Israel Matzav

J Call: Baseless 'morality'

While this article was not written by J Call - in fact it seems to have been written by an Arab - if it is correct regarding the basis for J Call's petition and organization, it's even more misguided than I first thought. Please note my comments within the text:

While it is too early to predict how it will evolve, its importance for now lies in the fact that it includes members from conservative Jewish organizations [Is this factually correct? Is anyone familiar enough with Jewish organizations in Europe to comment? CiJ] and that it was initiated in France, where public opinion is no less reluctant to criticize Israel than in Germany, where similar feelings of World War II-era guilt continue to run high [Somehow I doubt that Jews - which is what J Call is supposed to be - feel World War II-era guilt in France or Germany or anyplace else. In fact, I doubt the non-Jews feel much of that guilt either. The French - like the Austrians - mostly regard themselves as victims. CiJ]. Though it is seen as insufficient at best by some--and certainly from an Arab perspective--and might well sound timid from an American perspective, JCall nonetheless restores the prospect of reconcilable visions between Jewish and Arab communities originating from abroad, at a time when this is proving impossible on the ground. It is thus indicative that Palestinian diplomats in Europe have in effect welcomed it as an encouraging step. [If you're a Jew and you signed this thing, why doesn't the fact that 'Palestinian diplomats' have welcomed it but Israeli diplomats have not make you think twice? CiJ].

In response to attacks for breaking the rule of solidarity with Israel and for seeking to put pressure on Israel, the signatories say they are concerned by the damage caused by the policies of the Netanyahu government to the Jewish communities of Europe. [What damage? That's the most ridiculous notion I have heard yet. It's a justification for anti-Semitism under the guise of 'anti-Zionism.' CiJ] The initiative also raised suspicions among Arabs who see an attempt to diffuse the growing irritation with the Netanyahu government's policies within European official circles and pre-empt possible punitive measures against it. [Possible punitive measures against whom? The Netanyahu government? Why would they care? CiJ]

The language of the call clearly seeks to re-situate the debate on moral rather than legal grounds. It presents the initiative as a voice of wisdom and ethics; it opposes occupation as a moral fault in addition to being a political error. Occupation and settlements in the West Bank and in the Arab neighborhoods of East-Jerusalem are described as dangerous for Israel because the alternative to ending occupation is a regime that would dishonor the Jewish state. There is no word about the illegal occupation of East-Jerusalem, nor is there a reference to international law or any UN resolutions. [I love these people who purport to lecture to us about 'morality.' If there is an 'occupation' and if in fact it is 'immoral' - two premises I obviously don't accept - Israel has offered to end it on more than one occasion and the 'Palestinians' have declined the offer. So where is the 'immorality'? The truth is that for the 'Palestinians' - the fictitious 'people' created by the Arabs - Israel's presence anywhere in the Levant is 'immoral.' So why bother to try to satisfy them at all? CiJ]

Depicting as morally problematic policies that are downright violations of international law is definitely a flaw. [Especially when there is nothing illegal about them, eh? CiJ] At a moment when the European Union is starting to hint its seriousness about drawing the implications of what it has repeatedly condemned in words as illegal behavior on Israel's part, the suspicion that the call seeks to pre-empt policy decisions from the EU is justified. [I wish I could impart such pure motives to them. CiJ]

But there is more to ponder. The fear of the "de-legitimization" of Israel, which they see as spreading from the Muslim world to Europe, is genuine, and the shadow of the Goldstone Report looms large. It was therefore urgent for the liberal Jews of the diaspora to re-gain the initiative in denouncing the wrongs of Israel. [Huh? Why don't they denounce Goldstone instead? There's plenty there to be denounced. CiJ]

For all the reservations and suspicions it raised, JCall nonetheless conveys an important message to European policy-makers and provides them with political cover to increase pressure on the current Israeli government. If JCall is serious, it will support a more hard-nosed EU policy vis-à-vis Israel. [What could go wrong? CiJ].

Read the whole thing.

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 5:39 PM