Novembers Past: Highs and Lows for Israel and Zionism

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A month ago, I looked back in the Times of Israel at some of the highs and lows for Israel and the pro-Israel community. “October: A Month of Hope and Despair for Jews. 


 Now on to November!

Nobody need reminding that the first week of November is election time in the United States with the perennial possible ramifications for Israel and the American Jewish community.  In 1984, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Republican Senator, Charles Percy lost to Paul Simon and the pro-Israel community took credit (whether fully-justified or not). In the words of then-AIPAC head, Tom Dine “All the Jews in America, from coast to coast, gathered to oust Percy. And the American politicians–those who hold public positions now, and those who aspire– got the message.”

Beyond U.S. elections, a list of November “Highpoints” for Israel and her supporters, would include the Balfour Declaration of 1917; the UN Partition Plan Vote  of 1947 (which somehow over the years, has been transformed into “November 29” and “Nakba” day). And Anwar Sadat’s amazing visit to Jerusalem in 1977 (I was in Israel at the time of the visit, as an overseas student at Tel Aviv University at the time at the Sadat Visit)

November lows would include Kristallnacht in 1938 and the heinous assassination of Yitzhak Rabin in 1995.

If the Partition Vote was the November highlight in the United Nations: it also saw several lowlights.  It is 50 years this month (November 1974) since the PLO’s Yasser Arafat first addressed the United Nations General Assembly (possibly wearing a revolver) with his finale “Today I have come bearing an olive branch and a freedom-fighter’s gun. Do not let the olive branch fall from my hand…”

A year later (November 1975): The UN General Assembly adopted the heinous “Zionism is Racism” resolution, attenuated only by the inspiring speeches from then US-Ambassador to the UN, Daniel Patrick Moynihan; and Israeli Ambassador to the UN (and future President and father of another future President) Chaim Herzog

November 1956 saw the Sinai Campaign (“Operation Kadech” ) with Israel taking Gaza and reaching Sharm El Sheik and the Anglo-French involvement taking the Suez Canal.  US pressure against the UK, France and Israel which resulted (after American threats) in David Ben-Gurion withdrawing Israeli troops from Sinai and Gaza in return for UN Peace Keeping troops. (That clearly worked out well – as we saw in 1967, and in the years since!)

Taking step towards peace: 1967 saw UN Resolution 242 adopted ostensibly setting the framework of Arab-Israel resolution” And in 1973 Israel and Egypt sign a cease-fire agreement, at Kilometer 101.

November 1979 saw the start of infamous 444-Day Iranian Hostage Crisis.  (When US elections came around a year later; Iran was still holding American diplomats hostage. (An act for which Iran was never really punished – even if President Carter was.)

There have been great moments and less great moments in the U.S.-Israel relationship. Already mentioned the pressure and threats of the Eisenhower Administration after the 1956 Sinai campaign. In 1985, Jonathan Pollard was arrested by the U.S for spying for Israel. Over the years Pollard’s action (and Israel’s actions with Pollard) had significant impact on US-Israel relations –  how American Jews in “sensitive” government positions, were perceived. On the brighter side: in November 1995; the Jerusalem Embassy bill became law. (It just took another 25 years before a President actually opened a US Embassy in Jerusalem. )

Other November actions: I944 British High Commissioner Lord Moyne Killed in Cairo by the Stern Gang

. In November 1983, Israel released over 4,500 Palestinian and Lebanese prisoners in return for six Israeli POWs.  Some questioned the skewed ratio of this exchange.

There have been innumerable acts of International Terrorism during Novembers including the 1974 Beit Shean Massacre. The 1990 killing in New York of Meir Kahane by El Sayyid Nosair (with all that later came out about the killing). There was also the slaughter of over 60 Tourists at Luxor in Egypt in 1997. In 2003 there were two suicide bombings at Synagogues in Turkey killing over 20 people…And the Paris Terrorist attacks of 2015 that killed over 130 people (leading to World expressions of support for France)

In the world beyond Israel and Jews but obviously impacted by these events; November saw the Russian Revolution in 1917. In 1918: An end finally came to “The War to End all Wars.” The Armistice famously coming at the 11th hour of the 11th day in the 11th month.  1963 of course saw the assassination of President John F. Kennedy (Conspiracists of course saying “The Mossad did it”) And then Kennedy’s assassin, Lee Harvey Oswald was   two days later by Jack Ruby. 1947:  The “Hollywood Ten” (six of the ten Jewish) were cited for contempt of Congress and went to prison. And in 
1950 there was the attempted assassination of  President Truman, then staying at Blair House.

To quote from Ecclesiastes (famously sang by The Byrds): “For every thing there is a season…a time to be born, and a time to die….a time to kill, and a time to heal….a time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

 
”

Zei Gezunt