Yesterday I did a post on the crisis of liberal Zionists, and quoted visiting Israeli journalist Bradley Burston, Haaretz columnist, who spoke at Richard Silverstein’s synagogue in Seattle. Burston then sent a note to Silverstein and copied me. Here tis:
I certainly appreciate what you said about not sugarcoating Israeli reality for Diaspora audiences, though I don’t believe that’s what I was doing during that talk at the shul. I may see reality differently than you do, and I may be politically situated to your right, but I was telling them what I honestly think, for good or ill.
One point that may be something of a misunderstanding: This is the word for word of what I said on the subject of Muslim and Jewish states:
“There is a name for the hard leftist who accepts the rights of Muslims to have formally Islamic nations, but rejects the right of Jews to have a state of their own – any state in any part of the Holy Land, no matter how democratic and respectful of minority rights: Anti-Semite.”
That is to say, I believe that it is a totally valid position to oppose the idea of any state holding one religion to be specifically and explicitly the religion of that state. But to say that it’s okay for Muslims and not okay for Jews, rubs me the wrong way, and I believe it to be bigotry. If I wasn’t clear in my talk, I hope I’ve been so now.
I certainly do not believe you to be an anti-Semite in any sense whatsoever. Moreover, I’m in complete agreement with many of the points you made. Examples:
“I do support an Israel that has a Jewish identity, just as I support an Israel that has a Muslim and Christian identity for those religious groups. I do not support an Israel which affirms Judaism as its sole or primary national religion to the exclusion or detriment of others.”
Agree absolutely.
“If Israel is to be a true democracy it must not favor one religion over others. It must treat religions equally. That does not mean that Judaism or Jewishness will be disrespected or ignored or subordinated. But it means that this particular religion will take its place as one of several religions practiced by the nation’s citizens.”
Again, agree absolutely.
