Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.3 4.3bsd-beta 6/6/85; site topaz.RUTGERS.EDU Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!cmcl2!seismo!caip!topaz!steinber From: steinber@topaz.RUTGERS.EDU (Louis Steinberg) Newsgroups: net.politics,net.religion.jewish Subject: Re: Middle East, Oil and the costs of Militarism Message-ID: <4156@topaz.RUTGERS.EDU> Date: Mon, 4-Nov-85 15:51:25 EST Article-I.D.: topaz.4156 Posted: Mon Nov 4 15:51:25 1985 Date-Received: Tue, 5-Nov-85 07:26:16 EST References: <460@mhuxm.UUCP> <740@whuxl.UUCP> <10822@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU> <232@cornell.UUCP> Organization: Rutgers Univ., New Brunswick, N.J. Lines: 32 Xref: linus net.politics:11153 net.religion.jewish:2206 >> mcgeer@ucbvax.UUCP (Rick McGeer): >>(1) Israel is worth defending because it is the only Western nation in the >>Mideast, and (with the possible exception of Egypt) is the only nation in the >>area which professes the ideals of individual liberty and human dignity that >>we hold dear, not because of some spurious link to mideast oil. > > [...] if you look at what is happening in >the West Bank, you will realize that the "ideals of individual liberty >and human dignity" are being completely disregarded, [...] > > Amr El Abbadi In fact, **even on the West Bank** there is more political and personal freedom than in most Arab countries. There is, for instance, more freedom of the press and of speech. Why does Israeli government allow West Bank newspapers to be published that tell it to go to hell, when no Arab government allows such things? Precisely because the Israeli culture does profess the ideal of a free press, and so the Israelis will allow freedom of the press unless they feel they have a good reason not to. We can argue whether the specific restrictions they put on are indeed justified by the circumstances, but we must not miss the point that for the Israeli culture, to restrict freedom of the press, even in occupied territory, needs a substantial excuse. This is not the case in any other Mid-East country, and it is this kind of difference that McGeer is pointing to in his original posting. No, Israel is not perfect, but neither is the United States. What matters is that on issues like personal and political freedom Israel is in the same general league as the United States, and no other country in the region is even close. If you believe the US should support the existence and spread of these freedoms, either for reasons of morality or of self-interest, then of course the US should support Israel.