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From Socialist Worker, No. 112, 8 March 1969, pp. 2 & 3.
Transcribed & marked up by Einde O’Callaghan for ETOL.
PERHAPS there is no reason to argue with a person who has lost his ability to think objectively and to see reality (Austin Berlin’s letter, February 1, accusing Socialist Worker of ‘anti-semitism’), who is drifting on the stream of his emotions but I am doing so because he is not only speaking for himself but is a typical opinion of a Jew living in the diaspora.
Because of his guilt complex, because he is not taking part himself in the Zionist enterprise, he is inclined beforehand to justify every action Israel takes.
I would like to take up two points in Mr Berlin’s letter.
1. Although he says ‘I wouldn’t justify every action of the state of Israel’ he goes on ‘I would certainly condemn them if they just walked into the gas chambers as their forebears did in Europe.’
He uses a rhetorical and imaginary example. Israel has proved during 20 years of existence that she is not satisfied merely by taking an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth, but 10 eyes for one eye, 10 teeth for one tooth.
The picture of the Israelis walking quietly into the gas chambers is quite imaginary.
I am afraid that if any side in the middle-east conflict decides, to use gas it will be Israel.
While using such an imaginary example and not a concrete one – as for instance the Israeli raid on Beirut airport, an action that brought criticism from all quarters of world opinion ana even in Israel itself – I must conclude that Mr Berlin would justify every Israeli action.
Such total justification can be based on one of two assumptions:
The first assumption is absurd. There was never an action by Israel that didn’t evoke criticism in Israel itself. The most crucial actions that Israel has perpetrated were decided by a small clique. In the 1956 Suez affair, for example, only a few people knew of the action before it took place.
The assumption that a small group of people always know best what is just and good for Israel and the Jewish people of the world is ridiculous. The second assumption is contemptuous and there is no reason to elaborate on it.
2. Hypocrites and ignoramuses incline to false comparisons. For example, Goebels was against Jews, so that everyone who is against Jews is like Goebels.
Goebels was against Jews because he was malicious and wanted to exploit anti-semitism for Nazi political ends. The Jews were the innocent victims.
But today Israel is exploiting anti-semitism, the innocent Jewish victims throughout history, religion and socialism for her chauvinistic ends. The Arabs are the innocent victims.
It is the duty of every decent and intelligent person to oppose vigorously the Zionist state. There are decent Jews in Israel opposing Zionism.
My name hasn’t a Polish ring (as the ‘terrible name’ Protz). My name is Hebrew. I was born in Jerusalem, volunteered as a young boy for the Stem group and fought for Israel in the army during the 1948–49 war.
The Suez affair opened my eyes to the true nature of Zionism and since then I have been fighting against it.
At present I am in exile. I like my Jewish brothers and my country but I like the truth more and sadly the truth is against Israel.
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Yacov Eldar |
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Last updated on 16 January 2021