British Jewry on the Defense
The Green Party in the UK has adopted an anti-Zionist platform which is a departure from mainstream British politics. Britain of course has a unique connection to the Zionist movement. Stretching back to the mid-17th century Puritan Republic, the hope of a return of the Jews to the Promised Land featured prominently in certain quarters of English Protestant theology. Christian Zionism took shape in Britain in the 19th century prior to Herzl’s efforts to establish a Jewish Homeland. The culmination of Britain’s promotion of the Zionist Cause was expressed in the Balfour Declaration. Polanski, the Green’s Jewish leader is acutely aware of the significance of his stance (and that of the Party). Both from his community’s perspective and the historical context from which the Party’s actions can be viewed, a strident precedent has been set. Considering also Labour’s altered position on the territories some perceive that a sea change is underway. Assuaging this trend is Reform’s markedly friendly attitude towards Israel.
Amidst this time of reckoning the British Jewish community is finding it difficult to articulate an adequate response. Previously when Jeremy Corbyn was at the helm of Labour there was a concerted front of the Board of Deputies of British Jewry and the Chief Rabbi, along with the heads of many major Jewish organizations in denouncing Labour under Corbyn’s hostile anti-Israel leadership. But that was pre-October 7th. Reverberations from the Gaza War have clearly taken a toll on the resolve of the Jewish community to assertively advocate Israel’s position. Labour’s move to drop a more nuanced stance concerning the status of the territories is a matter of debate, but the Green’s objection to Zionism can be easily subjected to scrutiny.
Zionism is attacked for different reasons, but a common thread is opposition to the Jewish nature of Israel. This basis of anti-Zionism does not cast Israel as an outlier. Other countries are also being similarly questioned. Debates about what it means to be British, or American are rife. China is criticized for imposing Han identity upon its ethnic minorities. Muslim migration to Western Europe is challenging the foundational Christian ethos there. More examples abound in Africa with quarreling ethnic groups complaining about a lack of representation, as in Nigeria. What does set Israel somewhat apart is a measure of ideological integrity to codify Jewish national identity in its Declaration of Independence.
Like any other philosophy underpinning national self-determination/identity Zionism isn’t a perfect solution for statehood. The entire international order of the nation state itself is deeply problematic on many levels. But that is the world we live in. The binational state that Polanski wants is in the realm of fantasy. During the British Mandatory period the Arabs and Jews proved themselves incapable of dual governance with the extent of inter-communal violence. Does he honestly believe that with so much blood shed in the intervening decades the situation would have improved? Moreover does he think that having invested so much, lost so many soldiers and achieved so much – the Israelis are going to call it a day and give up? And as a Jew having family members who perished in the Holocaust, does he consider it wise for the Jewish People to relinquish the only real guarantee for the protection of their lives and to cast their fate to the ‘benevolence’ of the World?
Polanski is riding high in the saddle of his political career, placing expediency ahead of the welfare of his people. And perhaps he doesn’t think that selling out will ultimately also make him vulnerable. But the wider community can’t afford to make such precarious calculations. If the battle over Israel being a Jewish State is lost – its game over. Way back in antiquity Tsun Tzu identified that preserving the existence of the State is of the utmost importance, and it is often a zero sum game. Rational arguments can be made in favor of Zionism (as I did above). However, like many worthwhile yet challenging pursuits it requires belief, and a commitment to that belief. In Psalm 37 it says: ”Dwell in the Land and cultivate faithfulness”. At times such as this it feels like an arduous never ending endeavor to ”cultivate faithfulness”. But that’s part of the bargain of having our own country.
