by Maskil on December 23, 2009
In my previous post, I talked about the (relatively) new organisation, Hiddush (Freedom Of Religion for Israel) and ways in which you can support it (both morally and in more tangible forms).
Nikki responded, and pointed out that Hiddush had just kicked off its first campaign, aimed at Israel’s Civil Union bill. While the concept of civil unions should be welcomed in principle, this particular bill has been butchered to such an extent that it will benefit almost none of the estimated 350,000 Israelis it should be aimed at. (In a comment on the JTA Website some months back, I opined that the bill will do little except create a new class of Mamzerim, officially forbidden to inter-marry with others in Israel.)
Although there are always questions regarding just how effective “armchair activism” (usually involving online petitions and letter-writing) such as this is, it is surely certainly better than inaction and silence. In a democracy, [click to continue…]
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by Maskil on November 19, 2009
In a couple of posts back in March 2008, I mourned the demise of Shinui at a time when it was needed more then ever. I also suggested that the political scene could benefit greatly from the founding of a “single issue” NGO to address the Haredi threat to Israeli society.
What I referred to as the Haredi Golem appears to have gained even more ground in the interim. One of the few bright spots on the horizon, however, has been the launch of Hiddush (For Religious Freedom and Equality), whose vision is as follows:
[click to continue…]
by Maskil on November 11, 2009
by Maskil on November 9, 2009
In my previous blog post, I looked at the last days of Apartheid South Africa, and the eerie parallels between the attitudes of White South Africans at the time, and the apparent mindset of much of Israel today. In both cases, there was/is the widespread belief that (a) we can stand alone against the world, because of a whole range of strategic and other factors, and (b) we can hold out/carry on this way indefinitely, for generations or centuries to come in need.
Despite the bravado, South Africa was eventually forced into a negotiated settlement with the ANC. Similarly, I believe that unless Israel uses the current opportunity to grab the best deal she can, she will eventually be forced to accept something far less favourable than what can be had today. Writer Uzi Silber took issue with the concept of a negotiated settlement, due to the absence of a credible partner for peace on the Palestinian side. I have no argument with that; a Holocaust-denier turned “moderate” would not be my choice of negotiating partner either. If not negotiation, then what?
In broad brushstrokes, this is my analysis:
For now, Israel is still largely in charge of her own destiny, not Abbas or Obama. Israel can take the initiative to move the so-called peace process along, and the other players will follow.
Israel has a decade or so at the most before the world completely loses patience with the running sore that is the Israeli/Palestinian conflict, and imposes a solution that is unlikely to be in Israel’s best interests.
In the next few years, therefore, (e.g. by end of Obama’s 1st and hopefully only term), Israel should negotiate OR IMPOSE a settlement that the real [click to continue…]
