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