Introducing our readers to the influential Israeli journalist, Kalman Liebskind, a longtime Likud and Bibi supporter, who now holds the coalition responsible for Israel's crisis.
I think you meant to say: “Now, if we start to hear that from the American Jewish journalists and magazine editors who were no less responsible for the vilification of the [. . .] judicial reform movement, we’ll know that as a people, we’ve made some progress.” Seriously, I agree that the present moment calls for a different conversation than before 7/10, but calls for unity cannot just be used as a way to silence the legitimate and significant concerns of either side. And, the need for unity also cannot just be used as a weapon to entrench the status quo, however inequitable. The decades of the crisis of democracy that preceded 2023, with its deliberate thwarting of electoral majorities, led to the vehemence of the pro-judicial-reform side. And, if we just say to those Israelis that supported it, “Sit down and shut up,” we will ensure that the bitterness will well up again. How we can balance those competing imperatives, I do not know.
Daniel, you write that, inspired by Kalman Liebskind, you are making a list of what you what do differently. Does that include not celebrating the street protests that divided the nation? You started today's column with a photo of the increasing anti-government protests, writing approvingly, "They’re tired of pretending that Netanyahu has them or their captive family members in mind. He’s lying, they said, and they declared last night at the protest in Tel Aviv (Saturday night protests are taking off again, and are likely to grow much larger) that they are now going to work tirelessly to have him replaced by a new government." Your hatred of Netanyahu seethed from this post. This is the opposite of what Mr. Liebskind wrote. He wrote about respecting the other side even when you don't agree with them, of discussing issues rather than personal attacks, of making unity the ultimate value. As an Israeli whose son just got out of five months in the reserves, nothing worries me more than these street protests that tear us apart and return us to October 6. You should be condemning them, not celebrating them.
As horrible as the hostage situation is, it is distressing to see these self-defeating public protests. They play right into the hands of Hamas which is betting on a combination of internal cohesion breakdown and worldwide vilification of Israel. The irony is the more social strife within Israel, the harder it will be to negotiate an end of the hostage crisis.
What a wonderful inspiring article. There is just one thing I wish to add! On the steps of the 'Burnt House' in the Old City of Jerusalem is a plaque, which says in addition to another phrase: "The second temple was destroyed because of 'Sinat Chinam'. Such unreasonable hatred came alive during the pre 10/7 demonstrations and which appears to be resurfacing in parts of Israel now. In my view, every Jew should ponder the meaning of sinat chinam and learn to focus on what we are called to be: "A Light Unto the Nations!"
I find the use of "pogrom" in referring to Oct 7 offensive and fallacious. There is no comparing the slaughter throughout history of defenseless and stateless Jewish communities in Europe and the Middle East to a mass-terrorist attack against the State of Israel. The intentions of our enemies have always been clear. It only resembled a "pogrom" because of their barbarity and because we were caught sleeping on watch.
I think you meant to say: “Now, if we start to hear that from the American Jewish journalists and magazine editors who were no less responsible for the vilification of the [. . .] judicial reform movement, we’ll know that as a people, we’ve made some progress.” Seriously, I agree that the present moment calls for a different conversation than before 7/10, but calls for unity cannot just be used as a way to silence the legitimate and significant concerns of either side. And, the need for unity also cannot just be used as a weapon to entrench the status quo, however inequitable. The decades of the crisis of democracy that preceded 2023, with its deliberate thwarting of electoral majorities, led to the vehemence of the pro-judicial-reform side. And, if we just say to those Israelis that supported it, “Sit down and shut up,” we will ensure that the bitterness will well up again. How we can balance those competing imperatives, I do not know.
Daniel, you write that, inspired by Kalman Liebskind, you are making a list of what you what do differently. Does that include not celebrating the street protests that divided the nation? You started today's column with a photo of the increasing anti-government protests, writing approvingly, "They’re tired of pretending that Netanyahu has them or their captive family members in mind. He’s lying, they said, and they declared last night at the protest in Tel Aviv (Saturday night protests are taking off again, and are likely to grow much larger) that they are now going to work tirelessly to have him replaced by a new government." Your hatred of Netanyahu seethed from this post. This is the opposite of what Mr. Liebskind wrote. He wrote about respecting the other side even when you don't agree with them, of discussing issues rather than personal attacks, of making unity the ultimate value. As an Israeli whose son just got out of five months in the reserves, nothing worries me more than these street protests that tear us apart and return us to October 6. You should be condemning them, not celebrating them.
As horrible as the hostage situation is, it is distressing to see these self-defeating public protests. They play right into the hands of Hamas which is betting on a combination of internal cohesion breakdown and worldwide vilification of Israel. The irony is the more social strife within Israel, the harder it will be to negotiate an end of the hostage crisis.
What a wonderful inspiring article. There is just one thing I wish to add! On the steps of the 'Burnt House' in the Old City of Jerusalem is a plaque, which says in addition to another phrase: "The second temple was destroyed because of 'Sinat Chinam'. Such unreasonable hatred came alive during the pre 10/7 demonstrations and which appears to be resurfacing in parts of Israel now. In my view, every Jew should ponder the meaning of sinat chinam and learn to focus on what we are called to be: "A Light Unto the Nations!"
I find the use of "pogrom" in referring to Oct 7 offensive and fallacious. There is no comparing the slaughter throughout history of defenseless and stateless Jewish communities in Europe and the Middle East to a mass-terrorist attack against the State of Israel. The intentions of our enemies have always been clear. It only resembled a "pogrom" because of their barbarity and because we were caught sleeping on watch.
Very powerful column. Hopefully the general population of Israel (and the Jewish community of the US) will take these words to heart.