Comments on: A New Pro-Israel for Obama’s America

By: Alan Miller

Alan Miller — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 16:40:10 +0000

Halaad Maschall gave a sensitive, liberal and practical scenario in English on an American television interview show concerning The Palestinians and The Israelis. Then he spewed lies, venom, hatred and jihad in Arabic when he recently spoke in Gaza. I recommend you translate your article into Arabic and pass it around the Palestinians and their Arab brethern. Then see if you get more than a smirk or laugh out of them.

By: Yonatan Knickerbocker

Yonatan Knickerbocker — Sun, 09 Dec 2012 14:47:09 +0000

Sorry it took me so long to reply, I didn't receive a notification that you responded to me.

"Other Jewishness". I recognize that there are other Jews that choose to worship differently. Where those changes do not go against halacha, I have no problem with it. Where it goes against halacha, it's a major problem. If you have a problem with G-d's laws, I suggest you take it up with the creator. As far as your donations go, I could care less about them, they do more benefit to you than they do to me. Ultimately, all is provided for by G-d.

Democracy. Wow, so democracy is your god apparently. Who said anything about being above it? Just because another solution would work better for us doesn't mean that we're above it somehow.

Land for peace. Your ignorance at believing that land for peace can work in reality would be amusing if it didn't end with the deaths of all those around me. The reason jstreet isn't supported is because there are many Jews that have actual ties to Israel and know the truth. They're not buying your media blitz that somehow it is different. That you don't recognize that gaza was a trial run says all that anyone needs to know about your reasoning. There's always another reason why something doesn't work for you – except the real reason.

By: Becky Rowe

Becky Rowe — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 14:16:03 +0000

ok. just getting it straight.
1. You don't recognize any kind of Jewishness other than your own orthodoxy. Following God's laws means following God's laws the way you interpret them today. Of course it could be that the majority of Jstreeters are from "other" streams, as it were, because the large majority of US Jews are not Orthodox. I suppose when they give their money to you it is ok; but when they support other things, it isn't.
2. You don't care about democracy. Jews are above all that. You want a Halachic State.
3. You believe that we already tried land for peace (oh really – and when was that? we left Gaza unilaterally which ultimately weakened the moderates and strengthened Hamas. Why don't you tell the Palestinians that have to wait in line at roadblocks in the West Bank that they are in charge and not the Israelis. Meanwhile, the Palestinians have helped us to deter terror. Remember that the next time you take a bus in downtown Jerusalem.)
You really are a perfect example of why JStreet is so important – because it is people of opinions like yours who carry the weight in this country – and US Jews who don't support JStreet have to realize what it is they are really supporting.

By: Yonatan Knickerbocker

Yonatan Knickerbocker — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 12:13:26 +0000

1- Alienate fellow Jews. We're not talking about someone's opinion on a movie here, we're talking about followings G-d's laws. Are their Jews that won't follow G-d's laws? Unfortunately, the answer is yes. Are they alienated? That's up to them. We've already tried land for peace, it got more Jews killed, not less. It is much more important to save Jewish lives than it is to be accepted by the rest of the world.

2-Non viability of a democratic Jewish state. Who says that a democracy is the best thing for the Jewish state? We are not like the rest of the nations. We need to be Jewish much more than we need to be a democracy.

Ask yourself why the majority of the Jstreeter's out there are from "other" streams of Judaism (as if there really were such a thing) or are completely secular. Yet, those are exactly the Jews that advocate us putting ourselves into more and more danger in pursuit of a "peace" that the other side of this conflict is not interested in.

By: Becky Rowe

Becky Rowe — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 11:38:16 +0000

I'm with you on the inappropriateness of the African migrants in Logan's blog, BUT lets not miss the point of his article which is important and true.
In response to you –
Clear examples of organizations with Palestinians who want peace (and there are more):
Crack in the Wall – https://www.facebook.com/crackinthewall?ref=ts&fref=ts
לוחמים לשלום – https://www.facebook.com/cforpeace?ref=ts&fref=ts
Bereaved Parents Forum – https://www.facebook.com/ParentsCircleFamiliesForum
http://www.heskem.org.il/
Aside from that – what is your suggestion – that we continue to shoot ourselves in the feet until the Palestinians come around and become Zionists?
Listen to our leadership and tell me if it sounds like they want anything other than to rule from the Jordan to the Sea (conveniently ignoring the fact that non-Jewish people live there), or the very sizable minority who believe we are in the midst of redemption and on our way to one State ruled by Halacha stretching way farther east than you can imagine – all we have to do is continue to settle the West Bank, and ignore reason. Aside from Bibi's Bar Ilan speech – I ask you to show me one example of our present government showing any interest in compromise or a two-state solution.

By: Becky Rowe

Becky Rowe — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 11:21:50 +0000

You know what – leave out the part about the illegal aliens. Logan tainted his excellent and important piece by dragging that issue into it (which is more complicated than he presented it). What about everything else he said? I agree that I would like to see more Jews come and volunteer here and take part in this amazing enterprise of Israel. But, let us be honest – this is a country ruled by a fanatic right-wing – economically and politically. Young US Jews realize this. This government is beholden to tycoons, the ultra-orthodox and religious right-wing settlers. If you doubt that – just look at the our to see where our tax money goes; and look at our most recent laws and policies and see where they are leading to. How would you like to see the State of Israel? Is this government leading you towards that vision?

By: Becky Rowe

Becky Rowe — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 11:11:41 +0000

So you believe that it is God's plan for Israel to pursue policies which alienate fellow Jews and ultimately will prove the non-viability of a Democratic Jewish State? Just curious to hear you clarify your position.

By: Yonatan Knickerbocker

Yonatan Knickerbocker — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 00:07:07 +0000

"Israel must face the reality that its greatest ally is becoming younger, more diverse, more progressive and more broad-minded in its goals for itself and for the world."

Your mistake is in thinking that you know who Israel's greatest ally is. It is not the US. It is G-d, and to him alone we need to answer to.

By: Yonatan Knickerbocker

Yonatan Knickerbocker — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 00:07:07 +0000

"Israel must face the reality that its greatest ally is becoming younger, more diverse, more progressive and more broad-minded in its goals for itself and for the world."

Your mistake is in thinking that you know who Israel's greatest ally is. It is not the US. It is G-d, and to him alone we need to answer to.

By: Eduardo Schmidt

Eduardo Schmidt — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 22:59:12 +0000

… Voila!

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 22:18:52 +0000

Obama himself could not have said it better. Thank you.

By: Jason Ariel Saltiel

Jason Ariel Saltiel — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 22:03:06 +0000

Ultra-nationalism is definitely a problem in Israeli society, but in Palestinian politics it's the only acceptable way to be–maybe not in their English statements, but definitely in their Arabic statements, and those are the ones that matter. How else do you explain this?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ViFr3oIM4M&feature=player_embedded

If JStreet wants to be taken seriously, they need to wake the fuck up to this and demand progressiveness from the Palestinian side as well, because so far I'm not seeing much. Anything less is patronizing and racist.

Also, regarding the wonderful new progressive America…I thought the Republicans deserved the demographic drubbing they got in the last election, and I think Eli Yishai is a racist theocrat douche. But if you're going to negatively compare Israel's treatment of African migrants to the Obama administration's treatment of illegal immigrants, you might want to look at the number of deportations carried out on Obama's watch vs. the number of African migrants actually deported by Israel. Just saying.

By: David Brent

David Brent — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 21:50:45 +0000

wow are you off base. How can you compare getting out the vote in Philadelphia to the complicated and difficult situation that Israel faces with Palestinians whose leaders won't even recognize the right of the state to exist? Then you talk about the expulsion of a small percentage of illegal aliens in Israel but neglect to mention how the majority of these illegal aliens have been integrated into Israel society with jobs, health care and education for their children. Does the USA have anything like that in regards to illegal aliens? Israel is an example that you should look up to, not talk down to. Instead, you group all of Israel together using the language of a small minority of right wing fanatics that do not represent the country policies. Shame on you. Come here and volunteer in one of the many programs funded by Israel that builds bridges between Jews and Arabs. Here is one funded by the University of Haifa: http://research.haifa.ac.il/~jew-arab/about.htm.

By: Becky Rowe

Becky Rowe — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 21:49:52 +0000

Amen.

By: Eduardo Schmidt

Eduardo Schmidt — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 21:27:29 +0000

wow… not ONCE did u mention palestinian, arab, or pan-arab for that matter, instransigence. you point to one side's flaes, like settlements, nationalism and whatnot… but again, not ONCE about the other's. thanks for wasting space!