soldier pains me as much as every dead Palestinian/ child .

This is not about me and how I feel ....its about a solution .

" Different approaches must be found. Israel needs them—and Palestine, too. "

I want to hear from the regulars here .

Nu Scoot ....????

[Jefferson23]

11. I don't have that to give, or I would...I am sorry. My representatives know

the position I want them to express to help end this..they won't change.

I have not seen Scoot post today.

[azurnoir]

9. FWiW there is a post up front that IMO sort of

exemplifies the problem with Israel and the general American public what is says paraphrased is-those folks over there have been fighting each other since the bible they always have always will nothing we can do about it so why bother

this is a good deal of the problem with regard to how America deals with the mE and Israel in particular-most average folks do not give a sh^t don't know don't care and when it comes to support of Israel-well them other folks is terrorists

[Israeli]

13. I saw it and others like it azurnoir....

' sigh ' .

[azurnoir]

14. well speaking for myself I have a question

not specifically for you but for everyone and that's What does support of Israel even mean any more? What exactly is being supported here, the country, its people, the government. its policies all of the above? what?

[bemildred]

12. Israel-Gaza conflict: Shimon Peres criticised for calling time on 22-day war

Shimon Peres has broken ranks with the prevalent mood in Israel, saying it is time to "find a way to stop" the 22-day war in Gaza.

Mr Peres’s comments, made hours before the security cabinet convened to decide whether to further escalate the war or try to move towards a diplomatic exit, were immediately denounced as defeatist by legislators in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party.

Speaking to reporters while visiting wounded soldiers at Ichilov Hospital in Tel Aviv, the 91-year-old Mr Peres, who ended his term as President last week, told the soldiers: “You fought amazingly. Each one of you is allowed to and must feel that he is a real hero.”

The Nobel laureate later went out on a limb by saying that the military campaign, launched with the stated objective of halting rocket fire from Gaza, had “fulfilled itself... Now what is needed is to find a way to stop it. It will take more time, I don’t know exactly how much, maybe days or a little more, but it will end”.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/israelgaza-conflict-shimon-peres-criticised-for-calling-time-on-22day-war-9638780.html