Gentleman’s agreement

“The anti-semite offered the effrontery—and then the world was ready with harsh yardsticks to measure the self-control and dignity with which you met it.

You were insensitive or too sensitive; you were too timid or too bellicose; they gave you at once the wound and the burden of proper behavior toward it.”
― Laura Z. Hobson, Gentleman’s Agreement

In 1947, Gregory Peck starred in the film Gentleman’s Agreement. It won three Academy
Awards and three Golden Globe Awards.

When journalist Phil Green (Gregory Peck) moves to New York City, he takes on a high-profile magazine assignment about antisemitism. In order to truly view things from an empathetic perspective, he pretends to be a Jew and begins to experience many forms of bigotry, both firsthand and through a Jewish friend, Dave Goldman (John Garfield). Phil soon falls in love with beautiful Kathy Lacy (Dorothy McGuire), but their relationship is complicated by his unusual endeavor.

One of my first posts when I started this blog was on the subject of antisemitism, its history and how it has affected me personally. Today, we witness antisemitism rearing its ugly head on a daily basis in many forms. This antisemitism which we are witness to is blatant, but there are still manifestations of antisemitism that were portrayed in the 1947 film, Gentleman’s Agreement.

What is a Gentlemen’s Agreement?

A gentlemen’s agreement is an informal agreement that is not legally binding. It is
typically formed verbally.

In 1907, the United States made an agreement with Japan whereby Japan would stop
issuing exit visas and passports to the United States, and the US agreed not to
segregate Japanese students in San Francisco schools.

What is a current Gentlemen’s Agreement?

One can think of many antisemitic acts these days that can be classified as
Gentlemen’s Agreement. Consider post-graduate medical students and highly qualified
medical specialists who are being refused fellowships to international hospitals and institutions because they are Jewish or hold Israeli passports. Consider graduating lawyers who do not “make the cut” in law firms of their choice because they are Jewish or hold Israeli passports. Consider academics who are the best in their fields who have been
disinvited or not invited at all, to attend seminars because they are Jewish or hold Israeli
passports. The same is true for musicians, actors, comedians and performers.
Because they are Jewish or hold Israeli passports.

These are cases which are not reported in the news, but are happening on a daily basis.

I would like to focus on two cases which I consider classic cases of Gentlemen’s
Agreements.

Since October 7, 2023, the people of Israel have been placed in a state of siege by a consortium of international airline companies and by the unions representing the pilots
and airline staff. Now, no one is actually stating that there is a policy restricting air
travel to the Jewish state, but these “stakeholders” are claiming that they are refusing to
fly into the Jewish state for safety reasons. This is taking place at the same time that
Israel’s carriers, ELAL, Arkia, and Israir are recording record profits from having full
flights.

If it is safe enough for these carriers then why not for the rest of the world’s
airlines?

Well some would say that the Israeli carriers, especially ELAL, have special protective
systems. But that is not the case. I recently flew to Prague on an Arkia flight that was
wet-leased from a Russian airline company. Believe me, this plane had neither special
protective systems or working toilets!

Is this a Gentlemen’s Agreement?

Since October 7, 2023, several international defense exhibitions have been held. The
most significant shows occurred in France this past year. In both these exhibits France
cited safety concerns for not permitting Israeli companies to exhibit at these fairs.

This is classic Gentlemen’s Agreement. By claiming “security issues” the other
exhibitors were able to remove over 60 Israeli world class competitors from these
shows. By doing this, did the shows organizers not think that the world’s procurers of
defense equipment might find another way to meet with these Israeli companies?

The French are particularly good at Gentlemen’s Agreement, especially refined during
the Dreyfus Affair.

On a positive note, last week Israel launched a new ship in the navy which was built in
Israel. In the past, these ships were built in France.

Does one have to view everything through the lens of antisemitism? Does everything
that happens to a Jewish person or Israeli have to be a result of antisemitism?  If it is not
blatant antisemitism does it mean it is a Gentlemen’s Agreement?

Maybe.