An Israeli Perspective

Americans have no problem offering their opinions when they have no facts.  Antisemitism is a perfect case in point.  Antisemitism is so old there must be some truth to it.  There are so few Jews and they don't fight back.  Worst case scenario, you say something and he takes offense and you didn't even know he was Jewish.  Good people everywhere hurled the charge of "war crimes" at the state of Israel before she even declared statehood.

The following is a response to a careless young man who didn't know what he was talking about.  One wonders just how long we must wait for young men to grow up and take responsibility for the words they speak.

Herewith, my responses to charges made against the state of Israel.  By people who didn't know any better.

 

Apartheid: an apartheid state’s minority oppresses its non-white majority

Israel is 74% Jewish, 18% Muslim, 2% Christian and other 6%.  68% of Israeli Jews were born in Israel.  Half of these Israeli Jews are descendants of Europeans, while half are descendants from Arab Muslim countries.  Israeli Arabs are not oppressed; they have the same rights as Israeli Jews.  They have more rights than the common man and woman in any majority Muslim population.

 

Genocide: the deliberate extermination of a people

The classic case of genocide is the Holocaust.  The Nazis killed 2/3 of all Jews living in Europe.

The population of Muslims living in Gaza and the West Bank has increased by 3% annually since 1970, while the population of Jews living in Israel has increased by 2% annually since 1970.

If we accept the number of deaths claimed by the Palestinian authorities, 42,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israelis; Gaza’s population is 2.142 million; Israel’s “genocide” has killed 2% of Gaza’s Palestinian population.

Since 1925, 100 years ago, there have been 20 genocides with casualties greater than Gaza’s losses; since 1950, a dozen; since 1980, six.  Can you name two more genocides besides the Holocaust?

If this is a genocide, Israel is doing a rather poor job.  Maybe you don’t really care unless Jews are the killers.

 

Ethnic Cleansing: the removal of an ethnic population from a community

In today’s Israel, 18% of its population is Muslim Arabs.  They have not been “removed” nor are they oppressed.

In 1948, there were some 900,000 Jews living in communities throughout the Arab world. Today, the Jewish community is extinct in Libya, Iraq, Sudan and Afghanistan.  Jews number less than 100 in Egypt, Yemen, Syria, Lebanon, Bahrain, and Bangladesh.  Turkey and Iran are the only Muslim nations that are home to more than 1% of their Jewish population in 1948.  Is the loss of 98 - 99% of its 1948 population enough of a loss to be called ethnic cleansing?

 

Refugees: people displaced from their homes by war

The Palestinian Refugee Crisis is the only refugee problem in history where children and grandchildren of the original refugees are still considered refugees (see UNRWA).  In 1948, 750,000 Arabs fled Israel (mostly at the urging of the Muslim armies) and 150,000 remained in Israel.  Palestinian “refugees” now number 5,900,000.  Those who stayed, and their children and grandchildren, live better lives (socially, economically, politically) in Israel not only than their refugee counterparts but than a typical Muslim living in majority Muslim countries.  A rather significant piece of the Palestinian refugees puzzle is the refusal on the part of the nation states where they reside to grant them citizenship (turns out that Palestinians are a bother).

 

Right of Return

a) Palestinian version: a non-negotiable demand of Palestinian leadership that Palestinian refugees have a legal right to the land and property that they abandoned in 1948.

b) Israeli version: the right of any Jew to settle and become a citizen of Israel.

“What is yours is mine” vs. “welcome.”

  

Zionists: people who believe that Jews have a right to a homeland

If only because they won an aggressive war of annihilation against them in 1948, and following.  

There are more Zionists who are Christian than there are Jews in the world.

An anti-Zionist may further believe that no Jews should live in a Palestinian state.  Or that killing Jews anywhere is a worthy goal.

 

Killing babies: a special and horrific case of war’s collateral damage

While the charge is true, what is equally true is that Muslim Arabs have quite deliberately targeted civilians, including women and children and babies, since before 1948.  The IDF has never deliberately targeted civilians, women or children.

 

October 7th

All of the above charges exploded after Israel dared to respond militarily to Hamas's classic declaration of war on October 7th, 2023.  Antisemitism, or Jew hatred, did not originate days before or after October 7th, or even in 1948; it has been a constant theme of history (mostly in the West) for 2000 years.  Mostly because Jews have been few in number and rarely armed, mostly because Jews have refused to convert, mostly because Jews have been perceived as too successful but always by devious means, and mostly because those who live “lives of quiet desperation” need someone to blame for their own misery.

 

Goals

Israelis: peace.

Palestinians: Free Palestine, from the river to the sea (no Israel, no Jews). 

Coda

You had Jewish friends, you said something offensive without meaning to, you didn’t know you should apologize, they dropped you as a friend.

Addendum: Saturday, 10/05/2024

I sent a link to this essay to a friend of mine, a man in his 60’s, asking for feedback.  He replied: I really don't know enough to comment. Got to do some reading!

He did not mention what he needed to read or how long he would need before feeling competent to comment, so I figured I would help him out.  I have a young friend who is a bit of an expert using ChatGPT, at least compared with me.  So, I asked him to get feedback from ChatGPT.  He fed ChatGPT this question: Can you proofread this essay to check for factual or logical errors?

Here is ChatGPT’s reply, with a) boldfacing to alert the reader that ChatGPT has given its stamp of approval to some statement that I have claimed to be factual.  When I write “you” I am speaking directly to ChatGPT

So, ChatGPT, take it away!

 

Your essay presents a strong viewpoint, but there are some factual inaccuracies and areas where clarification could help avoid logical errors {I did not find any "factual inaccuracies" or “logical errors” in your analysis; please point them out} or oversimplifications. Here are some points to consider:

• Israel’s Demographics: The figures you’ve presented for Israel’s religious demographics—74% Jewish, 18% Muslim, 2% Christian—are roughly accurate, but the “other 6%” may need further clarification as they generally include smaller religious groups and those who identify as “other” in censuses. Additionally, stating that 68% of Israeli Jews were born in Israel is correct but the breakdown of descendants from European and Arab Muslim countries could be more nuanced. Some Jews from Arab countries (Mizrahi Jews) also have complex histories of migration and identity that could be explored more accurately.
• But all I am trying to do is show that Jewish Israel is not 100% Jewish, unlike the Muslim Arab countries in the region.  And that Israel is not a White European colonizing power.  I am sure that a discussion of Mizrahi Jews would be interesting but has nothing to do with my thesis, one way or another.
• Rights of Israeli Arabs: While Israeli Arabs do have citizenship rights, the claim that they “have more rights than the common man and woman in any majority Muslim population” is a broad generalization. In practice, Israeli Arabs face systemic challenges, such as unequal allocation of resources in education and infrastructure and disparities in housing. Though they have voting rights and representation in the Knesset, there are ongoing debates about whether they experience full equality in comparison to Jewish citizens.  
• An accurate generalization.  There are no "debates" in Gaza – unlike endless debates in Israel – too dangerous.  Inequality, official and otherwise, is a human phenomenon; Israel has its issues, as do Americans, and every nation on the face of the Earth.  What ChatGPT said about Israeli Arabs can equally be said about Mizrahi Jews, the largest portion of Jews in Israel.  And where else in the Arab Muslim world do Muslims have as many rights as they do in Israel?
• Genocide Definition: Your definition of genocide is correct, but the comparison of population growth rates between Palestinians and Jews doesn’t directly refute claims of genocide. Genocide involves intent to destroy a people, in whole or in part, and is not solely measured by population numbers.  The “2% of Gaza’s population killed” argument simplifies the complexities of conflict and casualty counts.  Additionally, framing the argument as “Maybe you don’t care unless Jews are the killers” is an emotionally charged statement that might undermine your credibility in presenting a balanced argument.
• Genocide is intent?  Intent with no action is just a thought; genocide is ALL action!  If intent defines genocide, look at every Palestinian charter for clear statements of their intent to destroy the Jewish state and all its inhabitants; the Israeli PM’s intent is to destroy Hamas, the political-military force in Gaza, not the Palestinian people; not genocide, but war.  And genocides never stop at 2%.  ChatGPT seems to prefer complexity and confusion to clarity.  A balanced argument?  Like the woman who was raped was equally responsible for the act of rape?
• Ethnic Cleansing: The term ethnic cleansing, like genocide, has a specific meaning: the forced removal of a population. Your statistics about Jewish populations in Arab countries after 1948 are largely accurate, but many scholars suggest that the exodus of Jews from Arab lands was influenced by a mix of factors including persecution, state-sponsored campaigns, and the broader Arab-Israeli conflict. It's debatable whether all these cases qualify as ethnic cleansing, as some involved complex voluntary migration patterns, while others were indeed forced.
• Gimme a break, Jews fled the land they had lived in for centuries voluntarily?  Yeah, to avoid slaughter.
• Palestinian Refugees: The statement that Palestinians are the only refugee group where descendants are still considered refugees (under UNRWA) is largely correct. However, it's important to acknowledge that this classification is a result of international decisions and policies , and not necessarily a manipulation of refugee status. The assertion that Palestinians in Israel “live better lives” than refugees or people in other Muslim countries is also a broad {and accurate} claim that doesn’t take into account the diversity of experiences and challenges faced by different populations.
• In all of world history, permanent refugee status spanning generations is utterly unique to these Palestinian people.  They would have done better had they moved on with their lives.  Who cares whose idea it was?  “The diversity of experiences and challenges faced by different populations”?  Oh, stop!  This is a blog post, not a book!  Not to mention, that the level of detail that ChatGPT claims to prefer would only detract from my readers’ understanding what I am trying to say, valid or otherwise.
• Right of Return: The contrast between the Palestinian and Israeli versions of the right of return is valid, but describing the Palestinian version as “What is yours is mine” is pejorative. This kind of language detracts from an objective analysis.  The Palestinian right of return is based on their claim to property and land lost during the 1948 war, while the Israeli version is grounded in the Law of Return for Jews. A more neutral comparison would strengthen your argument.
• The Palestinian “right of return” (the “right” to ownership of homes and property that people abandoned, most often at the urging of their own leaders who were quite sure that their war of extermination would succeed; keep in mind that many Palestinian Arabs remained and now live better [inarguable!] lives than Palestinians living in Gaza or the West Bank) is pejorative, it IS theft.  The Israeli Right of Return is a more generous version of our own naturalization laws.  A “neutral comparison” between these “Rights of Return” would be a bald-faced lie.  What ChatGPT really means by an “objective analysis” is that neither side is more right or wrong than the other.
• Zionists and Anti-Zionists: The idea that there are more Christian Zionists than Jewish Zionists is a point worth elaborating on, as Christian Zionism has significant political and religious roots, particularly in the U.S. Regarding anti-Zionism, it’s important to distinguish between opposition to Israeli policies or the existence of a Jewish state and outright support for violence against Jews.  Conflating all anti-Zionists with people who support “killing Jews anywhere” oversimplifies a complex issue.
• My only point is: Jews are not the only Zionists (people who believe that Jews are entitled to their own land, their own nation-state).  No sane person equates opposition to Israeli policies (PM Bibi Netanyahu policies) with anti-Zionism.  Period!  Opposition to the existence of the Jewish state is 100% clear support of violence against Jews, as the only way that Jews will give up Israel is by losing a war of annihilation; if you don’t know that, you are a fool.  OK, fine, maybe only killing Jews in Israel or in Muslim countries or Muslim neighborhoods worldwide.  Complex?  What is complex about it?
• Killing Babies: The topic of civilian casualties in conflict is always sensitive. While your claim that the IDF does not deliberately target civilians may be supported by official policy, there have been accusations and investigations by international organizations that challenge this. On the other hand, groups like Hamas have been documented targeting civilians, which is a critical distinction.
• So, killing civilians, especially women and children, should always be condemned, especially when it is NOT the policy of one’s own leadership.  Those “international organizations” have shown their antisemitic, anti-Zionist stripes for decades, ever since Israel declared its own statehood in 1948.
• October 7th: The statement that antisemitism has existed for 2,000 years is accurate, and your explanation of some of the historical causes is generally correct, though oversimplified. The sentence “Maybe because Jews have been perceived as too successful but always by devious means” could be rephrased to avoid reinforcing harmful stereotypes, even while discussing them.
• ChatGPT just hates simplicity and generalizations; but a ChatGPT version of my short essay would be ten times as long.  ChatGPT seems to suggest that my talking about antisemitism is responsible for it.  Wow!
• Coda: The final section is a personal commentary that seems out of place in an otherwise politically charged essay.  If you intend to use it as a rhetorical device, it would benefit from further elaboration or explanation to connect it to the broader themes of the essay.
• What???

Summary of Suggested Improvements:

• Avoid generalizations about Israeli Arabs and the rights of people in Muslim-majority countries.
• Why?  Good generalizations are not useful?
• Clarify the difference between population growth and genocide, and avoid inflammatory language.
• See above.
• Use more precise language regarding ethnic cleansing and the Jewish exodus from Arab lands.
• If a minority population is threatened by a nation's government, and they escape before being captured, do they have to wait around and be murdered for it to be called cleansing?  And, yeah, I know it is Israel that has been charged with ethnic cleansing, but that is just a tactic to deflect scrutiny of their own actions.
• Reframe the Palestinian right of return discussion in a less pejorative manner.

o    Only if theft can be made non-pejorative.  The Palestinian Righty of Return is a non-negotiable demand of the Palestinian leadership, intended to make negotiating for a two-state solution, or for a lasting peace, impossible.

• Be cautious when discussing anti-Zionism and avoid broad stereotypes or assumptions.

o   Why?  Anti-Zionism calls for the end of any Jewish state; it looks pretty antisemitic to me.

• Consider more nuance in discussions of military tactics and civilian casualties.

o   How about all the civilian casualties suffered by Israelis for 75 years while not at war?

• This would help provide a more balanced, factually grounded argument.

o   My argument IS factually grounded, ChatGPT said so seven times.  Lack of balance is not the author’s fault; it is the reality of the situation.  Many of the claims of the Palestinian side are a clear instance of George Orwell’s doublethink.

o   Antisemitism did not appear for the first time last October, nor in 1948, nor in the 1890’s, nor 500 years ago, and it even has a checkered past in the good ole USA.  It is sad, but predictable, that it has reared its head recently among otherwise bright college freshmen with no history of caring about history.

o   with a nod to Kurt Vonnegut, “and so it goes.”}

o   I can only hope that my words make a difference.  But I'm not holding my breath; most antisemites deny their own Jew hatred, even to themselves, it is such a nasty word!

 

 

Addendum: Sunday, 10/13/2024

Happy 35th Birthday, AOC!  Old enough to run for president.  Wise enough to mature and learn what you have to learn?

I wonder if the definition of a Zionist - someone who believes that Jews have a right to their own homeland - makes it clear that an anti-Zionist is one who believes otherwise.  I see no wiggle-room for any anti-Zionist to claim that he is not an antisemite.  Yes, I know: there are Jewish anti-Zionists; and yes, there are antisemitic Jews.  We are a rowdy bunch: ask 100 Jews for an opinion on a single question and you will get 102 opinions!  And some of these Jews live in Israel!

Addendum: Monday, 11/18/2024

I avoided a discussion of ChatGPT's "logical inaccuracies" because, a) it made the same points as the factual inaccuracies essay, and b) it was three times the length of my original blog post.  The most remarkable takeaway from its discussion is how utterly boring/soporific its "suggested revisions" are.  And how it really hates generalizations, the hallmark of all social sciences (a "generalization").  And it preferred that I write an objective analysis rather than a partisan argument.  There is a time and place for objective analysis, when the author is convinced that neither side is right or wrong, that neither side is more good or evil, and that the reader does not have the wisdom to discern the truth when both sides get to tell their story.  It would not do well for ChatGPT to argue a casein a courtroom, as its client would surely lose.  Try writing an objective analysis of World War II.  "For more than 2000 years, Jews have been scapegoats, so they must have deserved it."  "Your kid is always the victim of the high school bully, so he must have deserved it."  "You were raped, you must have provoked the rapist."  I trust the reader to listen to both sides, and to judge which side has more merit.

Jews are 1/5th of 1% of the world's population, two human beings out of every thousand.  But the world, the Western world, Christians and Muslims who represent more than half of the world's population, can't seem to get through a day without expressing an opinion, an ugly opinion, about Jews, not individual Jews, but as a people.  Sad, very sad.

Addendum: Thursday, 12/12/2024

Bashar al-Assad has been ... deposed and now resides - where else - in Russia, as a guest of Vlad Putin.  The civil war that erupted in 2011 to remove him from power has cost the lives of ... 620,000(!) Syrians.  That is 48,000 dead per year, more than Gaza claims have been killed by the IDF in 14 months, but for 13 years!  No one talks about Syrian deaths, they don't have the P.R. apparatus of the Palestinians.  And, so it goes.