Comments on: Progressive Israel-Palestine Congressional Tour

By: Richard Silverstein

Richard Silverstein — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 07:06:35 +0000

Bar Kochba: If J Street calls itself “pro-Israel” why wouldn’t it meet with settlers, Likud leaders, and Haredi Jews? They’re part of the mix of Israeli society & a balanced tour would meet with them all. But as I wrote, a balanced tour would also meet with the Israeli left, Israeli Arabs and Palestinians. that’s something that Aipac tours do NOT do.

I don’t agree w. Daga that a Zionist can’t or won’t root for an Israeli Arab team. Some Israeli Jews certainly would despise such a team. Racism is deeply ingrained in Israeli society alas. But many would davke root for such a team as an expression of true Israeliness. You can’t make such blanket generalizations w/o doing an injustice to the complexity of Israel.

By: mia

mia — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 01:18:45 +0000

Interesting perspective Daga. I’m a Zionist and yet, I cheer “when an Israeli-arab scores a goal for the national soccer team,” as I cheer for the plucky Sachnin team. I take umbrage with your characterization of Zionism as being racist and similar in any way to Nazism. I supported the withdrawal from the Sinai and I supported the withdrawal from Gaza. You are free to run in any election you like in the US or anywhere else for that matter. Don’t expect my vote though.

As for the proposed JStreet trip – how would that be any less partisan than what already goes on?

By: bar_kochba132

bar_kochba132 — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 09:57:36 +0000

I presume these open-minded J-Street people would meet with “Zionists” and what Richard calls “pro-Israel” people and will also meet with Haredi/Ultra-Orthdox people and most of all, will visit Judea/Samaria settlements and talk to the Jews who live there. After all, they are ‘progressives’ and ‘progressives’ are multi-cultural, pluralistic, tolerant of other opinions, etc, etc.

By: Daga

Daga — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 03:44:34 +0000

@Acai Berri

what is a pro-Israel antizionist?

A pro-Israel will cheer when an Israeli-arab scores a goal for the national soccer team, a Zionist will not
:-))
Most important is that I believe assimilation and secularization is our best hope for peace. Zionists oppose this.
In other words,Zionism is racist. Like nazism’ “Blut und Boden”is their aim to have as much land as possible,with as few non-Jewish people as possible.

By: Acai Berri

Acai Berri — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 19:22:57 +0000

pro-Israel antizionists like me… what is a pro-Israel antizionist?

By: Alex Stein

Alex Stein — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 15:53:16 +0000

Amen to that. While doing my masters, I organised an Israel/Palestine study-trip with an Arab-American student, and it was extremely successful – I’d be happy to share my experiences and contacts with anyone interested.

By: Daga

Daga — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 13:54:13 +0000

An excellent Idea.

It should be feasible,if not very wise. Not yet anyways.
Who will take over the democrats strongbox in Rahm Emanuels absence ? His punishment for apostasy is well known.
Maybe one day pro-Israel antizionists like me, or antilikiud zionists like you will be able to run for election in US, but we are not there…yet.