ISRAEL CHANGING OF NATURE

Israel changing of nature
By Didier BERTIN
18 November 2009 – Updated on 12 March 2010

I-INTRODUCTION

A method of assessing the above mentioned phenomenon could be in my opinion, an analysis of the different aspects of Israel with the time as many different states or eras since 1948.
National essential parameters have substantially changed from one to the other era, in our opinion. I know and travel to Israel since 1965 and I distinguish four different States of Israel or four different eras. “Yeridah” is due to the fact that the attraction for one State or era could not be continued with the following State or era.
As a matter of fact, this could explain that in addition to Jewish Diaspora, we may notice mainly in North America, an increasing Israeli Diaspora.
Israeli Diaspora appeared at the beginning of sixties with the stringent State economical policy named “Mitoun”, which reduced substantially availability of jobs and obliged many people to leave the country.
To resist to time evolution as a coherent nation, certain aspects are requested in our opinion such as a population, which could be of various origins but with sufficient common references as culture, history, language, education, a consistent and resilient philosophy as for example in France “freedom, equality, brotherhood”, and “above all these aspects, the willingness to form one single nation.” We also think that encouragement to the development of different communities could lead a nation to explosion as it might happen in Belgium or Canada when some Provinces want to authorize each community to apply its laws.
In our opinion, the aspect regarding population and philosophy were not resilient and consistent to prevent Israel to change of nature with time.
Religion seems to have been established as national cement despite it concerns a limited part of the population. Many Israelis do not understand the invasion of religion in their everyday civil life. On top, Israeli Judaism is highly orthodox, which means very conservative, rigid and totally hermetic to necessary Reforms due to world changes, by opposition to American Judaism.
The obsession of the application of the 613 rules and how to escape to part of them by way of electric devices such as timer or automatic systems seem to absorb a substantial part of time. Thinking that God could be blind because of electric guiles is a pure anthropomorphic understanding related to superstition or paganism. Currently Far East philosophies are successful among many Israelis looking for another truth.
The other main branch of Judaism is American and is very creative, vivid, and includes many bright intellectuals. US Judaism is totally opened to Reforms, and constant discussions and evolution. Many tendencies are directed to the open society (secular society). Reference:Visions of Jewish Education published by Mandel Foundation. This book includes many conservative authors in our opinion but shows that US Judaism is open to changes and reforms.
As a result of Shoah, European Judaism became unfortunately negligible.

II-THE MULTIPLE ISRAEL STATES OR ERAS

We will mention hereafter the diversity of population; our remarks concern noticeable trends in our view but of course populations are composed of very different individuals, who could choose a personal way totally different of main trends.

FIRST ISRAEL: SOCIAL ERA - ERA OF FOUNDERS
Or a Social, safe and Secular harbor for Jews and population linked to Judaism viewed as a national identity

Jews were often victims of ostracism illustrated by Pogroms among others and culminating with the extermination process named Shoah.
The founders, who came from central Europe and Russia benefited of the effects of Russian Revolutions, which recognized Jews as normal human beings.
Most of founders were leftists and created an equalitarian, social State based on brotherhood and secular Judaism. People could have been attracted by this first State to flee anti-Semitism and to achieve a social Revolution by the same token (e.g. Mapam).
The heritage from Founders State was a resilient labor party, which finally degenerated and recently collapsed due to internal (leaders) and external (population modification) reasons.

SECOND ISRAEL: FACING HARDLY DIVERSITY AND DEVELOPING OSTRACISM
Adverse attitude of part of Jews against others based on their origin

Israel Unity became questionable when a huge population of Jews from Morocco arrived from 1956.
We may think that victims of racism could never become tormentors in their turn. Unfortunately, Ostracism was flourishing in Israel first towards Arab population because of their hostile attitude to Israel and also towards non-European Jewish population because of their difference. This attitude includes today the black Ethiopian Jews.
I personally felt anti-Sephardic hostility in 1969 as equivalent to anti-Semitic hostility I knew in France in the sixties. This was as much disappointing as Israel was assumed to be a safe harbor for all Jews.
The situation of Jews in Morocco was based on hatred and love with local Muslims depending on the personality of each Sultan. Everybody has in mind the courage of Mohamed-V opposed to the cowardice French Authorities during the war.
The lot of Jews in Morocco depended also of where they lived: protected on the coast and tormented inside the country. Reference: La Marche vers l’Occident of André Chouraqui (PUF).
Probably, the most tormented brought in Israel a hatred of Arab population which is until now a negative factor for the peace process. On top they also brought a Conservative Judaism including oriental superstitions.
The most difficult challenge remains the integration as part of Nation of Israeli Muslims. The suppression of religion on Identity cards is recent. This former mention was shocking from a democratic standpoint. The harmony between Jewish and Muslim Israelis depends also on peace process and deep democratic principles.

THIRD ISRAEL: THE ERA OF CONQUESTS

The easy victory among aggressive but weak Arab States in 1967 and the conquest of new territories have changed the profile of the country.
This victory opened territory appetite and in particular from religious fanatics, who wanted to own all biblical places without taking into account the local population.
On top the acquisition of new territories give arguments to those, who see Israel as a last production of European colonialism in line with British mandate. The argument of remaining distant from colonialism was utilized by Ariel Sharon himself to convince the members of his Party to accept withdrawals from territories.
In order to face critics regarding territories, Israel utilizes systematically the right of defense of his existence with reference to Shoah, up to the point that he self-convinced of it to deafness to European and American standpoints.
Time and American pressure have forced Israel to accept the reality of the Palestinian problem, which was formerly considered by Israel as an issue for the sole Arab countries; the result of conquests clearly involved Israel as a key partner to solve Palestinian problem.
Shoah gives rights to Israel when his existence is in question but it should also lead him to compassion and action with peoples victims of recent genocide attempts such as those of Cambodia, Kosovo, Rwanda, and Darfur and with civil victims of wars such as those of Angola (Re:Aradi Gaydamak case),Israel of course but also Gaza as well as in priority with the victims of Shoah still alive in Israel. Many of them, who are very old now, live in deep poverty and were obliged to demonstrate recently to obtain the payment of their indemnities duly transferred by Germany.

FORTH ISRAEL: THE RECENT DOMINATION OF ULTRA-RIGHTISTS

It seems that for the second time Russia has determined the nature of Israel. After a long period of Communist agony, Revolution was no more viewed as emancipation but only as enemy of Freedom. Russia became champion of wild capitalism and struggle against Russian Muslims.
It seems that many of the emigrants from Russia share the bitterness of Russian people regarding the life during the communist era. Many of them seem favorable to support Ultra-Rightist wing involving together an antisocial and war policy.
The culminating point never reached in Israel was the creation and success of the extreme rightist and racist party: Israel Beiteinou led the Russian emigrant Victor Lieberman and a very clear domination of Ultra-rightist in Knesset (Parliament) since the last recent elections – See my former article on new Knesset analysis-
The success of this Party was so important that Victor Lieberman represents now Israel as his Minister of Foreign Affairs. This extremism is particularly negative for Peace Process. This event underlines also a system of education and information to be improved.
The strong domination of Ultra-rightists may justify “Yeridah” (departure from Israel) of part of democratic Elite.
The conquest spirit has changed because of the fear of Arab demography and European and American pressure. Now control is preferred to Integration, by way of increasing colonies and consolidating acquired position. Despite commitments with USA, it was decided this week to build 900 additional flats in Guilo (Jerusalem‘s area). To achieve peace, Palestine should be viable: The superficies of territories are 5 860 km2 for the west Bank with 2.6 million inhabitants and 360 km2 for Gaza with 1.5 million inhabitants i.e. 6 220 km2 for 4.1 million inhabitants. We wish also to underline the necessary economic progress of Palestinian territories to achieve peace since poverty encourages Extremism. Gaza is the poorest area of the world before Zambia. By increasing poverty, Gaza ranks 144th on145 and West Bank 110th. . See link here below:
http://www.indexmundi.com/g/r.aspx?v=69&l=fr

III-CONCLUSION AND PERSPECTIVES

The ultra-Rightist new positions of Israel as reflected by the new Knesset will slowdown expectation of Israel for progress, welfare and peace.

The fact that members of Israel Labor Party (Ehoud Barak, BenyaminBenEliezer, Shalom Shimon, and Yisthak Herzog)  joined the intolerant Government of Benyamin Natanyahou, issued from Knesset 2009 of this Party, may only increase disappointment regarding Country’s evolution. The electoral collapse of AVODA was thus  amplified by a collapse of ideas, values, and dignity and underlined more heavily the end of the Left in Israel. Tsipi Livni of Kadima showed that eventually she has more dignity.
Peace process achievement is the sole security solution for Israel. To support a moderate Palestinian Authority and neutralize Extremism, colonies should be stopped and Palestinian Economy should be developed.
The sole possible hope for Peace in this unfavorable new Israeli political context may only come from the determination of President Barack Obama, who could make adequate pressure.