Editorial (December 4, 2009)

Unsettling matters

ISRAELI Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu made a difficult decision last week when he proposed, and his security cabinet accepted, a 10-month freeze on building new housing in all Israeli communities past the pre-1967 borders (excepting Jerusalem).

When even the most principled cabinet ministers with rock-solid ideological credentials voted for the temporary moratorium, it was clear that it was a decision many on the Right felt they had no choice but to make. This was not only to satisfy their consciences that they had gone the extra mile for the sake of peace, but also to send a clear message to Washington that Israel is listening to their requests, if not meeting all of them.

Without passing any judgements on the status of the settlements, it is still possible to appreciate the magnitude of the concession that was given without any reciprocal compromises on the part of the Palestinians.

Even Peace Now acknowledges that the moratorium, as imposed, exceeds any previous settlement curb by any other Israeli government.

It’s important to keep in mind that close to 300,000 Israelis live in the areas that are now under the moratorium. This represents a significant fraction of Israel’s population. Also significant is that polls consistently demonstrate that Israelis’ support for the settlements differentiates depending on their location in the West Bank, their Jewish historical value (both ancient and modern)

and their proximity to Jerusalem, and Tel Aviv especially.

Settlements are a thorny, emotionally charged topic for Israelis and Jews everywhere, and that’s why these two recent developments are so alarming: the spectre of insubordination of certain units in the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) regarding any future evacuation of West Bank settlements; and the threats by some settlement leaders to block Israeli government enforcement of the moratorium.

Let us not mince words: nobody is above the law in a democratic society. We cannot pick and choose which rules we wish to follow. Elected, lawful governments and courts are the sole authority to create the laws and are empowered to enforce them. As for the IDF, it is a people’s army and, like all armies, internal discipline must be observed.

To demonstrate in protest or support is everyone’s right, but ultimately, Israel’s laws and government must be respected. The potential consequences for the stability of the state of failing to do so are things we would rather not contemplate.

The oldest hatred

AS faith leaders from across the globe gather in Australia this week for the Parliament of the World’s Religions, one would hope they take note of the “Anti-Semitism Report” released on Sunday detailing the unprecedented number of hate incidents affecting the Jewish community over the past year.

While the comprehensive study does offer some glimmers of hope — a 50 per cent reduction in physical violence against property and individuals from the 2007-2008 statistics — the shocking rise in public harassment and email abuse is a sobering reminder that even this, the most tolerant of societies, is not immune to the oldest hatred.

Of particular concern is the fact that the start of the upsurge preceded Operation Cast Lead, which otherwise may have accounted for, but certainly not justified, the spike in figures.

Furthermore, as the report notes, there is an increasing tendency for “red lines” to be crossed — the use of Holocaust terminology and imagery in relation to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and expressions of support for, and association with, extremist — even terrorist — groups such as Hamas that are, at their core, racist and anti-Semitic.

Certainly, our community is fortunate that the manifestations of hate are not as extreme, either in number or in degree, as those that beset other communities in the Diaspora. And, as was evident from the discussions at the Executive Council of Australia Jewry national conference last weekend, we are privileged to have both a strong and committed leadership that is able to stand up for our interests, and a government that is responsive to our concerns.

However, while we may seek solace in the downturn in physical violence, we must never forget that 27 attacks is 27 attacks too many. Indeed, the figure of 962 reports of assaults, abuse and intimidation over the course of one year averages at more than two a day.

There is then no room for complacency. For while we may never be able to eradicate anti-Semitism from our midst and while, as the report’s author says, “Internationally, Australia scores very well as a successful multicultural society,” eradicating anti-Semitism is, nonetheless, a goal we must set ourselves.