THE FOX TO GUARD THE HENS: THE NEW ENVOY TO COMBAT ANTI-SEMITISM
Below, please find an article by the possible new Special Envoy to Monitor
and Combat Anti-Semitism, Hannah Rosenthal, as reported by the Journal
Politico. She’s on the advisory board for J Street–an important point to
know. In her article she suggests, “Perhaps out of fear, perhaps out of
timidity, we have failed to stand up to those who favor military solutions
to political problems or oppose peaceful resolution of the
Israeli-Palestinian and Arab-Israeli conflicts in the name of promoting
Israel’s best interests.” This article paints her to be terribly naive
about a lot of things. As the former Special Envoy, I must say that if
these are her views, then she may not be the right choice for the
position.
Gregg J. Rickman, Ph.D.
Former U.S. Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism
Reclaiming The Pro-Israel Mantle
by Hannah Rosenthal
Special To The Jewish Week–April 23, 2008
The 60th anniversary of the founding of the state of Israel is prompting
much debate about the country’s health and well-being, and about our role
as American Jews in helping shape its next 60 years.
This is a debate with which I am well familiar, given my five years as
executive director of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs (JCPA), the
umbrella organization for the Jewish community relations councils in North
America.
Six years ago this week, JCPA was one of many organizations that helped
bring thousands of Jews, and hundreds of our friends and allies, to
Washington to support Israel at a National Israel Solidarity Rally. It was
an historic occasion, and I recall much of that day with fondness and
pride.
I also recall the many rally attendees who pulled me aside to ask why the
word “peace†was so absent from the proceedings. How could we talk
security without talking peace? Where were the voices representing the
will of the broader American Jewish community? Why were there no speakers
giving voice to a pro-Israel vision of a secure Israel living side-by-side
in peace with its neighbors?
Throughout this day of speeches and rallying cries, I began to ask myself
the same questions: Where was the pro-Israel, pro-peace message? Why was
the voice of so many American Jews absent from this rally?
How did we arrive at a place where pro-Israel events had come to be
dominated by narrow, ultra-conservative views of what it means to be
pro-Israel?
It is a question I have been asking myself ever since.
As American Jews, we pride ourselves on our liberal values — and
rightfully so. For decades, we have heeded the call of tikkun olam —
repairing the world — and been leaders on a range of social justice
issues, from civil rights to poverty; from the Deep South to Darfur.
Recently, we have traveled in the thousands (thanks in great part to the
leadership of the JCPA) to the Gulf Coast to help rebuild areas affected
by Hurricane Katrina.
Yet when it comes to Israel, the voices that are heard are so often at
odds with these same values.
The progressive voice in our community has been far too quiet on Israel
for far too long.
Perhaps out of fear, perhaps out of timidity, we have failed to stand up
to those who favor military solutions to political problems or oppose
peaceful resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian and Arab-Israeli conflicts
in the name of promoting Israel’s best interests.
Six years after I stood with thousands of other American Jews in
Washington in support of Israel, Israel remains mired in conflicts with
its neighbors. There is no security. There is no peace. And there is no
real political leadership here in the United States that is prepared to
change this reality and engage in meaningful and consistent diplomacy.
But unlike six years ago, I know there is something we can do to about this.
Israel’s 60th anniversary happens to also be a milestone year in American
politics. Change is in the air. Long-held assumptions are being
questioned and political power is being reshaped.
For progressive Jewish Americans, this is a moment to re-assess how we
express our love for Israel and to give voice to our values when it comes
to Israel — just as we do on all other issues that capture our attention.
To me, this is an ideal moment for a new political movement to emerge,
rooted among American Jews who love Israel, to express loudly and
forcefully that it is pro-Israel to press for more active American
leadership role in bringing peace to the Middle East. That it is in the
best interests of Israel for us as American Jews to stand up and say what
we believe and reclaim the pro-Israel mantle from those who purport to be
pro-Israel, but whose policies and politics are far from it.
In a year that is likely to bring change for America, I’m excited at the
emergence of a new political voice in our community that can open up new
political change and perhaps bring change that will benefit Israel, the
U.S. and the American Jewish community.
Hannah Rosenthal is a member of the advisory council of J Street and
JStreetPAC, a new lobby and PAC that is pro-Israel and pro-peace.
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