I think the idea of a Jewish state might be over. I hesitate to declare such things because I'm so far away, but certainly its international legitimacy has been dealt a serious blow. And here is Zionist Bernard Avishai saying that the Gaza slaughter is being supported by overwhelming majorities of Israeli citizens because they sense their own political illegitimacy. John Mearsheimer has also hinted that far worse awaits us than Gaza… [emphasis mine]:
[Last week] a majority of Knesset parties, including Kadima, voted to strip the
Arab parties of the right to participate in the upcoming elections (a
right, most agree, the High Court will restore). For the growing
discomfort of Israeli Jews with the country's Arab citizens, and vice versa,
is very much reflected in Israel's fierce response in Gaza. The
prosecution of this attack suggests, not just a fear of some next
crisis, but of the chronic crisis…
What is the
crime these Arab parties have committed? They insist on Israel being "a
state of its citizens," not a "Jewish and democratic state." …[S]ince 1948, Israelis have allowed
"Jewish state” to evolve in curious ways: most
land is reserved for “Jewish settlement,” the state gives the orthodox
rabbinate control over marriage and aspects of citizenship, the whole
of Jerusalem is decreed a Jewish patrimony, and so forth. (I take this all up in The Hebrew Republic.)
While the Arab minority, 20% of the population, has been marginalized,
Israel has spawned a kind of Judean settler state around Jerusalem and
the West Bank, which Israelis are reluctant to confront for the sake of
Palestinians. For most, the word democracy has come to mean, more than
anything else, maintaining “a Jewish majority.”
And this Jewish state, Israelis know in a day-to-day kind of
way, is something that they would reject if they were in the shoes of
Israeli Arabs. Lurking behind this knowledge is the not unreasonable
fear that any peace they make with the Palestinians will unravel as the
rejection of Israel by its own Arab citizens unspools. Sadly,
you see, Israelis see their Jewish state as a bone in the throat of
Palestinians, not just historically, but still. They feel themselves,
increasingly, in a desperate “existential” fight where no holds are
barred now, because no holds will be barred later.
Arab parties of the right to participate in the upcoming elections (a
right, most agree, the High Court will restore). For the growing
discomfort of Israeli Jews with the country's Arab citizens, and vice versa,
is very much reflected in Israel's fierce response in Gaza. The
prosecution of this attack suggests, not just a fear of some next
crisis, but of the chronic crisis…
What is the
crime these Arab parties have committed? They insist on Israel being "a
state of its citizens," not a "Jewish and democratic state." …[S]ince 1948, Israelis have allowed
"Jewish state” to evolve in curious ways: most
land is reserved for “Jewish settlement,” the state gives the orthodox
rabbinate control over marriage and aspects of citizenship, the whole
of Jerusalem is decreed a Jewish patrimony, and so forth. (I take this all up in The Hebrew Republic.)
While the Arab minority, 20% of the population, has been marginalized,
Israel has spawned a kind of Judean settler state around Jerusalem and
the West Bank, which Israelis are reluctant to confront for the sake of
Palestinians. For most, the word democracy has come to mean, more than
anything else, maintaining “a Jewish majority.”
And this Jewish state, Israelis know in a day-to-day kind of
way, is something that they would reject if they were in the shoes of
Israeli Arabs. Lurking behind this knowledge is the not unreasonable
fear that any peace they make with the Palestinians will unravel as the
rejection of Israel by its own Arab citizens unspools. Sadly,
you see, Israelis see their Jewish state as a bone in the throat of
Palestinians, not just historically, but still. They feel themselves,
increasingly, in a desperate “existential” fight where no holds are
barred now, because no holds will be barred later.
