Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site ttrdc.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxr!mhuxn!ihnp4!mgnetp!ltuxa!ttrdc!levy
From: levy@ttrdc.UUCP (Daniel R. Levy)
Newsgroups: net.religion.jewish
Subject: Re: Jews and Israel
Message-ID: <377@ttrdc.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 20-Aug-85 21:57:49 EDT
Article-I.D.: ttrdc.377
Posted: Tue Aug 20 21:57:49 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 24-Aug-85 13:59:37 EDT
References: <332@sol1.UUCP>
Distribution: net
Organization: AT&T, Computer Systems Division, Skokie, IL
Lines: 57

In article <332@sol1.UUCP>, s252@sol1.UUCP (s252) writes:
>OK... here is a new topic from a new user which (I hope) will generate
>a whole lot of controversy...
>
>As Jews, what is our responsibility to the State of Israel?
>
>This question has been on my mind these past weeks mainly because of what
>is going on in (of all places) South Africa.  Israel is one of RSA's
>largest trading partners - both countries are involved in the world
>diamond trade.  Israel is also rumoured to be a major supplier of military
>hardware to the RSA.
>
>As Jews, is it our first responsibility to oppose the unjust regime of
>apartheid and all countries who are a party to it *or* to stand by the
>policies of the State of Israel?
>
>To take it a step further, do we have the right to "oppose" policies of
>the State of Israel as non-Israelis?
>
>A thorny question... I am interested in hearing what *you* think!
>
>  {Al Berg - ihnp!sol1!s252 - akgua!sol1!s252 - New York City}

Why did you include so much blank space in your original?  Now everyone will
include the whole thing in their reply :-).  Scuse me if that's a goyishe :-).

This should be considered from the standpoint that as American Jews, we are
citizens of the United States and our obligation to the USA is at least as much
as that to Israel.  This is aside from that if every Jew in America went to
Israel to stay the result would be one impossibly overcrowded "homeland."
We owe America a lot more in a real, physical sense today than we owe Israel.
Not that it makes our spiritual loyalties the less!  But the issue deserves to
be seen in perspective.

With respect to "opposition" of Israeli policies, keep in mind that a goodly
proportion of Israelis (even if only the Jews were counted) have very strong
dissentions with their government's policies.  It is in no wise immoral to
speak out from a standpoint of opposition to some of the Israeli GOVERNMENT's
practices and policies.  Lots of Israeli Jews do.  (I am purposely leaving out
the Arabic dissension.)  If a government encounters no debate, it must be a
pretty totalitarian one.  But at the same time, as citizens of the USA, not
Israel, we must realize that there are limits in attempting to influence
Israel beyond which things get gross fairly quickly.  And whether we like it
or not, Israel is about the only fort in the Middle East which can be counted
on with any degree of reliability to discourage Soviet expansion, and this must
be taken into consideration when considering some of its actions, belligerent
or otherwise ill-taken as they may be.  The South African connection seems
odious to me, too, but Israel has for a long time been desperate for trade
revenue (you think American inflation is bad) and sells what it produces best--
such as high quality, reliable weaponry.  (You don't think they're GIVING it to
South Africa, do you?) It is a shame that they should stoop to such apparent
depths to do so, however, and it is not wrong to protest this.
--
Dan Levy
AT&T Computer Systems Division, Skokie
..!ihnp4!ttrdc!levy
..!ihnp4!iheds!ttbcad!levy