Rosenberg’s Alternate Reality
July 17, 2011 15:45 by Simon Plosker
M.J. Rosenberg
When you hear anti-Israel activists chanting “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” or see the maps with the whole of Israel replaced by “Palestine”, those involved in attacking Israel clearly have a problem with Israel as a country that goes beyond legitimate criticism of Israel policy towards the West Bank, settlements or “occupation”.
For some people, however, their politics blind them to the reality. M.J. Rosenberg is one of them. Writing in the LA Times and Chicago Tribune, he argues that “delegitimization is just a distraction”:
So why are the pro-Israel organizations talking about it? The answer is simple: They are trying to divert attention from the intensifying world opposition to the occupation of the West Bank and to the blockade of the Gaza Strip, both of which, by almost any standard, are illegitimate. They are trying to divert attention from the ever-expanding settlements, which are not only illegitimate but illegal under international law. They are trying to divert attention from the ever-louder calls for Israel to grant Palestinians equal rights.
It is intellectually shallow of Rosenberg to claim that pro-Israel organizations across the board (including HonestReporting) are highlighting the issue of delegitimization simply to divert attention away from opposition to Israeli policies.
Sure – some organizations are ideogically invested in advocating certain policies. But many more are not.
It is precisely due to the fact that it has become increasingly difficult to hold a rational debate over the issues that Rosenberg mentions without encountering extreme hatred and demonization of Israel and Israelis that pro-Israel organizations are having to address delegitimization.
Even if it were purely Israeli policies that are driving criticism of Israel then Rosenberg needs to recognize that the criticism itself has gone beyond proportionate or acceptable discourse.
When Israelis hear Zionism being attacked, they hear their right to their own nation state being assaulted rather than criticism of a particular government or Israel’s relations with the Palestinians.
Sorry M.J. but you’re obviously living in an alternate reality.
Asher Garber
9:48 pm
Jul 19, 2011
MJ Rosenberg is an insult to Jews, writers, liberals, and the letters M and J.
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Yehuda
5:10 pm
Jul 20, 2011
M.J. Is a cheerleader for Jihad. Another Finkelstein. Makes me sick !
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Asher Bengio
8:00 pm
Jul 20, 2011
Jonathan, yr following comment is very interesting: “Look at the religious fanatics that live in the occupied territories. They are not one ounce better than their Muslim counterparts. Hatred is what carries these people, and they are the real threat to Israel. Not Jon Stewart, Oliver Stone or even M.J Rosenberg. At least they can see things in a somewhat balanced light. The true enemies of Israel come from within. They are the ones giving Israel a really bad name. Turn on the Tv and you see a guy wearing a long black suit and a fur hat in the middle of a desert. Talk about being a lunatic. These people are just leaches on Israeli society. No army service, no jobs. Just sit around and brainwash themselves while receiving handouts from the people who are truly the ones that made Israel what it is today. These are the people you should call traitors. These are the people who are ruining it for everyone else.”
There are a few facts that I find incredible.A. It looks like you hate your orthodox “jewish brothers” and have absolutely no connection with them and no idea of what judaism is. B. Settlements are not only inhabited by “fanatics”. check actual figures, and be ready for big surprise. C. The government of Israel – the late Rabin and Sharon- directed and allowed the construction of the settlements as a buffer zone. D. We jews are still around thanks to many lunatics like the Rambam, Rashi, the Vilna Gaon, etc… and be sure that they looked like more as your so called lunatics, than yourself .E.Your conclusion is really amazing: they are the traitors and the reason for all Israel difficulties. M.J. Rosenberg looks like a kind boy now.He’s just criticizing and it’s his right to give to our ennemies as much support as he can. With such brothers we dont need any ennemies. KOL YSRAEL AREVIM ZE LAZE. It’s not just words, it’s a a fact and you must live with it.
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Jonathan
10:02 am
Jul 21, 2011
Hi Asher,
I appreciate your comment. There are definitely some things I agree with you on, and some that I don’t.
A)
First of, I understand that I may come across as hating my orthodox “Jewish Brothers” as you put it. Let me say that of course I do not hate them. I do however not respect them one bit as I believe that their level of religious observance is detrimental to all things reasonable. That kind of blind faith brings nothing good with it, at least in my opinion. By the way, I am curious as to why you come to the conclusion that I do not have any knowledge of Judaism. Please elaborate. At least in the passage you highlight, I do not see how you can conclude this.
B)
I merely ask you to look at the religious fanatics that live in the occupied territories. I am in no way saying that they are the only ones who live there. I do not need to check figures, nor will I be surprised if I do. I am fully aware that many of the settlers are not there because of religious convictions, but are there because they have a pioneering spirit and were promised cheap land if they moved to the territories.
C)
Yes I am aware of this buffer zone. It was necessary the, but is it necessary now?
D)
I definitely agree with you on this point, if the likes of Rambam and so on had not been around, and it had all been people like me, then there would not be much Judaism left. Very Good point Asher, I really had not given this much thought until now. It does not however change my view on strictly religious people. Let me ask you? Is it not true that these orthodox people to a high degree live off government handouts? Is it not true that these people have the right to dodge military service. I remember seeing what I perceive as being a hassidic Jew, when asked about military service, proudly holding up his Talmud saying that “this book is stronger than 10 tanks”. Really!!?? Then you go protect our borders with that book. Let’s see how well that turns out…..
I mean, come on!! where would Israel be today without it’s to a high degree secular army?
Another thing. Since I have no knowledge of Judaism, please explain to me the black suits, black hats and let’s not forget the fur hats. Understandable in Russia during wintertime, but not so understandable when worn in one of the hottest climates in the world.
E)
Yes, to a very high extent I blame the orthodox/hassidic whatever you call them for many things. Especially Israel’s security problems. They are so unwilling to compromise, becuase they read something somewhere. Before you start, of course I blame the Palestinians for all the violence and killings, but I am a firm believer that if we did not have to take into consideration these orthodox people’s feelings and their political power, Israel would be far longer ahead in the peace process. A peace agreement would in turn also allow Israel to bomb the S*** out of anyone who breaks the agreement, and at the same time come out of it as the good guy. Israel has for too many years now failed to beat the Palestinians in the propaganda game, leaving Israel more and more internationally isolated. And this is not because the rest of the world is antisemitic, but because the actions of the State of Israel are not always well thought through.
Let me finish off by saying that I am in no way a fan of MJ Rosenberg, I think that what e writes is complete nonsense. That being said, I still do not believe that the words of one man are as big a threat as an entire movement of people doing all they can to sabotage the peace agreement.
Sincerely
Jonathan
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Arthur
9:01 pm
Jul 26, 2011
MJ Rosenberg’ comments remided me of the spies that were sent into the Promised Land and with false reporting were subjected to wandering for 40 years in the desert. I think this would be an appropriate fate for MJ Rosenberg.
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Len Kurtz
1:58 am
Jun 03, 2012
Rosenberg has an obvious problem; he is mentally ill. After 2,000 years of demonization of judaism by non-Jews, what we don’t need are self-righteous and bandwagon-joining ‘Jews’ demonizing their own. If Rosenberg does not see the reality, it is because he needs therapy. His ilk are an insult to all the victims of this hate and demonization including my grandparents and other family members who were brutally murdered during the Holocaust because they were Jewish.
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