Goldberg
Back in the Iraq days, people said that Jeffrey Goldberg was at the New Yorker bangin the wardrum because he was editor David Remnick’s id. Goldberg is instinctual, he’s in touch with his feelings.
And he wants to be sure about yours– for Israel.
Goldberg on Glenn Greenwald:
Put aside for a moment Greenwald’s over-reliance on the verb “smear” to describe any sort of criticism of him. I do think that a reasonable reading of Glenn Greenwald’s work on Israel would suggest that he likes it not at all. There’s no proof in his writings that he has any affection for Israel, or any sympathy for Israel. Which, as I’ve said, is his right.
Goldberg asking George Mitchell about Obama (Jan. 12, 2012):
JG: Does President Obama like Israel?
GM: I think he does. Yes, I think he does. I think he is very determined, absolutely determined, to protect Israel and to make certain that the American commitment is maintained. Your questions implies more than the words themselves state
JG: Often.
GM: So let me respond. First, US and Israeli military cooperation and intelligence cooperation is the best it’s ever been. Just last week the two governments announced the largest ever exercise focused on missile defense, which is the real problem. Because it is the real problem, President Obama authorized over $2 million, over and above the vast sums we already provide, to assist in a more rapid development and deployment of the anti-missile system. I personally feel, I have a very good relationship with the Israeli leaders and have spent a great deal of time with them, I think the President is determined to protect and preserve that and I think he does like Israel.
Goldberg to Obama in 2008 interview:
JG: Go to the kishke question, the gut question: the idea that if Jews know that you love them, then you can say whatever you want about Israel, but if we don’t know you –- Jim Baker, Zbigniew Brzezinski –- then everything is suspect. There seems to be in some quarters, in Florida and other places, a sense that you don’t feel Jewish worry the way a senator from New York would feel it.
Obama of course performed for Goldberg. Goldberg is sure to get the Obama-koshering interview later this year and ask him how much he loves Israel again. Because it’s never enough.
I think Goldberg has such sick access because his hatstand has a neocon hat and a liberal Zionist hat on it too; he has in a calculated manner played both sides of the lobby and is therefore the Jewish prince. Everyone who matters trusts him.
Notice that he interviewed Mitchell on behalf of the center-left Dems, and even Israel critics Eli Clifton and Ali Gharib at Center for American Progress made a point of quoting him on the Jewish extremism of Aish Hatorah last week (before the passage was excised).
Oh and speaking of Goldberg’s test, here is Jeff Halper of ICAHD, an interview on this site, explaining that it is all emotional:
“But I will tell you my formula for peace. You say to Israel three things. Obama and the international community have to say it.
“One, We love you. Israelis love to hear that. That’s where Sadat succeeded. He hugged Golda [Meir] and the Israelis melted. They just melted.” That is why Israel yielded the Sinai so easily in the end after a lot of bluster. “
Update. Ilene Cohen adds that the issue I’ve raised here is a serious one:
There are two questionable assumptions that pervade discourse on Israel and make truth telling dangerous.
1. We are allowed to criticize our own country, yet we are not allowed to criticize Israel. How crazy is that? Why has that notion not been challenged? We know who came up with the absurd idea that we are not allowed to criticize Israel and for what purpose. This toxic notion is aimed at protecting the Israeli occupation and has been successfully advanced by the pro-Israel groups. Over the course of decades of repetition, it has solidified into the devastating position that “criticism of Israel = anti-Semitism,” and anti-Semitism, as we know, is a hate crime, ergo . . . I know plenty of academics in political science who have opinions on everything—except you know what.
2. Why should we have to “like/love” Israel? That is, why should it be that only people who “like/love” Israel are permitted to weigh in on the foreign policy discussion? On what other issue is that a relevant criterion?
I just read the Halper points in the interview.
He’s right.
I understand the psychosis of many Jews and why some of them want hugs and kisses from others.
But no chance in hell should love for a foreign country be a litmus test for anyone in the United States.
Quite to the contrary, Jews and everyone else need to learn that Israel is not The Jews, and The Jews are not Israel.
“One, We love you…” That’s the right thing to tell them but I don’t think this will happen before a much more needed “We apologize” from them.
the war in 73 was just bluster? Hmm…. this is the same “no right of return” halper, yes?
Why is it that non-jews always have to tell jews how great they are? here’s a better question – why are jews willing (really wanting) others to lie to them? I mean, I could say “Jews are the Shit” outloud, right now – it doesn’t mean that’s what I really think. And I think that’s somewhat part of the problem. The Zio’s and Co. just want people to mindlessly repeat pro-jewish slogans, but they aren’t interested AT ALL in doing anything themselves to actually DESERVE such kind words.
There is very, very, very little difference on these matters between the Goldberg’s, the Halper’s and “Jews for….” groups – they all start with everyone else sort of genuflecting to some mythical (and often times completely fallacious) vision of what the practical application of “Jewish” has meant in our time and throughout history. In any cultural or religious “tradition” there are progressive, even inspirational elements – but I have to say, Jews are unique in incessantly touting these elements as if to establish their own moral supremacy, even while the majority of Jews the world over support the completely immoral “jewish state.”
I got an idea, how about “The Jews” say they love the rest of us? How about some shit like that?
Can somebody explain to me what Jewish Heaven is?
Or, how Jewish Folks get to their idea of Heaven?
Does Israel need to exist for a Jewish Person to make it to heaven?
Perhaps this is why Jewish Folks are so tied to Israel?
Calm