A MAN holds two flags as demonstrators at a 2014 pro-Palestinian rally march across the Brooklyn Bridge in New York City. (photo credit: REUTERS/EDUARDO MUNOZ)
Posted on 11/19/2018 5:44:43 AM PST by SJackson
A MAN holds two flags as demonstrators at a 2014 pro-Palestinian rally march across the Brooklyn Bridge in New York City. (photo credit: REUTERS/EDUARDO MUNOZ)
I am a liberal, and I proudly proclaim my support for the progressive movement taking place in the United States right now. That’s why US Rep. Betty McCollum’s (D-MN) speech to the US Campaign for Palestinian Rights (USCPR) troubles me so much.
McCollum mentioned Israel’s “torture” and “systematic” arrest of Palestinian children in the West Bank, urged ceasing to use “tax dollars funding Israel’s cruel, brutal and dehumanizing system of juvenile military detention of Palestinian children,” and associated Israel’s passing of the Nation-State Law with “apartheid.”
Israel deserves criticism for prolonging over 50 years of a military occupation that is becoming increasingly harmful to both Jews and Arabs. The Israeli government should end this occupation as soon as it can by advancing the creation of a Palestinian state. The Nation-State Law is a step in the wrong direction, albeit is almost entirely symbolic and does very little substantively.
But to accuse Israel of torture, stop supporting Israel financially, and libel it with apartheid? My liberal friends, this is going too far. Many of us are too comfortable in the company of “the jackals,” as the late Senator Daniel P. Moynihan called them, following Jimmy Carter’s infamous last-minute decision to condemn Israel at the UN. The jackals are those who jump at every opportunity to undermine Israel – or any other noble cause – with the goal of destroying it and feeding off the carnage. Moynihan was talking about certain countries that consistently voted against Israel at the UN. I am talking about anti-Israel, often antisemitic organizations like USCPR and BDS.
My friends, do not be fooled by these jackals. These organizations have ostensibly espoused noble causes any sensible liberal would support: the rights of Palestinians, ending the occupation, human rights. Unfortunately, they have turned these phrases into euphemisms for destroying Israel and hating Jews.
Many of us fall for the jackals’ tricks because we think of Israel and see only the occupation. Indeed, Zionism, Jewish nationalism and the mission of Israel, must confront the grim reality the occupation has produced or risk deteriorating. Zionism has rather always sought the miraculous liberation and invigoration of the Jewish people, and it has achieved this. Without going into specifics, think of a vibrant democracy and liberal tradition, a booming and innovative economy, a glowing culture and diverse society. To oppose Zionism is to oppose these values.
This is not the first time we who carry the mantle of progress have fallen for the tricks of bloodthirsty jackals. During the American progressive era of the late 19th century, those who called for social justice allowed eugenicists into their ranks. Progressives have flirted with communists and racial separatists. We need to remember that those seeking progress have always come into contact with those who would twist it around for their own gain.
We now too often enable the anti-Zionist, antisemitic jackals of today. When these jackals speak of “Palestinian rights” and a staunch progressive like Bernie Sanders echoes them, we do our cause no justice. When BDS and USCPR package the destruction of Israel into the rosy language of human rights and anti-apartheid, progressive organizations like J Street and candidates like Cynthia Nixon should be among the first to condemn and disavow them.
I call on all my fellow liberals to remove the detestable stain of the jackals from our progressive movement. Take a strong stance against organizations deceitfully claiming to represent Palestinian liberation and human rights. Stand up more often in defense of the miraculous liberal democratic tradition that Zionism has produced. As the midterms approach, heed the words of Senator Moynihan: “So long as the ideas underlying the Carter administration’s [anti-Israel] UN policy are dominant within the Democratic party, we Democrats will be out of power.”
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Jackyls vote just like everyone else. Any cohesive constituency is one the dems will pursue. On their terms.
This guy Levy is a mother ####ing idiot.
His fellow liberals?
You stupid ####.
They want you DEAD.
They want the 6 million Jews here and the 6ish million Jews in Israel DEAD.
You marched with blacks about 15 years ago in NYC to show your support about God knows what issue and they beat the sh.t out of you.
They assault Orthodox Jews for laughs.
The destruction of Israel isn’t an outlier idea.
It’s their mantra!
But keeping voting 30 to 70 for your “fellow liberals”
Then when you need the christian rights’ help when the day of reckoning comes, we’ll still be there for you.
Because we’re not pieces of sh.t, like the group 70 percent of you, for God knows WHAT REASON, vote for.
You study hard, work hard, have been a great contribution to the American melting pot...which makes your voting patterns so much more ABSURD.
And by the way, attribute much of what I said above to my fellow Catholics.
We went Trump this time. But too many times we haven’t gone R for the president. Not in such extreme numbers as 30/70, but enough to give a D the presidency.
And we have a MUCH LARGER impact on the election than Jewish folks because of our great numbers.
I’d like to slap every Jewish and Catholic person in the face who votes D.
They spit on their own religion and its teachings.
What is the difference between this, and if he had said he proclaimed his support for StormFront/Neo-Nazis? Both want to destroy Israel and the Jews.
They ARE stormfront except they use the name liberal to describe themselves, or progressives.
Except in one way. Many are self hating whites.
Good riddance from here in NYC.
I dont know. My quality of life is pretty darned good here in NY.
Maybe because I live on Staten Island and my wife and I have good salaries and we have a great tax accountant :)
We can visit the city to do and see great things like the theater and the opera and museums and night life and then come home to quiet cozy Staten Island, where living expenses are a third of what they are in Manhattan.
I guess the reason you guys aren’t getting Rs down there is because we are pretty happy in the area we live and keep a good quality of life and a safe, community oriented neighborhood.
there is none of that in Manhattan and VERY LITTLE ni the other three boroughs.
SMH.
Post 6 was for Theoria!!
Sorry backwoods!1
Both of you have a great day :)
And Theoria, when I said good riddance, I meant the dems that are moving from NY!!!
Astounding. "pretty darned good" quality of life? You don't have any freedom to speak of. You can't carry a firearm for self-defense; you can't even own ammunition different than the pistols you have registered (required). Criminals can get a gun instantly, but it would take you a year to get a permit. You can't build anything bigger than a table without getting a permit. You can't grow anything without Code Enforcement coming down on you. I wouldn't live in a place like that.
Enjoy your perfectly-appointed prison.
I know it was for Theoria, but I had to comment anyway...
Right, lots of people of all sorts vote. When will Conservative deal with the fact, I don’t know. They target intelligent, informed, socially well adjusted people only. This means they target about 20%. When will they learn how to reach the emotionally driven, uninformed 80%. The dems get them too often. They slso should be ours.
Whatever.
You couldn’t mean less to me :)
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