I am a Zionist.
That means that I support a Jewish state in its historical homeland. I oppose efforts to change it into another Arab state, or to kill and disperse its Jewish inhabitants. It does not mean that I think that Jews are superior to Arabs or anyone else.
It makes sense to me to talk about a Jewish people, and feel myself a part of it.
I believe that if the state of Israel were to disappear, it would unleash a wave of anti-Jewish violence in the diaspora, and the Jewish people as such would shortly cease to exist.
I am not ashamed of the circumstances of Israel’s birth, because I don’t accept the tissue of lies called the “Palestinian narrative.” If the Palestinian Arabs have been victimized, it’s been by their leadership and the Arab nations, not Israel.
I am not ashamed of the actions of the Israeli government, which is forced to fight a continuous battle, diplomatic, cognitive and military, against the large portion of the world that wants Israel to disappear.
I don’t claim that Israel is perfect or that its leaders always make the correct decisions. But I absolutely reject the vicious slanders that appear in Arab, European and — increasingly — American media, that invert reality and attribute to Israel the racist and genocidal motives of its enemies.
I am absolutely convinced that the Palestinian Authority (never mind Hamas!) is not interested in any solution to the conflict that leaves a Jewish state standing.
I don’t hate Arabs or Muslims. But I recognize that there is a growing segment of the Muslim world that believes in expanding the area ruled by Islamic law by means of a combination of threats, subversion, terrorism and war. I see these Muslims as the enemies of Jews, Christians and the secular West. I believe that it is our job to struggle to protect Western civilization against this very real opponent.
I think the “Arab Spring” has for the most part turned into an Islamist revolution.
I think the United Nations is so strongly influenced by enemies of Western civilization that it has long since ceased to be a force for good. At best it is a huge waste of resources, and at worst a tool of the barbarians.
I am very frustrated by American Jews who confuse Jewish ethics with a moral philosophy of naive humanism, who are incapable of understanding that there is such a thing as an enemy, and therefore embrace their enemies. They should all read Kenneth Levin’s book, The Oslo Syndrome: Delusions of a People under Siege, in order to understand themselves (the Israeli Left should read this too, but they are probably to arrogant to be cured).
I second the motion here. This is an articulate statement of what the sane, responsible and historically knowledgeable part of the Jewish people believe in.
Very well said Vic.
Simple isn’t it? So why then is it so hard for American Jews to take the wool from their eyes?
Maybe because they are in reality sheep?
The question is how many weak, non, or antiZianist Jews celebrate even Passover, let alone know how Shabbat works? Except for the Nuttyrei Retarda, Ive never heard of any remotely observant antizionist Jews. Altho I have heard this about Haredi. I dont know if this is true of American Haredi.
The problem is that Jews over the past 60 years and more entered into mixed marriages, or assimilated. They gave no Jewish education to their children, but still said they were Jewish, so this becomes a tactic by these monkeys who say they are Jewish and antizionist. If you dont see yourself as different in any way, what point is there in being Zionist?
I am by no means anywhere near observant. Here I am on a computer on Shabbat. But I see that as something to strive for and hope to soon live that way. I am oriented in that direction, thus I have a strong Ahavat Yisra’el, love of Israel. It manifests as a strong Zionism and rhetorical defenses of Medinat Yisrael, even if I oppose the government and the upper echelons of the IDF (which may just be the Defense Ministry).
The mortar of my views on Judaism and Zionism, which are fully intertwined was set by Meir Kahane in his first book Never Again. I think this is a much better book than the one you suggested (altho I havent read that one). It makes a very practical case that every Jews should embrace being Jewish and that is why they should support Israel. Never Again convinced me that I should embrace Judaism. I dont think I could be ever convinced otherwise.
Never Again was written in 1972, but if you didnt know that, and some names were changed, you would think it was written today. It mentions growing economic troubles of the 70s and it likely being blamed on Jews. It mentions the fade of Holocaust Guilt. I would not say it should be required reading for every Jew, but every Jew should read it. Requiring a book makes people resistant to it, but if they discover it and read it voluntarily, like I did, they will be very open to its ideas. Give it as a gift to a lapsed Jew. They may not read it immediately, but few people would throw away a gift, even if they hate the author. One day, they will see it and be curious. And thats all you need.
(As a bonus, it helps to destroy the legendary devil that Kahane is portrayed as. I hope to one day revise it to current day, since the mentions of the Soviet threat are superfluous today.)
Another thing I like to argue is that there is too much grief over the Holocaust. Enough already. Everyone knows we lost a third of our people in it, along with many nonJews. It doesnt serve any end for Jews or nonJews to be continually reminded of it. There is so much focus among Jews on all the persecutions. Why arent the Maccabees celebrated more? Why isnt Masada celebrated? Or more recently, why arent the Bielski Brothers celebrated? If Jewish heroes are celebrated and promoted, Jews will strive to be like them and want to defend their brothers. We will be a strong people that no one attacks.
Again, I take this from Kahane.