I’ve a secret to inform my progressive associates in Seattle. I’m a Zionist. I consider in the best of Israel to proceed present as a nation-state.
I’m additionally anti-military occupation of Palestinians within the West Financial institution, towards the siege on Gaza, towards the unrecognized citizenship of Palestinians dwelling in east Jerusalem, towards discrimination towards Palestinian residents of Israel, and I’m for a cease-fire, return of the hostages, reparations and a diplomatic answer that features significant Palestinian sovereignty. Jewish folks, together with these outdoors of Israel, must be part of advocating for the best aspect of justice on this violent, protracted and tragic ethnic and political battle. And it’s not solely anti-Zionist Jews who’ve one thing to contribute to Palestinian liberation, although they’ve turn into the ethical darlings of the left and the one celebrated Jewish voices.
The binary framing of the battle right this moment promotes the concept that to be a pro-Palestine advocate on the progressive left one should undertake particular norms — refute Jewish claims of complexity, keep away from participating with those that ask for dialogue, prioritize Palestinian nationwide self-determination over Israel’s or a two-state answer, and settle for Palestinian violence towards civilians as justified resistance. It is smart to me that Palestinians and Israelis dwelling within the battle would develop what The New York Occasions referred to as a deadly psychological chasm, however I anticipate one thing totally different from these of us with the luxurious of peace and security, the privilege to intellectualize from our pc screens, and the liberty to march on the streets. These of us farther from the trauma must be higher in a position to interact with individuals who disagree, and make extra efforts to construct coalitions throughout shared values.
Early in November there was an effort in Seattle to assemble Jewish and Muslim group members collectively in a Washington Solidarity Assertion. The assertion referred to as for a cease-fire, return of the Israeli hostages, an finish to the Israeli army occupation, and an finish to Islamophobia and antisemitism. Whereas 2,500 signatures had been gathered (together with my very own), solely a small handful of progressive Zionist Jews signed the assertion. I heard different causes for why others didn’t signal a press release that they typically agreed with. It got here all the way down to an absence of belief that the individuals who authored the assertion consider in Israel’s proper to exist. What a missed alternative to construct an even bigger cease-fire coalition, and to name for security and dignity for everybody.
Los Angeles-based Rabbi Sharon Brous has been a religious and ethical information for me throughout these unimaginable months. On Nov. 11 she gave a sermon reminding us that there’s a third manner past the dichotomy — “To combat to see humanity, even when our personal humanity has been denied, and demand on a complexity in a world of simplistic certainties, and fluidity in a time of binaries.” She calls on us to search out an island between the dichotomous “sides” of this battle.
On the bottom, Israeli and Palestinian peace activists from grassroots organizations resembling Standing Collectively are in a position to forge this path regardless of the upcoming threats to their lives posed by the battle. Their solidarity work just isn’t the sort of “kumbaya” method that places an idealized model of peace on a pedestal. It’s a demonstration of what it seems wish to battle to carry a number of truths.
I’ve been looking excessive and low for my island. However, actually, it has been troublesome to search out. This gut-wrenching spherical of the Israeli-Palestinian battle has animated the strangest of bedfellows — Jewish Democrats with antisemitic white nationalist-leaning Republicans, and Western progressives and intellectuals with violent political Islamist teams. This weird dystopian world through which we stay misses the chance for significant solidarity of teams with shared values — on this case, the allyship of pro-Palestinian activists with progressive Zionist Jews. How can all of us discover one another once more on this mess? I’m certain if we will, we can be extra productive in our work towards peace and justice from our little nook of the world.
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