In an attempt to provide coverage for events in their community, the Jewish Journal in Palm Beach county recently found themselves shut-out. A cover story for the week of June 15th, written by their reporter, expressed bewilderment when an AIPAC representative barred him from attending a speech in a Boca Raton synagogue. This was especially surprising because earlier in the day the reporter received an email invitation from the synagogue. “The southeastern states director of AIPAC will be addressing the public about the current state of affairs in Israel, including Obama’s recent speeches. Hoping you can provide coverage.” The event was free and open to the public. For the record, the reporter noted that this was not the first time he was censored. When the Consulate General of Israel met with several Jewish Federations and Jewish organizations, the prior week, he refused to speak if a reporter was present. According to the article, even the Anti-Defamation League complained. AIPAC refused to explain why the Jewish public was invited but a Jewish publication in their community was censored.
The article helped to explain a puzzling anomaly. How did a progressive group of people become blind and incapable of critical thought when it comes to issues concerning the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Historically Jews have tended to be on the forefront of revolutions and social movements fighting for equality, justice and human rights. Young Jews who died in the Deep South while standing up for civil rights must have been raised on our traditional ethic of social justice. Early Zionists came to Palestine hoping to leave behind the harsh feudal class system they had known in Europe. When did their dream of establishing a socialism based on equality become a recreation of the nightmare they escaped from?
AIPAC’s attempt to keep our community ignorant helps explain the reaction of many Jews who are unable to take a critical look at Israel. Anyone who dares criticize the actions or the policies of the Israeli government is accused of being anti-Semitic or self hating. This puts Jews in the unenviable position of justifying collective punishment. Torture, detention, uprooting ancient olive groves, land confiscation, home demolitions, slicing Palestinian villages with Jewish only highways and isolating them with a barrier wall are illegal under international law, particularly the Fourth Geneva Convention.
Last summer I was living with a Jewish family in West Jerusalem when the international flotilla heading to Gaza on a declared humanitarian mission was assaulted by Israeli commandos in international waters. Israelis were led to believe that attacking the flotilla and killing nine civilians including a Turkish-American was a security issue, although the boats had been searched and cleared of contraband before leaving port. Cameras and cell phones were confiscated in another attempt to hide the truth. Calling everyone a terrorist, extremist or insurgent did not transform the nature or intent of their mission. But not all Israeli Jews were misled by their press, which seems far more vibrant and diverse in expressing a broad spectrum of opinions than American media. The Israeli family I was staying with was shocked and appalled by the actions of their government.
If AIPAC’s leaders really loved Israel and respected their fellow Jews they would be preparing them for this coming September when the U.N. General Assembly will call for the recognition of a Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza. AIPAC should be trying to understand why progressive American Jews across this country have called on supporters to boycott products made in Israeli settlements in the West Bank. A law recently passed in Israel penalizing persons or organizations who participate in the boycott has been blasted by some Knesset members as an embarrassment to Israeli democracy.
The Palestinian non-violent campaign of boycott, divestment and sanctions is intended to pressure Israel into complying with international law and universal principles of human rights.
Most of the world knows Israel has broken international law during the forty-four year occupation. To blame peace activists because Israel could become a pariah state subject to international sanctions is to mislead American Jewry and a dangerous disservice to Israel. Their greatest chance to survive as a democracy in the Middle East is to make peace with their neighbors and stop behaving like a Western enclave.
My mother who turns 96 this summer told me she has been giving generous donations to AIPAC for years– but after reading the article, she said, “never again.” AIPAC is a political lobby that spends billions of dollars influencing US congressional representatives. Why are Israelis and diaspora Jews being shielded from the truth, or at least from having the opportunity to learn conflicting versions of the truth? We, the greater American Jewish community are not a bunch of juveniles in need of censorship. Thanks to the Jewish Journal in Palm Beach County for shedding light on why a vibrant community that once welcomed questions, dissension and dialogue has become so divided, blind sided and repressive that many families simply cannot speak about Israel anymore.
