Comments on: Many American Jews are furious at Israel

By: david donahoo

david donahoo — Mon, 04 May 2009 17:59:25 +0000

American Jews are some of the dumbest people in the world. They're willing to sacrifice their own to be accepted by their fellow liberals. Has anything changed in 4,000 years? There are a bunch of thugs and terrorists in the middle east who are more than willing to blow themselves up to rid the world of the jews. If American Jews think they can condemn their brothers and appease the Arabs and remain safe they're just deceiveing themselves. Do you not know history? The Arabs control Syria, Iran, Jordan, Egypt, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, etc., etc., etc., and the Jews control a little piece of land no bigger than Rhode Island. And who has the only democracy? Give me a break, if Israel is destroyed it will be on your heads, and they'll be coming for you next.

By: seethelight

seethelight — Mon, 29 Nov 1999 23:00:00 +0000

The essays by Dana Goldstein and Morton Zuckerman reflect the growing gap between younger and older Jewish generations in how they view Israel. Goldstein says Israel should be judged by its actions, just like any another state. Zuckerman defends the status quo, the indefensible. Goldstein represents the future; Zuckerman the slowly fading past. But Zuckerman has the wealth and ownership of two MSM outlets. There are many other media barons like Zuckerman, and they will never allow a piece of writing like Goldstein's to see print in their media. Fortunately, they don't have a monopoly on media ownership in this country. Thank God for the Internet.

The tide is indeed turning in the US, and Jewish thought leaders like Roger Cohen and Joe Klein, to name just two, have finally said Enough! with make believe politics when it comes to Israel, and have refused to be intimidated by the Lobby. What we have, in a deliciously ironic way, is an "intifada", a shaking off, of Lobby threats that have successfully muzzled the vast majority of journalists from writing the truth about Israel for decades.

Hats off to you, Phil, for bravely cutting through the jungle of lies and misinformation about Israel so others could more easily follow. You paid, and continue to pay the price, but I hope you feel it was worth it.

By: Madrid

Madrid — Mon, 29 Nov 1999 23:00:00 +0000

There may be a few Jews that are furious at Israel, but not enough. Not nearly enough. And if you read the comments at Haaretz or worse, JPost, you see where the heart of the Jewish people is on Israel.

By: Lysander

Lysander — Mon, 29 Nov 1999 23:00:00 +0000

I applaud anyone who speaks out for justice, but I'm unsure which of the above mentioned people are truly angered at the injustice suffered by Palestine and how many simply wished the never ending sham of a 'peace process' had continued indefinitely under Tzipi Livni?

Had she become PM, the only difference wold be the sham would have a few more breaths of life. Lieberman is not the problem, he is only a more obvious symptom that many, who were quite comfortable with the disease, had hoped not to see.

By: MRW.

MRW. — Mon, 29 Nov 1999 23:00:00 +0000

Great post, Phil. And I concur with seethelight about " bravely cutting through the jungle of lies and misinformation about Israel so others could more easily follow."

By: Laurie

Laurie — Mon, 29 Nov 1999 23:00:00 +0000

Let us hope…time will tell. And not to rain on your parade here Phil, but I think what Dana is really expressing is that she is finding out Jews are just like all other peoples. When they are in power they are as oppressive as others. There is nothing special or chosen about Jews, not even their thinking it so.

By: Todd

Todd — Mon, 29 Nov 1999 23:00:00 +0000

"[He] has said, "Minorities are the biggest problem in the world." American Jews, many of whom feel their own minority status keenly, ought to have a great number of questions about how this regime came to power, and whether we are comfortable with its politics representing us on the world stage."

Am I reading this right? Is Goldberg an American? If Goldberg isn't an Israeli, his attitude is the problem! Israel represents American Jews on the world stage? I wonder if the American Jewish backlash against Isreal will be accompanied by an American backlash aainst Jews who supported Israel and rammed it down our throats? I wonder if many Jews even think it would be fair that the rest of us judge them?

I have a hard time calling "former Zionists" courageous because they are sarting to quibble on the issue of Isreal. The problem is bigger than Israel, and these people seem to be engaged in damage control.

By: Laurie

Laurie — Mon, 29 Nov 1999 23:00:00 +0000

Good point Todd. I let myself get carried away with Phil's initial spin. (Momentary weakness :)

By: Richard Witty

Richard Witty — Mon, 29 Nov 1999 23:00:00 +0000

A more mature approach to Silverstein's would be to honor the threats to ALL civilians, Palestinian and Israeli, rather than play "you started it".

By: Todd

Todd — Mon, 29 Nov 1999 23:00:00 +0000

Laurie,

It's funny that the same people who toss away my citizenship over dinner would also view Israel as representing them on the "world stage."