After posturing and equivocating publicly over the tragedy of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Government of Israel last week finally agreed to support a U.N. General Assembly resolution condemning the invasion. Russia, nevertheless, still expressed its grave disappointment at the decision of the Israeli Government.
On a geo-political level, Israel has some genuine concerns about the role that Russia is playing in the Middle East, specifically in the movement of weapons to and through Syria. Israeli interceptions of these convoys by planes and drones as well as the interdiction of supplies do affect Israel security. In addition, Israel continues to seek Russian support to avoid the renewal of a nuclear agreement with Iran. Finally, Israel remains concerned about the conditions of or retaliation against the Jewish community in Russia (as well as in Ukraine).
Israel, however, ought to recognize that the grossly immoral behavior of Vladimir Putin cannot be tolerated or explained away. His brutal, premeditated invasion of Ukraine and his slaughter of thousands of innocent civilians is reprehensible. The Ukrainian people are enduring indiscriminate military attacks on civilian targets by a leader who has no respect for human life—of any sort or in any country. The Russian people as well as the military are being used and caused to suffer, merely to satisfy Putin’s malevolent designs on resurrecting the Russian Empire of old.
Jewish history and especially the Shoah is replete with Jews suffering just like the people of Ukraine while the world stood by. Human life is being dismissed and the Government of Israel refuses to recognize the immorality of Putin’s actions, let alone his violation of international law. Israel is affirming its geo-political concerns first in contravention of some of the most fundamental ethics of Judaism. Israel is “standing-by” while Ukrainian women and children are being pulverized by Russian air and artillery shells.
Prime Minister Naphtali Bennett’s diplomatic effort at peace-making in his trip to Moscow and his follow-up conversations with Zelenskyy, Scholz, and Macron might be helpful; however, how can Bennett sleep with the visions of two million people—who have committed no offense—having been driven out of their own land. Israel is a nation founded on Jewish values and by many refugees; yet the fact that its leaders are placing self-interest over humanitarian considerations ought to raise serious questions about Israel’s priorities.
Finally, it is rather shocking that Jewish religious and communal leaders have been silent concerning the lack of moral spine being exhibited by Israel. Praying, raising funds for Ukrainians, and working to find resettlement homes for refugees are very much Jewish values. It would seem that holding Israel’s political leaders accountable for their silence ought to be part of their message as well.
----------
Meanwhile at Home
When AIPAC (the American Public Affairs Committee) was established, its purpose was to be Israel’s lobby in Washington. While it identified and highlighted who Israel’s friends were in Congress and who were not, it did not support or financially back any Member or candidate. AIPAC saw as its purpose to work with the American Government by advocating on behalf of the best interests of Israel.
When J Street was created iessentially as a more liberal pro-Israel advocacy group, it did essentially the opposite. J Street established a separate arm to raise funds for candidates whom it believed would support the J Street position on what was best for Israel and peace in the region.
AIPAC recently announced that for the first time it, too, was forming a political action committee which would support those candidates which it believed were most supportive of AIPAC’s presentation of Israel’s best interests. Last week this new PAC announced its endorsement of 120 candidates in the November 2022 mid-term election. Among the 61 Republicans were 37 who had voted on January 6, 2021, against congressional certification of the results of the 2020 election of Joe Biden as President.
AIPAC’s support of these Members is a rationalization by AIPAC that a blatantly anti-democratic position by Members of the U.S. Congress is acceptable as long as these same individuals are supporters of Israel. These endorsements suggest that many in the American Jewish community still do not recognize the immorality of those elected representatives who opposed the results of the November 2020 election. Finally, it implies that AIPAC does not recognize that anti-democratic actions are a genuine threat to fundamental Jewish values--not only in Russia,
Kommentare