Agmon Snir and the people they forgot

There’s an article in today’s Haaretz – Ideological Immigration….Hagai Agmon Snir, 7/22/26- about a couple leaving Israel because, as they see it, they are wary of the contamination of impending evil here in Israel; in other words their life’s work has been to maintain the culture values and politics of Labour Zionism and these structures, initiated in our founding,m have been lost, it is no longer possible to conceive of Israel as a democratic state in which citizens influence government politics, etc.,on the contrary, we are living in a fascst set-up which is the opposite.

Whether or not Agmon Snir and his wife are correct about the future of Democracy in Israel there’s something important they forgot. Haaretz describes Agmon as the model Israeli Liberal social activist, which I don’t question, but Haaretz doesn’t mention they’ve the ability to leave; they’ve already bought a home, scouted the area for its adaptability to their needs, fine, but never mention the money needed to pay for this. So many other Israelis left or are leaving with the skills, finances, connections enabling them to transition abroad and I appreciate their intellectual sensitivities and moralities: but what about me?

We have as you can see an intellectual elite bourgeoisie far from our poor humble beginnings..a burgeoning individualism…and it’s time to face it; what about those of us that can’t leave? who don’t swirl around from country to country? I am old, is there no contract between us? I made Aliyah in 1975 with three children, you are a difficult people but no one then questioned that we are one people. American Jews, in large numbers are considering breaking off from us,,,,as you would a bagel or any material thing, So what is happening here in Israel on the eve of Tisha B’Av?

I am waiting for the upcoming election with hope. At least I share an ideology and hope with somebody…Believe me, this couple will be coming back