Richard Silverstein has a beautiful/savage critique of Ethan Bronner's Avrum Burg piece in yesterday's Times. An extended excerpt:
of Burgâs current role in Israeli society and in his appraisal of the
significance of the authorâs political stance. Personally, I see Burg
as a revolutionary thinker. One who grew up within the system, thus
allowing him to see it for what it isâincluding the ability to see its
contradictions and weaknesses. Thatâs why Burgâs contribution to the
debate is invaluable. And itâs why Bronnerâs minimization of Burgâs
importance is off-putting…
There is no doubt that he raises some serious questions:
Is Israel too focused on the Holocaust as a touchstone of history? Can
it stay both Jewish and democratic over the long term, or is it time to
look for another model? What kind of future is there for Israeli Arabs?
Less clear, however, is whether Mr. Burg has provided any serious answers.
Less clear to whom? Perhaps to Bronner or Burgâs other critics. But
the Hebrew edition of his book was a raging success. The English
language edition is doing well as well. Somebody thinks heâs providing
answers.
Bronner accuses Burg of pulling punches in the transition from the Hebrew to English editions:
â¦It also seems clear that he has modified and adjusted his arguments, especially for a foreign audience.
The English version does not have some of his more alarming assertions
in the Hebrew one â for example, that the Israeli government would
probably soon pass the equivalent of the Nuremberg laws, with
provisions like a prohibition on marriage between Jews and Arabs.
The implication seems to be that Burg has pulled his punches in
order to either protect Israel from his most savage attacks or because
he wished to save his most outrageous attacks for Israeli readers. I
donât find the notion that the Israeli Knesset might pass Nuremberg
like laws at all outrageous. I donât know if I would predict it would
happen âsoonâ if thatâs what Burg writes. But the erosion of Israeli
democracy has led and will lead to many similar outrages which should
be pointed out by political and social critics of Israel.
