An All-Purpose Paradigm: The West’s Absurd Claims of Israeli Racism
As the waitress whose family had come from Ethiopia put the pizza on the table at the Tel Aviv Italian restaurant, I contemplated the ridiculous misuse of “race” as a factor in the Arab-Israeli conflict. Regardless of skin color, we belong not only to the same country by way of citizenship but also to the same nation and people in a very profound way that isn’t true for countries that are merely geographical entities.
Among the scores of ridiculous things said, thought, and written about the Arab-Israeli conflict, the pretense that it has something to do with “race” ranks high among them. This has been interjected for two reasons.
First, this is a blatant attempt to demonize and delegitimize Israel.
Second, as part of that point but also due to trends in Western intellectual discussions, there is a conflation of nationality and race. Often, there is an attempt nowadays to portray any form of nationalism in the West as racist, though this is never applied to Third World nationalist situations. Neither the internal conflicts in Iraq (among Sunnis, Shias, and Kurds) nor in Lebanon (among numerous groups) are about race, but rather arise from national, ethnic, and religious (sometimes all rolled up into one) conflicts.
One of the most basic lessons in looking at foreign or international affairs is to understand that countries just don’t think alike about issues. America, and in a different way Europe, has been obsessed with race. That doesn’t mean everyone else is racially oriented. Israelis don’t think about skin color as such, and are well aware that Jews, while having a common ancestry, have been affected by many cultures and societies.
With intermarriage rates between Jews whose ancestors came from Europe and those who came from the Middle East approaching half in Israel today, there is no way to classify people. In fact, Israelis are far less interested than other countries about people’s ancestral travels.
Moreover, what does one say about such “darker-skinned” Israelis as my Hungarian-Yemenite colleague or my Syrian-origin pianist neighbor (whose wife is from Poland by way of Argentina)? There is absolutely no issue involved here. And many Israelis of European origin are not exactly “white” in their appearance.
Indeed, Israel has more “blacks” among its Jews (from Ethiopia) than do the Palestinians by far. Israeli media never use racial stereotypes or epithets while Arab and Palestinian media have had numerous racist remarks and cartoons about such American leaders as Colin Powell, Condoleezza Rice, and now even Barack Obama. In a recent radio interview, one of the leaders of the Islamist movement in Israel — in other words, from the Arab minority here — said that it was a disgrace that a black Israeli soldier could ask for the identity document of an Arab Muslim.
Yet such racism from the Arab/Palestinian side is ignored in the Western media.
While there have been some incidents in reaction to the arrival of Jews from Ethiopia, these have been few and universally rejected. Moreover, Israel has given refuge to the American “Black Hebrew” movement when it easily could have deported them.
It is officially estimated that at least 19 asylum seekers have been shot dead by Egyptian forces in Sinai. To my knowledge no one in this category has ever been injured in Israel.
European hypocrisy is on blatant display as they promote Palestinian-Islamic nationalism, Sharia law, and vile anti-Semitism, while they demonize the idea of a Jewish homeland and nationalism, “Zionism” as evil and racist.
Pure hypocrisy — attempting to disguise hatred.
Actually Aqua, the Western Left is equally disdainful of European Nationalism. They are anti European peoples, especially if they have fair skin.
That is why they opened up mass immigration of any and everybody, especially if they have brown skin and are equally disdainful of white European peoples (many of them indigenous).
Of course Jewish hypocrisy on this issue knows no bounds. However American Jews are starting to turn on Israel in this regards, preferring to hold the line against Euro Christians.
Conflating race with nationality is, of course, a core tenet of Naziism.
So, it fits perfectly that western intellectuals and academics would do this—they are at heart leftist dictators. Ralph Peters wrote (I paraphrase), “In the chest of the humanities chair beats the heart of a commissar.”
Since the Marxist-Leninist class warfare thing doesn’t work very well in this case, they use the Hitlerite nation=race thing. It’s all the same to them.
Remember that the Petulant Left has redefined “racism” to mean “principled opposition to Barry Dunham, his puppeteers, and transnational progressivism”. So, yes, Israelis are racists, as are conservatives, libertarians, and many populists in America.
The accusations that Israel and the United States are racist nations are utterly ridiculous—but the leftist community will remain unpersuaded. It has too much invested in race card politics. Nothing is going to change in the immediate future. We must therefore focus on marginalizing these ideologues.
Yeah. Conservatives in the US have been dealing with the race card for years now. All I can tell you is to just disregard it and hold strong. Ask them why they put so much emphasis on race. Frame the argument and make them look bad.
For the record, Jews come in ALL colors, and few in Israel give a rat’s behind about the differences.
Further, Arabs in Israel are treated as a protected minority.You read it right, a protected class, certainly not a persecuted one.Aside from the fact that they perform no national service, often side with our enemies, they are represented in our Knesset, in academia, medicine, cultural centers, and every other distinct arena, they are forever aggrieved.
However, there is a bigoted target in Israel from the ruling elite and a small percentage of their well connected, well funded leftist cohorts. The target group are Jewish nationalists, the ones whose only ‘crime’ is trying to keep our Jewish homeland from falling into enemy hands.
The fact of the matter is that the Arab sector has thousands of illegal buildings ALL over Israel, yet VERY few are demolished.However, Israel’s leaders had NO problem with rendering homeless 10,000 ! law abiding Jews, simply because they were Jews, and the Hamasnicks wanted the area ‘cleansed’.
Therefore, those who opine about racism in Israel should put their attention elsewhere, as the minority in Israel is allowed to do whatever the hell they want.
Israel has a right to remain majority Jewish, and to extend certain privileges to Jews over those accorded to Israeli Arabs. Whether this makes it racist or not, it certainly makes it an ethnonationalist state. And that is something that European nations and nations made up primarily of European descendants (USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand) are not allowed to be. And so I do see a little double-standard between what is permitted from Israelis and what is permitted for other white-majority nations.
I am soooo sick of hearing about Israeli racism and intolerance. The kibbutz that I lived on converted their guest houses (and lost a lot of money in the process) into temporary homes in order to take in Kosovo MOSLEM refugees in the 1990′s… the Israeli government spent millions of shekels airlifting Ethiopian Jews (and non-Jews) to resettle them in Israel. (and they promptly showed their gratitude by emulating their black American counterparts and cry racism at the drop of a hat)….Israeli soldiers risk their lives daily to protect Gazan women pouring over the border begging for sanctuary from their murderous male relatives…..gays in Israel have their own parades, equal military pension rights and enjoy full spousal rights as straights do…and I could go on and on. This nonsense has to stop. The bible clearly states that G-d will bless those that bless Israel and curse those that curse her. Perhaps that is why Europe is in such a rapid decline.
I support you my dear Israel and as an American I understand how frustrating it is to be accused of being racist or of basing every thing on race. This is certainly a trick that many have used as a get out of jail free card against American’s for years. If in understanding that you are not racist but only now notice such things as different nationalities because your acceptance and even love of other peoples is put in to question. Please understand that we as American citizens as a whole are not worried about race but merely about how to explain that what we do has nothing to do with race. This however does not include our most recent president who seems to have jumped off the deep end into pulling out any card that could make any God-fearing great country appear to be nothing more than racist scum. This of course includes America and his seeming desire to destroy us from with in.
Sincerely,
A Devout American Supporter of Israel
Mr. Rubin: an excellent article, and a point that urgently needs to be made from time to time. (If only it could be made just once! But Israel will have to defend herself again and again from the same charges, as she always has.)
A minor quibble: you go to great pains to explain that Israelis are not racist, and that Israelis come from all ethnicities and skin colors — which, as you point out, is not true of the Palestinians. Then, while explaining that sometimes it’s difficult to tell an Israeli from an Israeli Arab from a Palestinian on ethnic grounds alone, you say that there’s less racial variation between Israelis and Palestinians than there is among Europeans.
I understand what you’re trying to say, but this leaves an important hole in the case you’re trying to make.
In re Israeli racism: Menachem Begin said, when Operation Solomon was over (and the press quarantine was lifted), that for the first time in history, white people had brought black people en masse from one country to another — not to transport them into slavery, but to deliver them to freedom. It’s a powerful concept; is there another country on Earth that has done what Israel did, or ever would?
That, by the way, is the flip side of Israel as an “ethnonationalist state”, as commenter Pat Bunion puts it. Here was a case of tens of thousands of people, trapped between warring sides in a civil war, about to be decimated. Nobody in the world gave a damn about them… except Israel, because they were Jewish. So Israel rescued them, brought them home, and integrated them into Israeli society.
Would a Christian country go to such trouble to save the lives of thousands of black Christian refugees? Would a Muslim country? And if not, why not?
If you understand what Israel has had to undergo, and what Israel has done, then you will understand that Israel is by no means immune from criticism… but that Israel stands head and shoulders above her critics, and always has.
respectfully,
Daniel in Brookline
I assure you that a solid majority of Americans would have been glad to rescue as many Christians as possible from the Sudanese butchers. Most Americans would be happy to accept Christians fleeing from Islamist persecution and give them refugee status.
But in the leftist view, most Americans are knuckle-dragging, bigoted swine.
So our Enlightened Leaders save us from any natural temptation to help oppressed Christians, while fast-tracking Palestinians instead.
We aren’t allowed to care, or even talk about, Christians being persecuted by Muslims. It would be racist, or Islamophobic, or something. Something very bad.
“Would a Christian country go to such trouble to save the lives of thousands of black Christian refugees? Would a Muslim country?” Muslims would certainly not, as they are among the most discriminatory peoples – distinguishing believers from non-believers as a fundamental element of their culture and law. And among Muslims, Arabs consider themselves on a higher plane, especially higher than black Muslims who they refer to as “abeed” – the same word used for servants or slaves.
Think back to the recent crisis following the earthquake in Haiti. Saudi Arabia initially sent only “condolences” because, as one Saudis suggested, Haitians were “devil worshipers”. Besides, only Muslims are worthy recipients of ‘zakat’. But Israel was there on the scene, big time. The contrast couldn’t be more stark.
With all seriousness, there should be more jewish bloggers with video cameras takking video of these various actions (be they the taking in of refugees of different races, or the protecting the Gazan women or even the celebration of the gay pride parades.
While I think Israel is nearly totally in the right here, they need to get the word out more as to how accomodating they actually are, especially in comparison to the Palestininians or other Muslim countries. Post em on you tube and post a lot of them.
Sadly, too many people in this country, either anti samites or most people on the left (many of whom may also be anti samites) have gotten it in their head that Israel is an apartheid state. And a bit more of the day to day goodness of Israel shown on video might go along way. Though obviously some people are beyond reach.
Thank you for writing this Barry. It’s one of the main things that strikes me about Israeli society just from visiting and walking around. The other is what a child-centered culture it is. I never see the sniffy attitude toward parents when a kid gets cranky in public. Parents are pretty gentle with their kids in public (I have no idea if they scream at them at home), take them along everywhere. There are playgrounds everywhere with whole families hanging out. The kids seem to be indulged but not spoiled. This is just a general impression over 5 long visits.
As for the diversity of Israeli society…. a big meme among leftist Jews is “pluralism.” They all want to go to Israel to “work on pluralism.” Most of them have been there so they know what Israeli society is like, even if they hang out with other Anglo Jews. I would love to know what “pluralism” means to them that they think Israel is so deficient in it that they have to make “pluralism in Israel” their project.
We know it’s all about their posturing and double standards, but I want to hear THEM explain their rationale to me. Haven’t had a chance yet to put this to them, since they themselves hang out in little enclaves of the like-minded, who all come from the same backgrounds, went to the same schools, graduated with the same degrees, do the same kind of (non-profit) work, and live in the same neighborhoods. I have had opportunities which I have not taken advantage of, keeping my eye out for new ones…..
“The white race is the cancer of history.” — Susan Sontag
“Susan Sontag is the skin rash of the hominid genera, maybe even vertebrates in general.”-Bob from Virginia
I’ve been to Israel many times and the Arab population is everywhere on the streets, malls… and no one gives a second glance. There is little trouble except some obligatory mouthing off (must seem to hate for acceptance by Palestinians). In truth, they do not want to be swapped to the new Palestinian state where the living standard is lower and there is mafia-like governance. Bedouin Moslems in northern Israel volunteer to serve in the army and even serve as ambassadors of good will around the world. They know they are treated more fairly in Israel than anywhere else in the Mideast.
Particularly in the case of Obama, I ask only the question “when can a white person oppose Obama policies and not be labeled a racist?” (No constructive reply expected.) For 50 years, the r-word has been the Swiss-army knife of what passes for leftist intellectualism. It is a common response to legitimate points of view that requires the mental acuity of a six-year old to deploy and will instantly kill an uncomfortable dialogue that is beginning to require actual thought that may drift into the areas of logic and even principle. I would venture to say that, like ‘nazi’ and ‘hitler’, when used today it serves mostly as a flag of mental weakness.
After the Haiti disaster, was it not reported that the Israeli search and rescue teams were on the ground days before the U.S. teams arrived? How does this support the notion of Israeli racism? Clearly, in the debate about Israel, facts are ignored in favor bogus assertions and lies propagated in support of the twisted anti-Israeli meme adopted by the West’s cultural and media elites.
The article makes very good points; mostly, that 3rd world nationalist movements, no matter how blatantly vile and racist, are considered “Revolutionists” by the Left of the world. The most famous “revolutionaries” of our past. Che Guevara was a rabid racist (and mass murderer) who despised the native populations and blacks of Central and South America. Try reading the Quran some time. Mohammad despised blacks, calling them “pug nosed mongrel beasts only suitable for slavery,” yet blacks make up the largest portion of the Muslim population.
This notion of race is absurd – there is one race: The human race – the true issue is culture, and NO, not all cultures are equal. Arab? such a title only describes a general region in which one’s heritage is native to; there are Jewish Arabs, Muslim Arabs and Christian Arabs.
The disinformation spread by leftists and race-baiters never ceases to amaze me. They proclaim that non-Jews have inferior status by law in Israel, which is a flat-out lie, unlike a “Palestinian’s” status in Jordan or Syria or Egypt, in which, they are proclaimed by law to be second-class subhumans.
Israel keep saying they are the people of God
If they really are the people of God, why don’t they obey ONU and international laws?
If they really are the people of God why they do not obey the TORAH?
Why they have so many nuclear weapons? To figth mountai civil people?
If they are the people of Goad, why the domoshed the arab cemitery to build their apartment buildings over it.
Is this what a really people of God should do?
Think about it, in the name of God.