At the risk of sacrilege, I left the latest Commentary, with Hillel Halkin's piece on the "achievement" of the settlements, in the bathroom, anticipating that during the holiday festivities I might have a few quiet moments to share with it. And lo, it came to pass. The piece, a review of the great book Lords of the Land, by Idith Zertal and Akiva Eldar, contains one shocking statement. Halkin said that even if the most religious settlements weren't a great idea, they appealed to his "heart."
I can remember in the 1970's and 80's, when it was already clear to me that Gush Emunim-type settlements in the heart of the West Bank were a mistake, I nevertheless thrilled to each new one of them that was established. Such Jewish feelings are alien to Idith Zertal and Akiva Eldar, who do not begin to comprehend what they are about...
Note that Halkin, and Commentary, are defining what "Jewish" feelings are and what they are not: to be Jewish is to be thrilled by religious colonialism. How shameful that so many American Jewish publications regularly give space to Halkin, and that no one from my camp, of alienated-from-Israel American Jews, is there to contend with such parochial definitions of identity.
'Note that Halkin, and Commentary, are defining what "Jewish" feelings are and what they are not: to be Jewish is to be thrilled by religious colonialism.'
How could it be otherwise? Despite progressive Jews' attempts to redefine it, Judaism is, at its core, essentially a deeply conservative tribalistic belief system. Everything to the contrary is just spin. That is the reason that so many Jews in America turn their backs on the religion. Attempts by guilt-stricken progressive Jews to reinvent Judaism as something more amenable to their own belief systems are a waste of time. That is why all US government aid to Israel should be suspended. That country is never going to change its ways. If tribal Jews want it supported, let them write the checks.
From the ground, the settlements are thrilling.
They are living, joyful communities, in places written about in heartful historical and poetical language.
There is a national home, a place that feels right.
Progressive politics should allow for feeling (not attempt to say that the feeling is illegitimate or evil), but still suggest and make different decisions.
Richard Witty's sentimental nonsense epitomizes how Israel has been able to get away with its dysfunctional behavior for so long: with appeals to emotions and "feeling." In this sense, progressive US Jewish Zionists are the worst offenders, because they have been able to successfully mask Israel's true nature with a lot of sappy, touchy-feely PR. It may not be deliberate; I think many of them believe their own yarns. But the damage they have done is incalculable. They are true enablers…and useful idiots.
Ethnic chauvinism is often thrilling.
I am a US Jew Ed and I think the settlements are a travesty.
They can be thrilling (in real sense) and wrong to implement at the same time.
Ed – Don't you think the Alabanians are thrilled to be gaining independence in Kosovo, even if it does come at the expense of some native Serbs?
I agree with Mr. Witty that something can be "thrilling" at the same time wrong. I would personally be thrilled if those settler thrilled themselves on the Israeli side of the Green Line and allowed the Palestinians a thrill or two.