Israel’s Fair-Weather Fans By SHMUEL ROSNER AUGUST 7, 2014

[King_David]

CONTRIBUTING OP-ED WRITER
Israel’s Fair-Weather Fans
By SHMUEL ROSNER
AUGUST 7, 2014

TEL AVIV — The Israeli song “Ein Li Eretz Acheret” is a curious tune. “I have no other country,” go the lyrics, “even if my land is on fire.”

It’s hard to find a Jewish Israeli who doesn’t identify with it. Lefty Israelis interpret it as a protest song. It was sung at demonstrations against the 1982 Lebanon War and vigils following the 1995 assassination of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin. Israelis on the right interpret it as a patriotic song about attachment to the land; they sang it after terrorist attacks and during the 2005 withdrawal from the Gaza Strip.

I was reminded of the song in recent days as I read a string of articles by smart, savvy, knowledgeable, non-Israeli Jews, who say that the brutal war in Gaza has made them question their Zionism.

What unites these writers, of course, is that all of them do have another country. And that’s why, when push comes to shove, the Israeli government doesn’t — and shouldn’t — listen to them.


http://mobile.nytimes.com/2014/08/08/opinion/shmuel-rosner-israels-fair-weather-fans.html?referrer=

[intaglio]

1. By the same logic why should Israel pay any attention to the groupies

from other nations who cheer them on?

And why should any other nation offer any special deference or bargain basement prices for armaments?

[King_David]

2. They shouldn't nt

[Scootaloo]

3. You know whose land is usually on fire, and who REALLY don't have any other country?

Hmmm.

[King_David]

4. Yep,

ISIS overtakes Iraq's largest Christian city


http://www.cnn.com/2014/08/07/world/meast/iraq-isis-christian-city/

[Scootaloo]

5. Them too, but we're talking I/P here Dave

Nice juking though.

[King_David]

10. What does "juking" mean ?

[Scootaloo]

11. In sports; an evasion, sidestep, or dodge through zigzagging motion

In American slang, also apparently means dirty dancing. That i did not know. I assure you i meant it in the sense of football

[shaayecanaan]

16. Jesus, those guys can move

it would be good to see a rugby team made up of guys like that.

[Israeli]

6. Hmmmmmm.....

In 1982, Israeli lyricist Ehud Manor was confronted with the harsh reality of Israel's first Lebanon War, after his government betrayed its official war aim of security for the Galilee, and instead involved Israel's defense forces in an abortive attempt at regime change in Beirut.

Manor's response in song, patriotic but critical, saddened but defiant, can still serve as a guide for us today:............

Ein Li Eretz Aheret (I Have No Other Country)

I have no other country

even if my land is aflame

Just a word in Hebrew

pierces my veins and my soul -

With a painful body, with a hungry heart,

Here is my home.

I will not stay silent 

because my country changed her face



I will not give up reminding her 

And sing in her ears

until she will open her eyes

I have no other country

until she will renew her glorious days

Until she will open her eyes



With a painful body, with a hungry heart,

Here is my home

[King_David]

8. Thanks for that

[Israeli]

12. you are welcome ....

BTW .....in reference to this :

" I was reminded of the song in recent days as I read a string of articles by smart, savvy, knowledgeable, non-Israeli Jews, who say that the brutal war in Gaza has made them question their Zionism.

What unites these writers, of course, is that all of them do have another country. And that’s why, when push comes to shove, the Israeli government doesn’t — and shouldn’t — listen to them. "

Educate me please King_David .....SHMUEL ROSNER ....where was he born ?

Does he not realize that today American Israelis hold dual citizenship ? ....therefore they to have another country .....which kind of negates the " Ein Li Eretz Acheret " argument that he so badly puts forward .

[King_David]

13. I don't think he was including himself ,

I think you would agree to it ,that American Jews should not have a say in Israeli affairs....no?

[Israeli]

17. obviously not ....

" I think you would agree to it ,that American Jews should not have a say in Israeli affairs....no? "

nope ... dont agree to it ... I'm all for free speech King_David.....as long as that includes everyones opinion whether they be Jewish or not

What SHMUEL ROSNER is doing is delegitimising the dissenters .... and using Ehud Manor as a tool to do so ...much like Mosby's recent post where he manipulates Amos Oz's words to fit his viewpoint .

[kayecy]

19. Now here I can agree with you.......Providing you include AIPAC......n/t

[whosinpower1]

7. right wing codswabble

Frantically trying to justify their right wing policies regardless of what anyone else thinks, under the guise of an existential threat.

quote - To put it bluntly: These Jews are very important, but not nearly important enough to make Israelis pursue policies that put Israeli lives at risk. End quote.


So, it should come to no surprise that liberal Jews would reject the military response in Gaza, the degree of destruction, the grossly disproportionate brutality. The author goes on to suggest that the state of Israel should not bother to listen to them anyways - even though he does admit at the very end.....

quote - Clearly, these critics of Israel’s behavior believe that Israelis themselves would be safer if the country adopted their prescribed liberal policies. That might be true, but it makes no difference. End quote.

[King_David]

9. Right Wing?

SHMUEL ROSNER ?
New York Times ?

[shaayecanaan]

14. Fair enough

as long as you also ignore the right-wing diehard tryhard American Jews who cheer on every military misadventure, snug in the knowledge that they will never have to risk their own skins policing so many masses of unhappy Arabs.

[King_David]

15. Agreed they should butt out

[Scootaloo]

20. Woosh

[Israeli]

18. :)

kinda hard to ignore them shaayecanaan .....

somedays it seems like they have totally taken over the internet

[shaayecanaan]

21. I think every one of them must have a blog by now...

Some of them even have three blogs, usually called something-watch. Eg CIFwatch, jihadwatch, arabwatch, etc.

I'm not sure how much longer their mommies are going to let them sit on their arse on the computer eating jammie dodgers on the basis that they are battling for Israel.