The Brooklyn College Controversy

[Phineas Finn]

This is an interesting read, an essay from one of the speakers at a discussion of the movement to divest/boycott/sanction Israel over the issue of what the movement's supporters' refer to as the Israeli occupation of the Palestinians.

I know it's impossible to discuss this on this board without degenerating into mud slinging, but I found the author's ideas on what constitutes anti-Semitism in this case very thought provoking.

Are there legitimate Palestinian political rights?

Is any comment that questions the necessity of Israel remaining a large-majority Jewish population anti-Semitic on its face?

How can the question of a two-state solution be reconciled with what seems to be a dedication to maintaining what amounts to a religious state in Israel?

How is a Jewish theocracy different from a Muslim theocracy (other than the democratic nature of the current Jewish state)?

How long can a nation committed to maintaining a majority religion continue as a democracy?

http://www.thenation.com/article/172...yn-college-bds

[ivanbalt]

They are all interesting questions.

I think the whole idea of the Jewish state has more to do with the idea of a national identity as opposed to a religious state. Jews wanted the state of Israel as a place where they could be safe without the fear of government sponsored persecution or in Europe's case, genocide.

I'm sure there are plenty of people in Israel who identify themselves as Jews, yet are basically secular in their thinking. But they want to maintain the Jewish state because its theirs and they are safe within its borders. If the Jewish state isn't maintained and true democracy is allowed, it would be an Arab state in a generation or two. Would those (religious or not) who identifies themselves as Jews be safe then? Based on current and pre-modern Israel history, it's obvious they wouldn't.

[SalisburySage]

I'll tell you what. When you allow Delaware to be an Al Qaeda State with an Al Qaeda flag and missile batteries pointed at DC then lelt's talk about a Palestinian State.

[Phineas Finn]

I'll tell you what. When you allow Delaware to be an Al Qaeda State with an Al Qaeda flag and missile batteries pointed at DC then lelt's talk about a Palestinian State.

Even less than I expected of you.

[CajunRaven]

They are all interesting questions.

I think the whole idea of the Jewish state has more to do with the idea of a national identity as opposed to a religious state. Jews wanted the state of Israel as a place where they could be safe without the fear of government sponsored persecution or in Europe's case, genocide.

I'm sure there are plenty of people in Israel who identify themselves as Jews, yet are basically secular in their thinking. But they want to maintain the Jewish state because its theirs and they are safe within its borders. If the Jewish state isn't maintained and true democracy is allowed, it would be an Arab state in a generation or two. Would those (religious or not) who identifies themselves as Jews be safe then? Based on current and pre-modern Israel history, it's obvious they wouldn't.

They are interesting questions. You sum it up pretty well, If Israel were to go Arab, I don't see how the Jews would be safe. Given how things are changing with Arab Spring and the persecution of Christians in Egypt, the Jews would certainly be persecuted.

[soulflower]

JRob should be joining the thread any minute. Prepare to be called a nazi sympathizer

[SalisburySage]

Even less than I expected of you.

I am sorry but I can't take such a maturbatory article, cloaked as it is in academic double speak, seriously.

[Phineas Finn]

I am sorry but I can't take such a maturbatory article, cloaked as it is in academic double speak, seriously.

In other words -- you didn't understand it, and it required thinking about the same idea for longer than 10 minutes.

[regularguy]

Economic boycotts succeeded in the case of apartheid in South Africa. People who object to Israel's treatment of the Palestinians in the captured territories should apply the same pressure.