Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site uwvax.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!gamma!epsilon!zeta!sabre!petrus!bellcore!decvax!genrad!panda!talcott!harvard!seismo!uwvax!David ParterFrom: david@wisc-rsch.arpa (David Parter) Newsgroups: net.religion.jewish Subject: Re: Jews and Israel Message-ID: <267@uwvax.UUCP> Date: Mon, 19-Aug-85 22:47:07 EDT Article-I.D.: uwvax.267 Posted: Mon Aug 19 22:47:07 1985 Date-Received: Sat, 24-Aug-85 17:59:45 EDT References: <332@sol1.UUCP> Sender: david@uwvax.UUCP Distribution: net Organization: UWisc Systems Lab Lines: 55 > As Jews, what is our responsibility to the State of Israel? ah, a very good question. I am not sure i can answer this now, but we do have a responsibility, although not a simple one. (The fact that you raise the question just underscores this). > 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? As human beings it is our first responsibility to oppose and unjust regime of any kind anywhere. As Jews, it is also our responsibility to opposse unjust actions or policies of the Israeli government. We have an obligation to do this in a positive manner -- not to simply jump on the bandwagon to prove to the rest of the world that we too can criticize Israel. Rather we should provide constructive criticism as well as support when Israel needs it. > To take it a step further, do we have the right to "oppose" policies of > the State of Israel as non-Israelis? It depends which policies (ie the level of income tax is NOT really something reasonable for a non-israeli to criticize), the motivations we have, and the method chosen. I feel comfortable crticizing Israel for her policies in the occupied territories, but i am a Zionist planning aliyah in the near future. This makes my criticisms more acceptable to my Israeli friends. On the other hand, if i were not a Zionist planning aliyah, i would feel the same way about those policies, and my right to oppose them. Of course, Israel and individual Israelis also have the right to ignore me. > A thorny question... I am interested in hearing what *you* think! well, i have answered the general question, but not the specific. As for Israel's relations with 'RSA' (as you put it), i oppose her selling any arms to a racist and unjust regime, and in any way contributing to the continuation of aparthied. The argument that S.A. is one of Israel's only friends in the world doesn't change things. Some things you can forgive in friends, some things you can't. Racism is wrong, no matter who is the racist. > *** REPLACE THIS LINE WITH YOUR MESSAGE *** -- david parter UWisc Systems Lab uucp: ...!{allegra,harvard,ihnp4,seismo, topaz}!uwvax!david arpa now: david@wisc-rsch.arpa arpa soon: david@wisc-rsch.WISCONSIN.EDU or something like that