State Sponsored Anti-Semitism is Rife

Norwegian Attorney General Tor Aksel Busch last week decided that a comment cursing Jews, that was made by Norwegian Muslim rapper Kaveh Kholardi during a concert last year, is not anti-Semitic hate speech but rather legitimate criticism of Israel.  Kholardi made the comment "f*cking Jews" at a family-friendly concert in June 2018 to promote diversity.  It was not bad enough that Iranian-born Kholardi thought it was acceptable to make this comment at his concert.  This has been exacerbated by the fact that two different public officials in Norway have ruled that this comment does not constitute hate speech.  State Prosecutor Trude Antonsen found that,while derogatory and offensive, the remark did not constitute a criminal act.  This may well be the case under the laws of Norway, in which case the laws need some adjustment.  But the fact that the attorney general decided that this constitutes legitimate criticism of Israel, is perhaps more offensive than the original comment.

I am enraged by this decision for a number of reasons.  When a performing artist stands up at a public concert and says "f*cking Jews", it seems to me that his comment is clear and speaks for itself.  The fact that he may say afterwards that he was only joking does not unring the bell or make his statement any more acceptable.  Surely there can be no clearer example of anti-Semitic speech than this statement.  There is no interpretation required, and there can be no accusation that the statement was taken out of context.  Such a statement is anti-Semitic no matter what the context.  It is offensive, unacceptable and illegal in many countries around the world.

Why would anybody believe that this statement translates into criticism of Israel in any way?  Aside from the fact that Israel happens to be a Jewish state, and that many of the Jews there would be extremely offended by the statement, there is no link between this curse of Jews and criticism of Israel.  In my view, criticism of Israel may refer to particular policies of the government or actions of those acting on behalf of the state.  A blanket curse of all Jews in this way has surely nothing to do with legitimate criticism of Israel.  If, for one fleeting moment, I was to accept the fact that this curse was an act of criticism of Israel, could it in any way be considered to be legitimate?  I have my sincere doubts.  Just because I feel that the Norwegian attorney general has acted to embarrass his country and insult me and my people, I would not be justified to say "f*cking Norwegians" as a response.  And I would not do so.  Instead, I would be happier and more justified to say "f*ck Tor Aksel Busch for being an anti-Semite".

The notion that anti-Semitism can be justified and made politically correct by dressing it up as legitimate criticism of Israel needs to be opposed as strongly as possible.  It is becoming more and more accepted that anti-Jewish rhetoric and actions are OK because Israel is deserving of criticism.  It is equally common-place that anti-Semitism is expressed as criticism of Israel.  This legitmisation is reinforced when international bodies and representatives of national governments confirm its acceptability.  It should be clear that this is not acceptable, and that Jews and Israel will not tolerate it.  The fact that Israel gets involved in the protection of Jews and Jewish rights around the world, does not justify anti-Semitism being disguised as legitimate criticism of Israel.

Mr. Busch should be ashamed of his position and his statement on this matter.  He is clearly part of the problem, and not part of the solution.  It is shameful that people like him are left to be the guardians and judges of what is hate speech and what is acceptable.  This act requires the Norwegian government to fire him from his position without delay, and condemn him in the strongest possible terms.  The Norwegian government and Norwegian people should be embarrassed of this decision, and they become complicit by not acting to reverse it.

As Jews, we have come to expect anti-Semitic rhetoric from the general public, particularly those who come from backgrounds that typically hold an entrenched and natural hate towards Jews.  In recent years, laws have been enacted to protect us from having to tolerate hate speech, laws that also serve to protect other minority groups.  These laws become a joke if they are left under the auspices of people like Tor Aksel Busch to interpret and implement.  This effectively reinforces anti-Semitism at an institutional and governmental level.  The last time that this happened was in the lead-up to the annihilation of 6 million Jews as part of an anti-Semitic genocide sponsored by states and governments,  This will never be allowed to happen again, in spite of haters like Tor Aksel Busch.

Reflecting on Israel at 70

As the festivities of the celebration of the 70th anniversary of Independence die away, there is the inevitable return to the reality of everyday living.  Each of us returns to our daily chores of working, studying and taking care of our usual activities.  The threatening protesters are gathered once again on the Gaza border as before.  Iran still continues to threaten to annihilate Israel.  The usual attacks, both verbal and physical are again being perpetrated.  All continues as it was, and little changes.

And yet, this is the beauty of the reality.  Unlike a birthday when the special day lasts only 24 hours until next year at the same time, the celebration of 70 years of independence continues even after the festivities are gone and forgotten.  Because every day in Israel is a celebration of independence.  The reality of the daily grind of life in an independent country is a part of the success.  Not only that, but the 70 years becomes 70 years and a day, and another day, building steadily each moment with greater and greater independence and confidence.

This seems a good moment to reflect, not only on the past and the present, but also upon where things are leading in the future.  To consider that 70 years have not only brought massive growth, development and progress in Israel, but have also allowed for the rebuilding of a nation.  The population has grown from a little more than 800 thousand to almost 9 million in a short 70 years.  The country's infrastructure and economy has grown along with the population to support it, and it has been able to absorb and integrate the large numbers of Jews who have immigrated to Israel over the years.  This is a huge achievement, unrivalled in modern times.  In addition, these 70 years have brought Jewish growth and pride even outside of Israel.  The Jewish people are experiencing one of the greatest periods in Jewish learning in history, something that could not have been dreamt of 70 years ago.  All that Israel stands for and has achieved reaches every corner of the Jewish world, and the non-Jewish world.

The miracle of the survival of Israel against the odds, and against the will of the surrounding Arab countries and their armies has been recounted numerous times and is well documented.  Somehow, it seems that the enormity of this miracle can never be sufficiently emphasized.  There is no logic to explain how it is that the Israelis and Jews still have their state after so many attempts to wipe it off the map.  And this has not been only survival, the 70 years have been enormously productive in terms of the growth, development and ingenuity that have been brought to the state and the wider world.  So many technological advances have come out of Israel that have also made a huge contribution to people around the world.  These have come in so many different fields, including computing, telecommunications, medical, agriculture and many others.  So many Israeli inventions are incorporated into products that are used around the world as a matter of course.  Undoubtedly, one of Israel's greatest inventions has been the Iron Dome anti-missile system.  Not only is this a great military development in its own right, it has afforded Israel the protection that it needs to continue to build and innovate in safety.

The routine in Israel has proved to be part of the joy and success.  Whether it be the routine of another attack to take out weapons that threaten the safety of the state, or whether it be the routine of another Shabbat with the regular smells of chicken soup and the sight of white shirts.  There is also the routine of competing on the world stage in the blue and white in sporting and cultural events, and in showing presence and contribution in the international community in general.

The daily grind that we see in the Jewish state today would have been inconceivable to so many Jews who were sent to their deaths in the years that preceded the founding of the state.  And while the obvious fact that all young Israelis will be called to serve in the military to defend the state is just part of the daily routine, it remains a source of wonder and pride to so many who experienced being a Jew in a world without a Jewish army.  We think about so many who were not spared to see this routine, and who would have rejoiced in it.

Anti-Semitism is again on the rise in the most dramatic fashion.  It is well documented and accepted that Europe is now a hotbed of anti-Semitic activity.  The number of anti-Semitic incidents in Europe continues to rise each year, and Jews living there are feeling more at risk than ever before in the last 70 years.  The same is true of the USA where anti-Semitic sentiment is dramatically on the rise.  Shining through all of this is the fight by the Jewish state in defence of Jews around the world.

We feel comfort and security in the routine that Israel has developed.  Events are great to celebrate, but the greatest celebration is the return to the status quo.  The new status quo that has only become possible for Jews as a result of the founding of the Jewish state.  And despite all the threats against Israel, against Israelis and against Jews, the routine of Israel incorporates the defence of Jews and Jewish values around the world.  This gives much to celebrate.

As we look forward to the next 70 years, it seems that it will be difficult to rival the achievements of the last 70 years.  The development from almost zero seems astonishing due to the low starting point and lack of resources and support.  And yet, the achievements are clear for all to see.  This provides a huge incentive to achieve similar greatness in the years to come, this time starting from a much higher level.  The routine in Israel is encouraging this, and providing the platform to continue these phenomenal achievements.

Am Yisrael Chai.

The Historical Entitlement Argument Does Not Work

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The link between the Jews and the land of Israel is undeniable.  The extent to which Jewish history has played itself out in this land makes it inconceivable that a Jewish state could exist anywhere else in the world.  We feel this link every day as we pray to be in Zion and the rebuilt city of Jerusalem, and we experience it every week in our readings of the Torah that mention places that still carry the same names to this very day.  The festivals that we celebrate are frequently associated with particular places in this land, and the graves of our revered forefathers and mothers are within our borders.  Perhaps, most of all, the site of the holy Temple, destroyed almost 2,000 years ago in the city of Jerusalem, remains the holiest site in our religion and culture.  Despite offers to create a Jewish homeland in other parts of the world, Jews through the generations could never have accepted a  Jewish state anywhere other than in the land of Israel.

In spite of this, the international community continues to question the rights that Jews have to be in the land of Israel, and to have their own homeland there.  This forces Israelis into defending why they have the right to state in the land of Israel.  The main argument that Jews use to justify their right to be there, is on the basis of historical links and entitlement.  Typical justifications include the fact that it is written in the Old Testament about the borders of the Jewish state, or that there has been more then 2,000 years of continuous Jewish presence in the land.  This is true despite numerous attempts over the years to expel the Jews from the land of Israel.  It is my view, however, that the ongoing attempts to prove rights to the land by Jews via these avenues, serve to weaken the claim rather than to strengthen it.  Even the act of trying to justify the rights at all represents a weakness in my eyes.

Israel is the only member of the UN whose right to exist is continuously questioned, and whose future existence is openly threatened.  Other members of the UN have no qualms in calling for Israel's destruction, knowing full well that this comes without any consequences.  Without the support of the members of the international community who should speak up against such atrocious threats and behaviour, Israel is drawn into the vacuum and feels the need to defend herself.  While this is a natural response to such vile threats, the act of going on the defensive only goads the bullies into increasing their attacks.  This creates a vicious circle which has no end to it.

Under UN partition plan in 1947, independent Arab and Jewish states were approved to be established in the former British mandate of Palestine.   This was confirmed by a two-thirds majority of states present and voting at the UN General Assembly.  Despite the fact that 13 countries voted against the plan and a further 10 countries abstained, the will of the 33 countries who voted in favour of the resolution was implemented.  This concluded any questions about who would have the right to live in the land, and to set up their state there.  The fact that the Arabs rejected the plan and refused to establish their state as envisaged does not detract from their right to do so, nor from the right of the Jews to do the same.  This was clearly laid down in resolution 181(II) and passed on 29 November 1947.

The justification for a Jewish state in the land of Israel is embodied solely in the UN resolution that presented this right.  Since the moment that the resolution was passed, the arguments surrounding historical entitlement or continuous presence (or anything else) were effectively set aside and became less significant as points in order to prove entitlement.  Perhaps these matters were considered in the extensive work and report issued by the United Nations Special Committee on Palestine (UNSCOP).  Now that the recommendations of the committee have been accepted, the partition plan approved and the State of Israel established, there is no room to question this any further.  And it is certainly not acceptable to call for the destruction of the State of Israel, a country that was set up by a UN mandate with a two-thirds majority.

By continuing to put forward the argument of historical links and rights to the land, Israelis effectively give detractors justification to ignore the importance of the UN vote.  This negates the vote, and its legal significance.  It also gives  people the opportunity to open all types of debates to negate the historical rights arguments.  Not everybody believes what is written in the Bible, and it is almost impossible to conivince them otherwise.  Similarly, the debate whether or not Jews have really had a continuous presence in the land of Israel.  Facts of history are frequently difficult to prove unequivocally.  This is an argument that can never really be proved or won, in one direction or the other.  It is futile, and shows only that Israelis are happy to reopen this debate that cannot really prove anything in either direction.

The time has come to stop using arguments to justify Jewish presence in the land of Israel, that simply serve to weaken its right.  This is not to say that the historical link is unimportant to the Jewish soul.  On the contrary, this is what drove the Jews to fight so hard for their homeland in this place over so many years.  Now that this homeland is a reality, these arguments are no longer useful as political arguments, and are mostly unhelpful.  Instead, the vote by the international community that legitimised the Jewish homeland in Israel is the one and only relevant argument.  And, while it is true that the map of Israel today is not quite the map that was approved by the UN in 1947, it is equally true to note that the Arab state that was approved in that same UN vote was never accepted.  Instead, the land that was earmarked for the Arab state has simply been used as a springboard to try to destroy the Jewish state.

The Jewish state could never be anywhere else, other than in the historical Jewish homeland.  Now that this has been accepted by the UN and the international community in a legally binding vote, the argument about historical entitlement should be ceased.  It is simply no longer relevant as a political and legal argument, and not helpful to Israel's cause.

Nakba Day - The Real Catastrophe

The Palestinians are preparing themselves today for the commemoration of the day in the Gregorian calendar on which the British Mandate in Palestine ended, and the State of Israel came into being in 1948. This is the day that they call the "nakba", which means the catastrophe. I find this day to be somewhat strange as far as commemoration days is concerned, and I believe that it is without parallel elsewhere in the world.

Over the 63 years of Israel's existence, the Palestinians have used this day as a rallying point to demonstrate against the existence of the State of Israel. There are some who claim that the commemoration is really against the expulsion of the Arabs from their homes, which became part of the new State of Israel. To me, however, the Nakba is mainly about commemorating and lamenting the existence of the Jewish state. I have always seen it as a way of focusing Arab attention on opposing the existence of Israel. There is, of course, a personal and human side to the event, with millions of Arabs choosing to go into exile and become refugees. The Arab world, however, has always seemed less concerned about the human element, and more intent upon using this issue to exploit the conscience of western countries who do genuinely care about the plight of individual people, even when their own leaders do not show the same level of concern.

The fact that so many "Palestinian" refugees were created in 1948, arose purely out of the actions and advice of the Arab leaders. Despite the fact that they would wish the world to believe that Israel created this problem, the facts do not support this assertion. It is on record that the leaders of the newly created State of Israel requested the Arab residents to remain in their homes, and invited them to live alongside the Jews in Israel. The Arab leaders, however, could not accept this invitation and instructed their people to leave their homes and properties. The reason for the instruction was because they knew that the wrath of the Arab world was about to descend on Israel in the form of attacks from all surrounding Arab countries. They believed that this war would simply destroy the new Jewish state, and would allow the Arabs to return to their homes within weeks or months. History shows that Israel succeeded in repelling the onslaught in the War of Independence, and left the Arabs with a problem regarding a strategy for reclaiming their properties.

If they allowed their people to return to their homes after the War of Independence, the Arab leaders realised that this would entail some level of recognition of Israel. Instead, they instructed their hapless people to remain in refugee camps in the countries surrounding Israel. This was designed to be a pressure point on the world community to somehow go back on its support for Israel's independence. Unfortunately for the millions of men, women and children who have been forced to live in refugee camps for the past 63 years, the plan backfired. Now, when there are few people around who remember the exact events at that time, it is convenient for the Palestinians to claim that they were expelled from their homes by the Jews. This story is one which is more likely to earn them the support and sympathy of the international community in their attempts to paint Israel in the darkest possible light, and do all that is possible to undermine her continued right to exist in peace and security. It is also supports their claim that Israel is an "apartheid state", something which cannot be further from the truth.

The real nakba in all of these events, is the failure by the Arab world to create an alternative solution for the people that are now called Palestinians. Because the Arabs were so focused on finding ways to destroy Israel, they had no time or inclination to consider how to take care of their own people. During the period from 1948 until 1967, the West Bank was under Jordanian rule and the Gaza Strip under Egyptian control. There was no attempt to create a Palestinian state at that time. In fact, there were not even Palestinian people as this identity was only adopted by the Arabs after the Six Day War in 1967. Efforts were focused on destroying Israel, and there was little time for anything else. When, after the 1967 war, they realised that they were losing ground rather than strengthening their position, the Arabs changed tactics to try to eat at the Jewish state little-by-little instead of hoping to destroy Israel all at once. It is for this reason that the concept of returning to the pre-1967 borders has gained popularity in recent years. It is for this same reason that many Israelis are opposed to the idea of the creation of a Palestinian state on Israel's borders, particularly one which openly refuses to recognise Israel's right to exist. This looks very much a tactic to gain a foothold, from which a more serious attack on Israel can take place.

For many Arabs whose families were formerly residents of areas which are today part of Israel, the creation of Israel was indeed a nakba for them. But the source of their catastrophe was not the State of Israel. Instead, they should be looking to their leaders who created this nakba of their own doing. By choosing to focus their efforts on finding ways to destroy Israel, the Arab leaders have failed to fulfil their responsibilities to their own people. They have allowed them to live in abysmal conditions, and without any real hope of improving their circumstances. The time has now come to accept that Israel cannot, and will not be destroyed. The choices are clear - perpetuate the nakba, or begin the important task of building a future of hope and optimism for your children. If they choose the second option in good faith, they will find Israel to be a neighbour that will help and support these objectives. If, however, they continue to choose the option of firing missiles at civilians in a belief that this will weaken Israeli resolve, the future for their own people looks extremely bleak.

Health Care Israeli Style

The subject of health care seems to be in focus at the current time for a number of reasons. The Obama administration is spending a huge amount of time and effort trying to reform the US healthcare system to provide more affordable healthcare to a broader spectrum of people. This, added to the H1N1 pandemic that is sweeping across the world, and the significant burden that has been placed upon healthcare systems around the world has brought the issue of healthcare to the attention of many of us.

I had experience of the South African health care system and the British system before coming to live in Israel. Each system is entirely different from the others. The South African system works well for those who have medical insurance. The quality of treatment available to those with the right insurance is generally very good. Private doctors and hospitals and medication are used by those with the right insurance. The problem is that the premiums to cover the medical insurance policies are not within the reach of the average citizen. As such, first world medical care is available to the privileged classes whilst many others are forced to endure much lower quality of medical care, or none at all.

The National Health system in England is held up in many countries in the world as an ideal example of universal health care. This system provides a minimum level of health care for all citizens of the UK. The problem with this system is that it is overburdened and waiting times can be very long for simple appointments, procedures or operations. As a result, those who are able to afford private health care or who have insurance to cover it, prefer to get private treatment. This creates a type of two-tier system of health care, once again favouring the wealthy and leaving the poorer classes with inferior care.

The Israeli system is different, and quite an interesting way of providing health care. There are four health maintenance organisations (HMOs) in Israel. Every citizen of Israel should be a member of one of the HMOs. They are private organisations for the provision of health care to Israel's citizens. Employees have a health tax deducted from their salaries according to their earnings. The tax deducted is handed over to the employee's chosen HMO. This provides a basic level of health care of the employee and members of his family. Members of the HMO can also upgrade their membership to packages that give greater benefits to the members such as access to better specialists and better quality hospitals. Those who are unemployed have their health premiums paid by the National Insurance Institute. New immigrants are provided with free health care for a period of six months until they have managed to establish themselves and arrange their premium payments. Health cover is extended equally to all Israeli citizens, Arabs and Jews alike. All of this means that those who have even the most basic health package still have access to some of the best medical care available with reasonable waiting times. In addition, with the significant research and development that is undertaken in medicine in Israel, Israeli patients can be assured of the most up-to-date technology and medical treatment. It was recently published that Israeli patients have the highest rate of cancer survival in the world.

As a Diabetic, I am forced to make maximum use of the medical system of the country in which I live. I observed that my Diabetes was accepted by my HMO when I applied to them, and not excluded as a pre-existing condition. As such, I have fully coverage of all treatments relating to my Diabetes. The treatment that I receive in Israel is not only high quality, intensive and easily available to me at all times, my Diabetes is treated using the latest technology and in a high quality way.

The life expectancy for people living in my home town is over 80 years old for both men and women. This is the case for a country that is constantly at war and losing young men and women in wars and terror attacks. Most of Israel's taxes have had to be spent on the military to guarantee her continued existence, which has left much less funding available for medical and other expenditure. This is surely a remarkable achievement, especially for a country which has been in existence for barely 60 years. President Obama could do a lot worse than establish a similar system in the US.

A Strange Thing Happened On Our Walk

Although I have been living in Israel for almost 11 years, I still find myself being surprised by certain things that are unique to Israel. This is a story about exactly one of those events. Its uniqueness can only really be appreciated by people who do not live in Israel as most Israelis would struggle to understand what the point of the story is. I believe that foreigners will understand well.

I was out with my wife on a walk late on a balmy summer's night last week. The outside temperature must have been around 30 degrees Centigrade, and the humidity was high. It was a typical Israeli mid-summer evening. We had eaten an evening meal that was sitting too heavy and had decided to try to walk off the effects of it. It was after 10pm and it was still busy in the streets of the town where we live. Many schoolchildren were out enjoying the summer holiday, and an equivalent number of adults seemed to be out and about.

We approached a block of flats where a family that we know lives, and we discovered that coloured lights had been strung out in the gardens of the block, and a barbecue party was in full swing. As we passed the gate, Doron came out in his BBQ apron to show some of his guests to their car. When he saw us walking by, he insisted that we come in to join the party. We decided to interrupt our walk briefly to pay a visit to the party.

What we found was astonishing (to me). The entire apartment block (which I estimate is about 10 apartments) was holding a combined BBQ party in the grounds of the block. Chairs, tables and festive lighting had been set up enough for all residents and their guests. Food and drink were flowing freely to all-comers. We discovered that the occasion for the party was to wish farewell to four of the young lads who will begin their 3-year stint of national service shortly. Although this is obviously a time of concern for all, especially parents, and not necessarily an occasion to rejoice, it is common practise in Israel to make an event out of it to wish the young boys and girls well along their way. Not only are the 4 neighbours entering the army within a few weeks of each other, they have managed to arrange it that they have all been called up to the same air force unit and will most likely serve their 3 years together.

Upon discovering this, and when witnessing the party taking place in front of me, the only words going through my mind were "only in Israel". I cannot imagine any other place where the neighbours in a block of flats would be holding a joint party for all residents to celebrate a family event such as this one. I could also not imagine another place where the 4 neighbours would have set out to be called up to the same unit, and actually even achieved this.

For native Israelis, these events are just a normal part of society. These things can happen and do happen in Israel. And when events take place which are out of the ordinary, even this fact is regarded as par for the course in Israel. This is one of the unique aspects about Israel which makes it so special to us, and others like us. One of the things that make us love living here. This is the thing that creates a magnetic force between this country and so many people, young and old, who come to pay a visit. Only in Israel.

Losing the PR War

In the 61 years since Israel's independence, there are many fine achievements that the country can lay claim to. The young state has succeeded in integrating Jews from many different countries and backgrounds. Economic difficulties have been overcome to create a viable economy which can compete with other countries in the region and around the world. Israel's hi-tech industry is considered to be at the leading edge and one of the most advanced in the world. And Israel's military achievements speak for themselves by virtue of having survived over 60 years of almost continuous war and aggression aimed at destroying her very existence. These are but a few out of a lengthy list of worthy and admirable successes.

Whilst the story is an overwhelmingly successful one, there are inevitably a number of failures that have been chalked up along the way. In my view, one of Israel's most significant failures is the poor public image which she portrays in the international community. The lack of success on the public relations playing field was a disadvantage in the early years of Israel's existence. As time progresses, however, this disadvantage is becoming a much more significant problem which requires urgent attention.

In the years immediately following independence, Israel seemed to enjoy some measure of support in the international community. When the stench of the Holocaust and anti-Semitism hung in the air, the nascent Jewish state was considered an underdog. As a general rule, the world likes underdogs. Even though the physical support that this underdog was getting was limited, there was a spirit of supporting Israel, albeit from a distance, in her efforts to survive. Since those days, Israel has progressed in leaps and bounds especially in her military capability. As a result, she is no longer considered the underdog and no longer enjoys whatever sympathy may have been generated in this capacity. In the current time, those that wish to destroy Israel enjoy the position of the underdog and are taking advantage of the advantages that come with this status.

When Israel was a young country with limited population and resources, and battling every day just to stay alive in the sea of Arab hostility, it was understandable that not a great deal of time or effort could be devoted to public relations efforts. In those days, the leaders simply did what they needed to do in order to keep the ship afloat without taking to much heed of what was being said about them or Israel. Necessity was the name of the game. This necessity has, unfortunately, given way to a type of arrogance. This arrogance dictates that Israel is not answerable to any external body or party because her leadership is unique in its concern for Israeli citizens and Jews around the world. So, when those with anti-Jewish or anti-Israeli views attempt to rail-road organisations like the UN into anti-Israeli measures, the government of Israel will not heed their actions and will continue to do what it feels is right and fair for Jews. Whilst this attitude is still a hangover from the time when each day was a fight for survival, Israel lives in a different world which requires a different response.

Although Israel's poor PR effort is a frequent point of discussion for Jews around the world and in Israel, I only realised the real extent of the damage that is being done recently during a dinner with a Jewish work colleague from abroad. His point was very clear. Those that are biased against Israel will be biased no matter what action is taken. There is, however, a vast middle ground of independent thinkers who are available to be convinced. If we are not making the effort to convince them, the enemy camp will inevitably succeed in doing so. And the enemy camp is devoting a huge amount to public relations. Not only that, Israel's friends and supporters including the large numbers of Jews around the world need good Israeli PR to help their cause. They wish to help to defend Israel's position in any way they can, but are getting little help from Israel herself. This begins to frustrate even the best of her friends at a great cost to the overall public relations effort.

There is no doubt in my mind that most of Israel's actions, even those harshly criticised by the outside world, are legitimate and easily defended. When one considers the extent to which Israelis are having to suffer at the hands of terrorists and from continued random attacks on civilians, and compares this to the manner in which the IDF clinically avoids civilian casualties on the enemy side, there is no doubt that Israel's actions can be defended. The lack of an organised, professional, sustained PR effort that runs across the major populations around the world serves simply serves to undermine the legitimacy of the best-laid actions, and is damaging to Israel's image.

In the weekend newspapers, I read of a special unit of Tourist Police whose job it is to ensure that tourists to Israel have the best possible time by helping to prevent them falling victim to petty crime or muggings. This is a country that is at war on two borders, but can devote time and energy to ensure that a tourist who lost his wallet in the holy city of Jerusalem has it returned to him without too much ado. This is the same country that prefers not to destroy a location being used to store ammunition or launch rockets if there is any risk of civilian casualties.

It's a shame that the outside world does not receive these and other stories that could put an entirely different view on the conflict in the Middle East. It is still not too late to begin the PR effort.

Practice or the Real Thing?

The newspaper advertisement states that a practice siren will be sounded throughout Israel on Tuesday 2nd June 2009. Upon hearing the siren, all the country's residents are requested to enter a "protected space". The purpose of this, it seems, is to test how long it takes to get the entire population into bomb shelters or protected rooms. The practice siren forms part of a week-long series of drills that will be conducted to assess the country's preparedness for an emergency. We, the Israeli public, are being told by our home front command that this is simply a drill being undertaken to implement the recommendations arising out of the Second Lebanon War. We are told that there is no deeper significance to the drill being held at this time.

Clearly, the fact that we need a drill at all signals the constant risk under which we live. Such drills, after all, are carried out in very few countries around the world. The question that I am asking, however, is whether the timing and nature of this drill indicates something lurking behind the scenes that the Israeli public are not being made aware of? With the current threat of possible hostilities from Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon and continued threats from Iran, the question that I ask is not without foundation. Add to that the somewhat ambivalent relationship with Fatah in the West Bank and we have more reasons to have a drill than not.

The attempts by the home front command to downplay the significance and timing of the drill are countered by other seemingly innocuous events. It is interesting to note that the rhetoric coming from Hezbollah in Lebanon has been escalating ahead of the drill. Hezbollah are using the drill to indicate that Israel is preparing for further cross-border hostilities following the war in the summer of 2006. In light of this, Hezbollah has not hesitated to advertise that they are ready for any possible raids across Israel's northern border, and that its armoury is replenished and ready for action. It is well known that the war in 2006 made hardly a dent in Hezbollah's military capacity. On the contrary, their success in holding the mighty Israeli army at bay simply provided them with the courage and desire to again confront and embarrass the IDF at the earliest possible opportunity. Moving further south, after a less successful campaign earlier this year than that of Hezbollah, Hamas seems to have wasted little time in replenishing its military supplies. Whilst I don't believe that they are quite ready yet for another round, it will not take too long until Hamas also wishes to engage the IDF once more.

I have observed that there has been a great deal of effort in my home town to rig up signposts indicating the location of all public bomb shelters in the town. In addition, these public bomb shelters, which are often used as storage rooms during periods of quiet, have all been opened up and cleaned out. Could it be that this huge effort has been undertaken only in the interests of the one-day drill? It seems to me that a drill would not demand such a large effort. I don't recall this being done for the previous drill that took place more than a year ago. So why is it necessary now? Maybe it is my paranoia, but I have the feeling that this drill is more than just a drill. I have the feeling that the security forces may have a higher expectation of a further outbreak of hostilities than they are currently making publicly known.

Because of its situation, the Israeli public is able to ready itself for war in a relatively short period of time. All new homes, apartments and office buildings are required by law to have a "protected space". This should be able to withstand an explosion and should be sealed to prevent the infiltration of chemicals in the event that unconventional warheads are launched. So, to arrange for citizens to be ready for a missile attack should not require a great deal of prior warning. At the time of the outbreak of the first and second Gulf Wars, when the risk of the use of unconventional weapons was deemed to be high, the government issued gas masks and chemical anti-dotes to all citizens. Currently, the gas masks have been collected up and none have been reissued in their place. Providing that the risk of attack is with conventional weapons only, Israel can be ready within a few short days or less.

Inevitably, as we approach the long hot summer and with a possible conflict in the back of my mind, my thoughts turn to Iran. Is this drill all about readying ourselves for a possible strike on the Iranian nuclear facility? I have previously written that I think that this is unlikely. However, when living in the Middle East, I have learned that anything is possible.

All Our Eggs in One Basket

The concept of the "in-gathering of the exiles", kibbutz galuyot in Hebrew, originates from the promise given by Moses to the Children of Israel prior to his death. This is the idea of all Jews living in the Jewish homeland in Israel. Although Moses envisaged that the People of Israel would sin in their homeland and be exiled, he also envisaged them being returned to the Land of Israel and predicted that they would have it better than their forefathers. During the Babylonian Exile following the destruction of the first temple, the prophets Isaiah, Ezekiel and Jeremiah all prophesied the in-gathering of the exiles by repeating Moses' words. Following the destruction of the second temple and the resulting exile, the concept of the kibbutz galuyot became relevant once more. It was the central theme of the Zionist movement and is the basis of the present-day aliyah movement. A prayer for the in-gathering of the exiles was added to the daily prayers by the rabbinical sages and, in his writings, the Rambam links the kibbutz galuyot with the coming of the Messiah. There can be little doubt that this concept is central to Jewish belief and to modern Zionism.

I have read a number of articles which indicate that there are more than a few Jews who do not consider themselves to be in Jewish "exile" by virtue of not living in Israel. For them, being able to live a Jewish life freely in their home country is sufficient. More than this, there are many who question how healthy it would be to have all Jews in the world living in one place, the promised Land of Israel. There are those who believe that this presents a security risk to the future existence of the Jewish nation. If all Jews live in Israel and something catastrophic happens to Israel, this would essentially eliminate Jews off the face of the earth, thereby achieving what many before have tried to do and failed. The notion of having all Jewish eggs in one basket is too much of a risk in the opinion of some.

There are also strong arguments in favour of having Jews living in the Diaspora. This affords opportunities to influence from critical political and business positions in foreign countries to promote Israel's interests. There can be little doubt that Israel benefited significantly in its early years from Jews in prominent positions in key countries. Despite Israel now being more established, it could still use any help that it can get. Whilst high ranking Jews could help, it seems as though Jews in influential positions these days may be more cautious about using their influence to help Israel. They need to be sure to demonstrate that their allegiance lies with their home country.

It is my view that Jewish continuity can best be assured for those Jews who live in Israel. It is a fact that more Jews have been lost to assimilation in countries in the Diaspora than have been lost to terrorism in Israel. It seems inevitable that this trend will continue. And whilst it is true to say that Israel is a target for a catastrophic attack in an attempt to eliminate the Jews, the good news is that it has a government and an army whose primary responsibility it is to guard against such an event. I believe that the chances of such an event taking place remain very low.

For now, Jewish existence in the Diaspora does not appear to be under an existential threat. Many Jews are able to have good, wholesome Jewish lives in all four corners of the globe. And for many of these people, living in Israel is not an option for any of a thousand good reasons. There is clear evidence, however, that a combination of rising anti-Semitism and assimilation is serving to diminish many Jewish communities around the world, or place them under threat. Israel represents the only growing Jewish community in the world today.

So whilst Israel would be happy to take advantage of any help that Diaspora Jews can provide in their individual spheres of influence, I cannot help feeling that it will be more the case that Israel will be helping Diaspora Jewry in the future. Having as many Jews in Israel as possible will certainly facilitate this help when it is required. Despite the many valid arguments against putting all your eggs in one basket, I feel that Jewish continuity ultimately requires this.

22,570

Israel today remembers those that have lost their lives in wars and terror attacks in Israel's history. These heroes number 22,570 counted from 1860 when Jews first settled outside of the walls of the Old City of Jerusalem. This is an average of more than 150 lives needlessly lost each year. In these terms, the 133 new names added to this list over the past 12 months indicates that 2008/9 has been a relatively "quiet" year in the history of the State of Israel. And this, despite a war in Gaza during this period. In all, the number of those killed is equivalent to more than 3 per 1,000 citizens currently living in Israel.

Whilst it is true to acknowledge that more people have been killed on Israel's roads than in her wars, this does not diminish the significant number of lives that have been lost in the interests of defending the Jewish state and Jews around the world. Almost every family in the entire country is affected directly or indirectly by somebody who has been lost. And when we add the significantly more people who have been maimed and injured during wars and terror attacks, there can surely not be a family that is not impacted. Israel was brought to a standstill both last night and this morning when the sirens wailed in memory of those heroes who have fallen.

Some may conclude that these startling statistics are most likely to serve to demotivate people, to frighten them off the idea of living in Israel or serving to defend her borders. Whilst there is clearly a certain amount of trepidation on the part of those deciding to live in Israel, or those who are joining the IDF and their families, what is clear is that the statistics do not frighten anybody off. On the contrary, the conviction with which new immigrants arrive in Israel is remarkable. It should be borne in mind that most of these people are coming from developed countries which offer a very attractive alternative to living in Israel. And yet, each year, there are new immigrants making the decision to move to Israel.

The patriotism that is seen from the soldiers in the IDF continues to astonish me. The young men and women who are due to begin their service in the near future, are all looking forward to their opportunity to serve Israel and the Jewish nation despite the obvious dangers. During the recent operation Cast Lead in Gaza, commanders motivated soldiers entering Gaza by reminding them that their service is in the defence of the State of Israel. This was all that was required to bring out the best in our brave soldiers. At the gates of Gaza, each soldier passed and kissed a Torah scroll before embarking upon his or her mission. This was used as a reminder that the job at hand was in the defence of Jewish freedoms. These most basic and age-old symbolisms are the only requirements to motivate IDF soldiers to serve their country and their nation to the best of their ability. No statistics can detract them from this mission.

As surprising as it seems, the statistics of the dead and injured serve to spur the younger generation on to bigger and better things. They are more determined than ever to defend the rights of Israel and the Jews to a future existence. Those who die or are injured know of the danger beforehand, and are undeterred by this danger. To ensure that their deaths are not wasted, our young soldiers continue to battle in the most adverse conditions.

And as the sirens fall silent and the tears dry, remembrance turns to jubilation. We celebrate the anniversary of the birth of our beloved land. And the value of the sacrifice becomes clear. Nothing can be of more value to the Jewish people than their own land. And the defence of this land is what motivates the Jews to keep fighting.

Why I am Proud of the IDF

I have written on numerous occasions that I believe that a Jewish army is essential for the survival of the Jewish people. The Israel Defence Force (IDF) is this Jewish army. Unfortunately the IDF has come under a great deal of international criticism recently. It stands accused of mistreating the Palestinians, of acting in an inhumane manner, of targeting civilians during its battle activities, of destroying civilian homes and property in an unnecessary way. Numerous of its commanders cannot travel to European countries for fear of being arrested under a variety of war crimes arraignments that have been authorised. Perhaps we might expect this reaction from certain members of the gentile community who have shown themselves to be anti-Jewish and anti-Israel at every opportunity. For me, what is more disappointing that this is the fact that there are so many Jews around the world who have been convinced to believe the anti-IDF propaganda, and who actively speak out against the IDF. I wish to try to create a little more balance by explaining why I am proud of the IDF.

Many will believe that I have a strong bias in favour of the IDF by virtue of living in Israel and, therefore, relying upon the Jewish army for my personal protection. This may indeed be true. I will try to present a more factual account of how I view the IDF. Inevitably, it will be difficult for me to remove my own emotions and personally-held views from my account.

Let me start by saying that the IDF is not a perfect organisation. It has many flaws. But this is to be expected in any organisation of this size. The IDF currently numbers approximately 175,000 soldiers and staff, most of whom are drafted conscripts and serve their compulsory 3 years for boys and 2 years for girls. In any organisation that numbers 175,000, it is clear that there will be individuals in this organisation who are less than fit for purpose. And this is where each person is handpicked according to strict recruitment criteria. Imagine the situation where an organisation is forced to recruit all-comers to fill jobs. This is the case with the IDF. Whilst certain recruits are rejected due to their lack of suitability to serve, it is inevitable that recruits to the IDF include petty thieves, drug addicts and drug dealers, people with psychological problems, people who are unable or unwilling to submit to authority and people who hold extreme political and religious views on or side or other of the spectrum. The IDF is required to take this mixed bag of recruits and mould them into a fighting unit that can operate under the most extreme battle conditions. All of this for the very survival of Israel and Jews around the world. As with any army or other organisations, such "rogues" can ruin the best-laid plans of the IDF.

Despite its almost impossible task, the IDF has succeeded in building a very effective fighting force. This is an army that designs, manufactures and uses much of its own military hardware and technology. This is an army that is forced to operate under the most testing and extreme of conditions where opposing soldiers masquerade as civilians in order to exploit the IDF policy of avoiding civilian casualties, almost at any price. It is forced to respond to enemy soldiers who operate from civilian neighbourhoods, who fire mortar shells from private apartments and who use women and children to shield themselves from IDF responsibilities. These are the same people who find it acceptable to strap suicide bombing belts to women, and to hide them in ambulances to transport them to their destinations. The targeted sites for such suicide bombs are frequently restaurants, shopping malls and buses which are used by non-military people trying to conduct their daily lives.

And yet, the IDF largely manages to conduct itself in a manner that is exemplary. When all the misinformation is removed from the reports of the Gaza operation Cast Lead, it becomes clear that no schools or civilian targets were hit by the IDF even though many were used as bases to attack them. It is now known that the number of casualties, and particularly the number of civilian casualties, were highly exaggerated. Ultimately, most of those killed in Cast Lead were enemy soldiers operating against the IDF. And the number of attacks that were halted at the last minute in order to avoid the possibility of civilian casualties will never be known to the general public.

In the year 2009, Israel should not be called upon to justify her continued existence in international community. Much more important, she should not have to battle every day to secure her existence against the forces that wish to see her destroyed. And yet, this is Israel's reality. Under these circumstances, the IDF is forced to fight a battle to secure Israel's existence. Inevitably, there will be episodes from the battlefield that do not show the IDF in a good light. For the most part, the work done by the IDF and the principles that the army adheres to are to its credit, and often beyond the call of duty.

This makes me feel proud of the IDF, and I call upon all Jews to support Jewish army and its soldiers as they undertake an important and enormously difficult job.

How Far Can Israel Reach?

The publication last week of the story surrounding the alleged Israeli attack on the Hamas arms convoy in Sudan has served to renew the discussion about how far Israel's reach goes. If the Sudan story has been accurately reported, Israel was able to track an arms convoy that originated in Iran bound for Gaza, and destroy it as it was travelling in Sudan before it crossed into Egypt. This act seems to have solicited a very muted response from the international community. Does this mean that the attack was justified? Does it mean that it is acceptable for a country to orchestrate an attack in another sovereign country? Is there some sort of exemption for Israel that allows it to carry out such attacks?

This is not the first time that Israel has conducted activities of this type on foreign soil. The list of Israel's foreign forays is as long as it is impressive. The list includes the rescue of Jews from Yemen in Operation Magic Carpet, the rescue of hijack hostages at Entebbe, the extraction of Jews from Ethiopia in Operation Solomon, the destruction of the Iraqi nuclear reactor at Osirak, the demolition of the Syrian nuclear facility at al-Kibar not to mention the extended operation to transport a million Jews from the former Soviet Union to Israel after the collapse of the iron curtain. This is a partial list of those activities that are of public knowledge. I assume that a similarly significant list exists of activities that are not of public knowledge, or of attacks that were planned and never carried out.

The establishment of the State of Israel against the backdrop of the murder of 6 million Jews during the holocaust was a clear sign to Israel's founding fathers that the world would not act to protect the Jews. It was this fact that strengthened their resolve to act in whichever way they saw fit to protect the Jews of Israel and the Diaspora. It was also this fact that gave the imperative for the establishment of the Jewish army that would not only have the support of the government to do what is needed, but would also have the ability to do so. Plato's famous quote "necessity is the mother of invention" has proved itself to be absolutely true in this case. The Israeli army has built itself into a fighting force with an international reputation, and with a track record of being able to do whatever is required in the protection of Jews around the world. This involves not only the military muscle to carry out operations, but crucially the most sophisticated intelligence network that provides the necessary information.

Whilst cooperating closely with many military forces around the world, notably that of the USA, the IDF has developed itself into an effective and independent fighting unit. This independence has ensured its ability to act as it sees fit whenever and wherever required. Israeli military industries have ensured that Israel has been able to produce its own arms, equipment, tanks, vehicles, aircraft, satellites and almost anything else required for its protection. Israel does not rely on anybody for its military needs, and requires the approval of nobody except its own government to carry out military operations.

Although the world has moved on in many respects over the past 60 years, there is still evidence of the lack of international will or ability to prevent another holocaust from happening. Genocides continue to take place at an alarming rate, and the world seems unwilling or unable to prevent them. International War Crimes Tribunals after the event are not sufficient when people are dying unnecessarily as a result of racial prejudice. I have no doubt that, as Jews, we cannot rely on the international community for our protection in a time of need. It is for this reason that the State of Israel takes upon itself the protection of Jews, both in Israel and elsewhere. If this protection requires activity beyond its own borders, and sometimes in enemy countries, Israel is unafraid to exercise its muscle. And fortunately for Jews around the world, not only does the IDF have the ability to carry out such operations, the Israeli government is willing to sanction them wherever they may be required. All of this creates some level of expectation as to how Israel may choose to react to the Iranian nuclear weapon program.

There is no doubt that military action by one country on the sovereign soil of another goes against all the principles of international law, and upsets the balance of the world order. It is equally true that the threats against Israel and against Jews the world over go against all tenets of human rights and freedom. Whilst two wrongs do not make a right, the basic survival of the Jewish people is at stake. It is for this reason that Israel will never be dictated to in terms of where she can or will operate.

Whilst Israel has a strong army, Jews all over the world will have protection. This is nothing less than they deserve.

Jewish Anti-Semites

All Jews have anti-Semitic genes in them. We have all experienced moments when we experience a feeling of dislike towards our own people. This usually surfaces as a result of an episode where we witness other Jews behaving badly, and in a manner that is "typically Jewish". Sometimes the behaviour is disrespectful, sometimes it is insensitive and at other times it is just plain embarrassing or rude. There can be no doubting the fact that Jews do have certain behaviour patterns which are typical to us, and which are not particularly endearing to others. Anthropologists, sociologists and psychologists have gone to great lengths explaining the origins of many of these behaviours. The fact that it may be justified by certain events in Jewish history doesn't really help much in today's world. The truth is that we need to move with the times and amend our behaviour accordingly. The frequent instances of poor behaviour by our fellow Jews is a source of great embarrassment to many of us.

There are times when this embarrassment is more about the sensitivity of the person feeling the shame, than the behaviour itself. During and following the harrowing events of the holocaust, many Jews were keen to fit into their new adopted countries as unobtrusively as possible. Mostly, this was done in order not to bring undue attention to themselves. Along with this approach comes an acute sensitivity and associated shame towards people who have chosen not to become as integrated, and still prepared to display Jewish behaviour patterns in public.

All Jews in the Diaspora (as well as most Jews in Israel) have had the opportunity to feel disgusted by the behaviour of Israeli Jews. Whether you have been on the receiving end of aggressive actions or whether somebody has tried to be dishonest with you in business dealings, all of us have felt a level of dislike towards Israelis for this type of behaviour. We even go as far as to label all Israelis for the poor behaviour of some. Even though many people have gone to great lengths to try to differentiate between Israeli culture and Jewish culture, the truth is that it is all the same thing. Most negative behaviours by Israelis are labelled as Jewish behaviour patterns. The same is true when it comes to holding views about the actions of the government of Israel. There are certainly times that we do not agree with the government's actions or statements, which we each have the right to do. These behaviours go further, however, than only representing the people of Israel. They end up representing Jews the world over.

Holding some of these feelings of dislike privately, or discussing them in internal circles, may be one thing. Some may even regard it as a form of therapy. Going out into the wide world and being critical in public is, in my opinion, something quite different. I feel that it this can be extremely damaging to the general good of Jews in Israel and Jews around the world. How much more is this the case when the negative views and criticisms are being voiced by Jews in positions of trust and in senior positions in the local country or community.

There are examples of such high profile Jews who criticise Israel in almost every country with any size of Jewish population. Two examples which have been in the news recently are those of Ronnie Kasrils, until recently South African Minister for Intelligence Services; and British Member of Parliament and a former Labour government minister, Sir Gerald Kaufman. Both politicians are well known for taking a very public stand in their respective countries against the Israeli government with regard to its policy in dealing with the Palestinian problem despite claiming to be proud of their Jewish heritage. Kasrils has published a number of articles in which he is highly critical of Israeli governments and Israeli military actions. Kaufman has called for economic and military sanctions against Israel, and has described Israel as a "pariah".

Whilst I have no qualm against any Jew for holding a view that may not be supportive of the Israeli government and its actions, I do have a problem with Jews who choose to make these negative views known in very public way. Not only does it damage the Israeli government, it damages the standing of Jews in their own countries. Many times, the reason for such public criticism is to try to demonstrate to the locals the extent to which the person is committed to his adopted country. By criticising Israel or Jews in public, his allegiance to his adopted country is demonstrated to be stronger than his allegiance to the Jewish cause. This often helps to strengthen his standing in the senior circles in which he moves in his home country.

An excellent example this occurred during the recent Operation Cast Lead in Gaza. Sir Gerald Kaufman took it upon himself to make some distinctly critical and negative comments about Israel's actions to the House of Commons. Whilst it is not clear whether his statements reinforced Sir Gerald's left-wing Labour credentials, they were distinctly unhelpful to Israel and to British Jews in general.

If Israel is to survive in a world that is increasingly hostile towards her, she needs all the help and support that she can get. Clearly, there are countries whose support she enjoys as a result of a relationship of convenience. It seems logical, however, that Israel would enjoy the public support of the Jewish community around the world. After all, it could be argued that their ability to continue to live safely as Jews in their home countries is dependent upon the continued existence of Israel. Is it too much to ask for their support in return?

And I Choose .....................

Having made two trips out of Israel in the space of three weeks, I feel that my awareness of the choices facing Jews around the world has been raised considerably. I wrote in my recent blog "Israel Sweet Home" about my feelings as a touring Jew in various European countries. This time, I would like to focus more on the issue of choosing a place to live.

I frequently make the statement that there is no Garden of Eden in the world. There is no Utopia that has only positive qualities about living there. Inevitably, wherever one chooses to live, the package will be mixed with both good things and bad. This is even more the case when considering things from a Jewish perspective. Ultimately, people will be happier with where they live, if they go through the process of deciding what is important in their lives. Once this decision has been made, they should seek out the place that delivers to them the most important things on their list of priorities. Inevitably, it will be necessary to put up with all the negative things that come with this place in the interests of enjoying the positive aspects.

Although Israel offers an ideal Jewish existence for religious and secular Jews alike, it is far from perfect. When one combines the corruption, the unstable political system, the astronomical tax burden, the aggressive nature of many of the people, language challenges for those new olim and many other negative aspects of the country, it is hardly surprising that many Jews decide that it is not for them. The difficulty that many Israelis have in making ends meet, only confirms the famous joke often told. "How do you make a small fortune in Israel? Arrive with a big fortune." Newly elected member of the Knesset and former Jewish Agency Head, Ze'ev Bielski, was often heard telling people that, if there was another Jewish country, he would recommend people to go there. Because, however, he only has one "product" to offer, he recommends that Jews come to Israel. This seems to be the bottom line. For Jews seeking out the Jewish environment that Israel offers, it is a case of "grin and bear it" for the numerous negative aspects of Israeli society.

It is clear to me that the survival of the Jewish race is is more secure with Israel in existence than without it. It is also clear to me that those Jews who live in Israel are more likely to have Jewish children and grandchildren than those who do not. With all its hardships and challenges, however, Israel does not suit all Jews. It is argued by many that it would not suit all Jews even if it was a much easier place to live in. Unfortunately we will not know any time soon.

For me, there is little doubt as to what is important. It is for this reason that I am happy to raise my children in Israel in spite of everything.

Why I Want my Son to Serve

When planning our aliyah from London nearly 11 years ago, one of the most significant issues that I had to confront with my wife related to our two young sons. When coming to live in the State of Israel, a parent automatically commits his or her children to the defence of Israel by virtue of the military training that each and every child is obliged to undertake. In the case of boys, the service in the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) lasts a period of almost three years, and invariably involves the boy taking up a position in a unit which can bring him into harm's way. n Girls are equally required to serve for a period currently almost two years in length.

My wife was particularly concerned about this parental commitment that she was making. I, ever the optimist, expressed hope that the peace process would progress sufficiently in the 12 years that we had until our elder son would be called up, such that serving the Israeli army would not be as much of a threat as it had been in the past. I had reason to feel optimistic at that time. The Oslo process was in full swing and relations between the Israelis and the Palestinians were cordial, and allowed for a great deal of economic and political cooperation. This contributed to some positive views being expressed on each side regarding the prospects for relations between the parties in the future. I sincerely hoped and wanted to believe that, by the time my son would be called upon to serve, the conflict with the Palestinians would be an historical detail.

Now, 11 of those 12 years have passed, and my elder son has begun the process of being recruited to the IDF. It is astonishing that the positive feeling and optimism that was felt 11 years ago has not only evaporated completely, but has been replaced by a feeling of pessimism for the future. During the intervening period, we have experienced two wars and numerous acts of terror that can force even the most optimistic person to realise that prospects for the future do not look good. It could be argued that the prospects for peace in the future look as bleak now as at any time over the past 61 years. And yet, I have reached the conclusion that I want my son to serve in the IDF despite the obvious dangers that this presents. Of course, I would not like for him to be in harm's way - no parent wants this. I still feel, however, that I want him to serve.

In this time of rising anti-Semitism around the world, I hold the view that the holocaust could have been avoided if a Jewish army had existed at the time of the Second World War. The difference between living and dying for 6 million Jews was the lack of a Jewish army. Conversely, the fact that we now have a Jewish army can ensure that a similar horrific event will be avoided as long as this army continues in existence. Believing passionately in this theory as I do, is one thing. Making it happen is something quite different. This has been made easier for our generation by the monumental work by those who established the IDF at the time of the founding of the state, and by those who have maintained and improved it over the years. For me, and others like me, the commitment to continue to support this impressive army is fairly simple - keep it staffed with the required soldiers.

During the period of my 11 years in Israel, the country and its citizens has been subject to many random attacks of terror as well as organised wars on our borders. My fellow Israelis, many of them known to me, have not hesitated in sending their sons to war in the protection of me and my family. Doubts have continued in my mind about my son's safety in serving in the IDF. It was even suggested to me at one time that I may wish to consider sending my son abroad at the time that he would be required to serve, in order to extricate him from this responsibility. With the unselfish acts of my fellow Israelis, how can I shirk my responsibility to return the "favour" that they have shown me? And how can I continue to believe in the concept of a Jewish army preventing a holocaust if I am not prepared to make my contribution to keeping this army a reality? Imagine what sort of a Jewish army we would have if many other Jews tried to shirk their responsibility, and ensured that their sons would not be soldiers in the IDF. It would be a much less effective force, if at all.

So, with a great deal of trepidation but an enormous sense of pride, my son will serve in the IDF. He and his friends feel extremely patriotic in being committed, both to the Jewish State and to the Jews around the world, and look forward to their service. We can all be proud of these young warriors, and can be thankful that we have them to ensure the future of Jewish existence.

There can be no doubt that Jewish continuity will be threatened as soon as these young men and women decide that the defence of the Jewish nation is not sufficiently important to them, and they lose their drive and patriotism to proudly serve in the IDF. The threat to Jewish existence will equally be threatened by parents like me if they decide that their children should not serve. Let us hope that this day never comes.

Credit Crunch Israeli Style

The news seems to be dominated these days by the economic woes of the world. There is no doubt that the credit crunch is having a dramatic effect on the economies of most countries. Whilst Israel is equally suffering a significant economic downturn, there is some consolation that the banking sector in Israel is holding up much better than elsewhere. This is due to improvements that were made to the Israeli banking environment during a previous economic crisis. It is ironic that Israel's banks are now serving as something of a role model to fix the troubled banks around the globe.

Israel has experienced many years of substantial economic growth. When comparing the Israeli economy at the time of independence in 1948 to the current Israeli economy, there is hardly any resemblance. The way in which the country has succeeded in supporting the dual economic challenges of ongoing war and conflict and large numbers of immigrants, can be nothing short of a miracle. The fact that the economy can be regarded along with the economies of other countries that are much longer established and with lesser economic challenges, is a credit to the Israeli will to succeed and thanks to a good deal of assistance from Jews in the diaspora in the earlier years.

Despite this fact, Israel's economy remains precariously balanced. Although the successes are numerous and economic growth impressive by any measure, one cannot divorce the political and social environment in which Israel operates from its economy. This political environment creates many economic challenges and dilemmas which are proving difficult, if not impossible, to resolve.

The employment of Israeli Arabs is a large issue in Israeli society. With a population of approximately 5.8 million Jews and about 1.5 million Israeli Arabs, there are many considerations surrounding the employment of Arab workers in Jewish businesses. There are those who feel that they would prefer to employ Jews over Arabs in the interests of providing opportunities to Jews in the first place. This is a larger issue at the current time when many Jews who were employed in the hi-tech sector have been laid off due to the global economic downturn. Arabs, however, are generally cheaper to employ. Their costs of living are lower due to the fact that they live in areas where property is cheaper, and often house 3 or 4 families under one roof. This allows them to be prepared to accept lower remuneration. In addition to the natural inclination of Israeli employers to want to pay as little as they can get away with, many Israeli products are being sold in highly competitive markets abroad. Any price advantage that can be gained via lower production costs is welcome, and employing Arabs frequently provides this. In addition, Arabs are often prepared to accept the menial jobs that Jews are not prepared to undertake.

The real dilemma of employing Arabs arises with regard to self-employed Arabs. The Arabs have an entrepreneurial spirit which is similar to the one found in many Jews. As such, there are many self-employed Arab Israelis showing this spirit. They are particularly found in the construction industry as builders, electricians, tilers, plumbers and the like. As mentioned above, they are often able to work for lower prices than their Israeli counterparts. They are often good at their trade, and know how to work the system in the same way as their Israeli counterparts which often means that they do not pay taxes on their income. It is difficult for Jewish Israelis to sacrifice the advantage of paying less (and still getting a good job done) in the interests of hiring a Jewish equivalent for the job. In recent times, it has been proven that Arab Israelis have assisted their Palestinian brethren in the planning and execution of terror attacks on Jews. This has convinced some Jewish Israelis to decide to forego the services of the Arabs in protest at this fact.

The dilemma is even more pronounced when considering the Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza. They number approximately 3.5 million in all, and have precious little employment opportunities of their own. To earn a living, they rely upon employment by Israel and international aid. Employment by Israel depends a great deal upon the political situation on any given day, and whether the checkpoints are open to allow them to cross into Israel and back to their homes at the end of the day. With regard to these people, the best course of action for Israeli Jews is not always obvious. Is it better to employ them at lower costs, and provide money to a cause unknown that may well be against the security interests of Israel, or is it better to allow an economic disaster zone to fester on our own doorstep? The saying, "The devil will find work for idle hands" comes to mind, and supports those that feel that it is better to keep the Palestinians in employment.

The Israeli economy has many inherent problems to solve. Much of the country's wealth is held in the hands of a very few, and shows no sign of better distribution anytime soon. Approximately 50% of the nation's children live under the breadline. The average citizen spends more than he can afford, with much of the country living on bank overdraft. There is still too much of a propensity to spend money on designer clothes, fancy cars, overseas trips and electronic gadgets when many are struggling to put food on the table. The tax burden for the average citizen is far too high due to the high level of defence spending, and is not helped by government corruption and inefficiency.

Despite the many notable economic achievements of the State of Israel in 60 short years, the economic state of most of its citizens is far from ideal. And this was the situation before the recent economic downturn. It is hard to see how the average Israeli can weather the current economic storm. And yet, people somehow seem to get by on a daily basis. From where things are at the moment, it is difficult to see how the twin problems of the Israeli economy and the Palestinian problem can be resolved. Maybe we will witness another miracle in a land that requires miracles to survive.

Zionist or Jew

The general election held earlier this week in Israel to the 18th Knesset has produced a king maker in the name of Avigdor Lieberman. Lieberman's Yisrael Beiteinu (Israel is our home) party won 15 seats. With the deadlock between the two leading parties, Kadima (28 seats) and Likud (27 seats), it seems certain that the party that will form the next government is the one that attracts Lieberman's support.

Avigdor (Evet) Lieberman has always been a controversial character, and leads a party with controversial policies. He was born in Kishinev in Soviet Moldova in 1958. He immigrated to Israel at the age of 20, and served in the Israel Defence Forces before earning a degree in International Relations and Political Science from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Lieberman joined the Likud and served as the party's Director-General between 1993 and 1996. He was the Director-General of Netanyahu's Prime Minister's office between 1996 and 1997. He founded the Yisrael Beiteinu party in 1999 and was first elected as a member of the Knesset in the same year. He has served as Minister National Infrastructure, Minister of Transportation and Minister of Strategic Affairs.

His Yisrael Beiteinu party represents an interesting and unconventional mix of policies. Lieberman advocates redrawing Israel's borders to exclude areas which have Arab majorities. He proposes ceding these to the Palestinian Authority. In addition, he demands that those living in Israel should only be granted Israeli citizenship if they are loyal to the state. He advocates this for both disloyal Arabs as well as disloyal ultra Orthodox Jews who do not recognise the State of Israel. During the 2009 election campaign, he coined the phrase "no citizenship without loyalty". Another aspect of his policy is to relax certain national laws which are based on Jewish religious practices. He plans to introduce the option of civil marriage, and relax laws relating to the sale of unkosher foods and to the opening of business premises on the Sabbath. On the face of it, Lieberman seems to be strongly Zionist in the way in which he approaches issues relating to the tolerance of "anti-Israel Israelis". On the other hand, he appears anti-Jewish in his advocacy of reducing the influence of Jewish religious practices on everyday life in Israel. Can these two seemingly dichotomous views survive on a common platform?

Lieberman's policies unfortunately fuel the argument of those who try to separate Judaism from Zionism. Over the decades, there have been many who have claimed that anti-Zionism does not represent anti-Semitism. This view has been expressed in the UN during the course of many anti-Israel resolutions that have been passed, most notably resolution 3379 from November 1975 that equated Zionism to Racism.

There is no escaping the fact that Zionism is a uniquely Jewish concept. The Oxford English Dictionary defines Zionism as "a movement for the development and protection of a Jewish nation in Israel". This links the concept to its two important dependencies - Judaism and the land of Israel. Without either one of these dependencies, there is no Zionism. The term emanates from Jewish liturgy going back many hundreds, if not thousands of years. Jews pray every day for the return to Zion. This literally refers to Jerusalem, and specifically Mount Zion within the city. This mount was part of the ancient City of David, and is located on the boundaries of today's old city.

The fact that many Zionist leaders in history including Herzl, Ben-Gurion, Meir and Lieberman have been anti-religious has been used to justify the fact that Zionism and Judaism are not linked. It feeds the notion that one can be a lover of Jews and a hater of Israel. All Zionist leaders in history had two main characteristics in common - the fact that they were Jewish and their vision of a Jewish state in the land of Israel. The above-mentioned leaders all had a view of the Jewish state being one where Jewish religious laws should not dictate laws of the State of Israel. This view equates to one of a secular state for Jews. Whether one agrees with this or not, it is clear that their form of Zionism clearly advocated a Jewish (albeit non-religious) state. The link with Judaism remains unequivocal.

It is my personal view that the Jewish state does require some elements of Jewish religious law incorporated into its set of laws and norms. This preserves the Jewish character of the state and distinguishes it as a Jewish state as opposed to any number of other secular countries. The absence of Jewish religious laws as a minimum basis for the laws of the Jewish state risks the slide of the Jewish state into just another country that has a Jewish majority. Whilst not wanting to minimise the importance of the Jewish majority in any way, it should be clear that the concept of a Jewish state is founded upon Judaism. This fact should be clear in all aspects of the public management of the country. Because some Zionists are anti-religious does not change the fact that they are Jewish, and it is this Judaism which is inextricably linked with their Zionism. So, Zionists who are not orthodox Jews and oppose orthodox Judaism remain Jews and Zionists. With this in mind, when considering the policy platform of Yisrael Beiteinu, there seems to be no reason why the party cannot be both Zionist and anti-religious. The important point is that being anti-religious does not equate to being anti-Jewish or anti-Semitic.

Those people who feel that Lieberman and others like him create an opening to separate Zionism from Judaism are mistaken. For me it is not Zionist or Jew, it can only be Zionist and Jew.

General Election Duty

When I go to the voting booth to exercise my democratic right on Tuesday for the elections to the 18th Knesset, it will not be out of enthusiasm that one of the parties truly represents everything that I wish to see in the new government. Like many other Israelis, I have not fully made up my mind who I should vote for. The main reason that I will vote at all is because I feel the need and obligation to exercise my right to do so. I imagine what I would answer my predecessors who lived through the Nazi holocaust if they asked me why I do not vote in the elections for a new government in a Jewish state, in our Jewish country. So I will vote. I will try to vote positively for one of the parties as opposed to a blank white slip. But I am not yet sure whose name will be on my voting slip.

There does not seem to be one party that represents everything that I am looking for in a new government. I do not believe that my demands are unreasonable or harsh. On the contrary, I feel that they are quite ordinary, understandable and middle-of-the-road. I want a government that will be tough on security and deal with the ongoing threat against the State of Israel in an uncompromising, but fair manner; I want a government that will bring Gilad Shalit home soon; I want a government that will stimulate the economy and cut our tax burden; I want a government that will put a great deal more money and effort into educating our children; I want a government that will preserve the character and the nature of Israel as a Jewish state; I want a government that is free from corruption and behaves in a manner that is transparent and moral; I want a government that has as its leader a person who has an unblemished character and who can be trusted to make the right decisions in the best interests of Israel during good times and bad. As simple as this sounds, it feels as though I am asking for the impossible.

The choices on offer to the voters seem to be a mixture of people that should not be Prime Minister, and parties whose policies appear suspect. The leading parties (and their leaders who will be Prime Minister if they win) are Likud (Netanyahu), Labour (Barak), Kadima (Livni) and Yisrael Beiteinu (Lieberman). Netanyahu and Barak have both had previous stints as Prime Minister. Neither can be regarded as successful. Barak was exposed after offering to divide Jerusalem at Camp David in negotiations with Arafat. Ironically, this offer served Israel well when when it revealed Arafat as a liar and a cheat. It has, however, left Barak with a low domestic standing for his soft approach in negotiating with the Palestinians. Netanyahu lost his credibility when, as Prime Minister, he was exposed as promising many things that clearly could never be delivered. Neither Barak nor Netanyahu have really succeeded in rehabilitating their names since their respective failures in the Prime Minister's office. Lieberman, whilst attracting a great deal of support for his uncompromising stand on security issues, can never really be regarded as a serious candidate for Prime Minister. He has a reputation as a thug and is decidedly undiplomatic in his approach to most issues. This leaves Livni, who is undamaged by any previous experience as Prime Minister, but was recently unable to form a coalition when given the opportunity. She also carries some responsibility for what is regarded as a somewhat premature exit from Gaza after the recent Operation Cast Lead.

The polls show that Livni and Netanyahu are neck-and-neck. If the Gaza War has the strong impact on the elections that it is expected to have, Netanyahu will probably have the edge. It also appears to be in his favour that Lieberman is ending the campaign very strongly, as the two seem natural bedfellows in a coalition government. The problem is that many of Lieberman's most recent gains are at the expense of Netanyahu's Likud party. This serves to weaken the latter's Prime Ministerial aspirations, and possibly strengthens Livni.

Whatever the outcome of the election, it seems inevitable that we will have to tolerate a relatively weak government with a small majority. This disproportionately strengthens the coalition partners and creates a situation where substantial concessions will be demanded and given. It will be interesting to see to what extent the Prime Minister will ultimately be in a position to remain faithful to his campaign promises after dishing out the concessions to his coalition partners. On second thought, maybe my wish list is a little too much to expect.

The French proverb comes to mind, "the more things change, the more they remain the same".

Democratic Dilemma

The recent decision by the Israeli Central Election Commission to ban two Arab Israeli political parties from participating in the upcoming general election, and the subsequent decision by the Israeli High Court of Justice to overturn this ban has brought into sharp focus the participation of Israeli Arabs in Israel's democracy.

In 1948 when the State of Israel was declared, Prime Minister Ben-Gurion appealed to the Arab residents living within the borders of the newly established country to join the new democracy. In the event, less than half of the Arabs took up on the offer. A total of 650,000 Arabs took up on the offer of citizenship in 1948, whilst a further 750,000 fled Israel to Arab countries neighbouring Israel. Many continue to be housed in refugee camps in those countries to this day. Those that remained were granted Israeli citizenship together with the rights that arise out of citizenship, amongst them the rights to vote in elections and to be a representative in the Israeli parliament, the Knesset.

In 1948, the Arabs made up approximately one third of the population. Today, after significant growth in Arab numbers but also huge Jewish immigration, Arabs comprise approximately 20% of the population. Despite this fact, and despite the fact that the Proportional Representation method of parliamentary representation used in Israel is acknowledged to favour minorities, the Arab parties managed to secure only 8 Knesset seats in the current session representing less than 7% of the 120 seats available. This is attributed to low voter turnout by Arab voters, and to the fact that some Arab voters choose to vote for (and represent) left-wing Jewish parties. Ironically, some recent reports predict that Arab parties will not be represented in the next Knesset at all due to voter apathy in the Arab sector.

All of this is evidence of democracy running its course in a democratic country. But, to what extent should a democracy be obliged to protect freedom of speech and action. Most supporters of democracy would argue that freedom of speech is an important pillar of of any democratic country. This may be true. But what happens when this democracy begins to cross the boundary, and citizens begin to abuse their democratic rights against the interests of their home country?

Israel continues to find itself in the midst of a war against the Arab nations. With the exception of Egypt and Jordan with whom Israel has signed peace treaties, Israel does not have diplomatic relations with the Arab nations and finds itself at war or under severe threat from many of them.
Whilst this is ongoing, the Arab citizens of Israel show support, both moral and actual, for Israel's enemies. One such example is Ahmed Tibi, Arab member of the Knesset for the Ta'al party, who describes his nationality as Arab-Palestinian. He is a former advisor to Yassir Arafat and finds it acceptable to visit and support nations that are at war with Israel. Another example is Azmi Bishara who was forced to resign his Knesset seat in April 2007 after being accused of treason following numerous visits to Syria, and expressing open support for Hezobllah. He has chosen to remain abroad since resigning his seat, and has not been brought to trial in Israel.

Many Israeli Arabs on the street have assisted Palestinian terrorists in their quest to kill and maim Israelis in their attempts to destroy the State of Israel. Some of them, like the recent tractor killers in Jerusalem, have initiated acts of terrorism against Jewish Israelis. The Oxford English dictionary defines treason as "the crime of betraying one’s country, especially by attempting to kill or overthrow the sovereign or government". It is my view that these acts on the part of Israeli Arabs are undoubtedly acts of treason. Even more so, the behaviour of the Knesset members who use their parliamentary immunity to further the cause of enemy nations.

Time has come to insist that citizens of Israel behave in a manner that is loyal to the country which provides them a home, or be denied citizenship. There can be nothing more democratic than this. We need to start with the Arab members of the Knesset and continue with all Arab citizens of Israel who are suspected of betraying their homeland. The rights and benefits that they enjoy as citizens are indelibly linked to allegiance to Israel. This is neatly captured in a slogan coined for the upcoming election by Avigdor Lieberman's Yisrael Beitenu Party - "without loyalty, there is no citizenship". People who are unable to pledge this, should be excluded. Jews around the world have found ways to support Israel as well as show allegiance to their home countries. If Arab Israelis cannot do this, they commit treason and should suffer the consequences.