JWR Wandering Jews

Jewish World Review Nov. 16, 2000 / 18 Mar-Cheshvan, 5761

Chicago Diarist


Coping with Barak’s
mixed message


By Gary Rosenblatt


http://www.jewishworldreview.com -- IN PAST TIMES of Mideast crisis, when Israel was embattled or at war, the primary response of the American Jewish community was to raise emergency funds for the Jewish state. But this time is different.

While the leaders of American Jewry gathered here this week, some 5,000 strong, for their largest annual gathering, and expressed solidarity with Israel, there was no talk of a national emergency fund-raising effort. That's because Israel is an economic power in its own right and does not want to ask for financial aid from diaspora Jewry. Equally important, this war --- the renewed intifada of the last six weeks --- is not being fought on a battlefield as much as it is in the media and in the perceptions of the international community.

What is required of us, the Israelis are telling American Jewish leaders now, is to go out and make Israel's case to Washington, to the media, and to the American people. But while the organized Jewish community is firmly behind Israel in its conflict with the Palestinians, and eager to help, there is deep frustration at the highest levels of Jewish leadership at Israel's mixed message.

At a private luncheon here on Monday, a few hours before Prime Minister Ehud Barak was to address the thousands of delegates to the 69th annual General Assembly of the United Jewish Communities, some two dozen top national Jewish leaders pressed the Israeli leader to clarify what they said was a confusing double message in regard to the recent violence.

On the one hand, Barak has been saying Yasir Arafat was the instigator of and responsible for the bloodshed, and no longer a partner in peace; at the same time, there are repeated calls for a return to the negotiating table to finalize a peace agreement.

Which is it? he was asked politely.

Despite a bad case of laryngitis, he did his best to reiterate the need for insisting violence cannot be rewarded while also asserting that peace talks must be resumed. And neither at the luncheon, nor at his speech later that night, did he say what different approach Israel might take at the talks, if and when they resume, based on the lessons of the last six weeks.

"The Israelis are boxing us in," said one leader at the luncheon, who asked not to be named. "If they want us to go out and demonize Yasir Arafat as a leader ready to sacrifice Palestinian children to enhance his political position, that's fine. We're prepared to do that. But then they can't invite him to Leah Rabin's funeral and maybe go back to negotiating with him a few weeks from now as if nothing has happened. We would lose all credibility."

American Jews aren't the only ones frustrated with Israel's stance. Natan Sharansky, who resigned from the Barak cabinet because he felt the prime minister was prepared to make too many concessions at Camp David this summer, told me "this double message is the worst mistake this government makes." He says Israel's message should be clear: "We want peace, and when you [the Palestinian leaders] are ready, we'll talk peace." But for now, he continued, Israel must be prepared for war and take the necessary steps --- economic and political --- to make the Palestinians understand they will be the ones to suffer in a protracted conflict.

In future negotiations, he said, "reciprocity will be not be an illusion but a real policy."

Even ministers within Barak's own cabinet are speaking publicly about the difficulty of presenting a confusing message. But Rabbi Michael Melchior, the minister for diaspora Jewry, insisted it is necessary. "It's easier, and justified, to say that Arafat is a crook and we have no peace partner and that we have to fight to survive," he said in an interview. "But that approach is only effective if our hand is outstretched."

What does seem to have changed is that, should talks resume with Arafat --- not likely in the near future --- Israel will insist on the Palestinians ending their expressions of hatred of Israel and Jews in the Palestinian media, schools and mosques. "You can't make peace while you're hating, and we need to be much more clear and demanding on this point," Rabbi Melchior said.

Other forms of reciprocity are sure to emerge as well.

During the four-day conference, the delegates were bombarded with pleas as to how they can help. They were encouraged by various speakers to demonstrate on Israel's behalf, write letters to the editor and contact media outlets to point out examples of anti-Israel bias, staunch the tourism crisis by visiting Israel, and, of course, make aliyah.

Rabbi Melchior, though, said we should visit Israel not just to help tourism but to comfort our Jewish brothers and sisters. "The people of Israel are sad," he said. "There is a mood of mourning in the land, and we need you to come to give us chizuk," or encouragement.

It was a gentle reminder that for all of the bravura heard from Israeli and American Jewish leaders about asserting our clout and persevering, we are in the midst of a tragedy --- not just for Israel but for all Jews --- and we must act with compassion as well as savvy in our response, on as personal a level as possible.

JWR contributor Gary Rosenblatt is editor and publisher of the New York Jewish Week. Comment on this article by clicking here.


Up

© 2000, Gary Rosenblatt