Moral clarity?
Evelyn Gordon credits Tony Blair with 'moral clarity' for these comments he made in a weekend interview in Haaretz. Blair was asked why British public opinion is so anti-Israel. “Look, there’s criticism everywhere,” Blair responded. “But that’s partly because people don’t understand how difficult this situation is when you come under attack, your civilians come under attack, and you’re a democratic government and you’re expected to respond.”Evelyn calls this statement 'remarkable' (it is), because it seemingly equates Israel's situation with the situation of British troops in Afghanistan (for example).
Even by itself, that’s a remarkable statement: the problem, according to Blair, is not Israel’s actions; it’s that other Western countries, not facing the same daily assaults, refuse to recognize that if they did, they might respond similarly.As a result, Evelyn credits Tony Blair with 'moral clarity.'
Even more remarkable, however, is the next sentence: “I mean, we face this [situation] continually. We face it now, actually, in places like Afghanistan.”
In short, Westerners should understand Israel because they’re in the same boat: their own armies are causing civilian casualties “in places like Afghanistan” for the exact same reasons.
Blair never explicitly mentions Israel as a front in this global battle, but his linkage of Israel’s situation with the one “we face … in places like Afghanistan” makes the implication clear. And the conclusion, while similarly inexplicit, is equally clear: were the West to acknowledge its enemy’s true nature, its view of Israel might change.I wish I could share Evelyn's optimism and her view of Blair as having moral clarity. But the truth be told, with George Bush circa 2002-2004 gone, Blair doesn't have a lot of competition right now on the 'moral clarity' front, and in fact his statement is nowhere near as morally clear as it could have been.
Since no current Western leader exhibits anything like Blair’s moral clarity, that’s unlikely to happen soon. But given the nature of the enemy, it almost certainly will happen someday. Hence, rather than capitulating to its enemies, Israel’s goal, like Britain’s in World War II, must be to hold fast until then.
Had Blair really wanted to be fair, he could have noted the difference between British troops facing Taliban jihadis hundreds of miles from home, and Israeli civilians facing 'Palestinian' jihadis in our backyards every day.
Until Blair is clear enough to recognize that difference - which makes the lack of support Israel receives from Britain and other Western countries all the more remarkable - there is little hope that 'someday' World leaders will exhibit even the modicum of moral clarity exhibited by Tony Blair.
posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 2:04 PM
3 Comments:
Surely, this report will cover the prelude to and context of Cast Lead, like Israel's complete withdrawal from Gaza, the former residences and synagogues used a rocket launching sites by the Gazans, the effects of the rockets landing in civilian areas, the costs for planning, constructing, practicing for civilian response to incoming rockets...
IDF nearly done with Goldstone counter-report
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1263147861491&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
"
Until Blair is clear enough to recognize that difference - which makes the lack of support Israel receives from Britain and other Western countries all the more remarkable - there is little hope that 'someday' World leaders will exhibit even the modicum of moral clarity exhibited by Tony Blair.
Exactly. Blair is a liar and an Antisemite. Why we trust people like Blair just because he throws a tad bit of (convoluted) honesty is dangerous.
Criticism is one thing but abject bias in the form of innate Antisemitism is quite another. The way the brits treat Israel is not only sickening but shows how they truly feel about Jews. Even Dershowitz to whom we often criticize for his leftist views has the stomach and integrity to say, "Criticize Israel, fine but why the OBSESSION??" Futhermore, he is honest and afraid enough to call what that that obsession is.
I think he's about as honest a Western leader as Jews can expect. His successors are far worse and don't recognize Israel's situation in living in a dangerous neighborhood. That lack of Western empathy and support for Israel is one of the many reasons the peace process is now dead. And until Western chancelleries acknowledge it, they can't expect Israel to take any more risks for peace.
Post a Comment
<< Home