By Rabbi Dow Marmur
JERUSALEM –I surmise that most of the media in the Diaspora that report on Israel will describe the way the Government of Israel handled the “flytilla” earlier this week to have been not only successful but also prudent. That’s not the only impression I get here.
To recap: Several hundred activists from different countries had planned to fly into Ben Gurion International Airport last Sunday ostensibly on their way to Bethlehem to link up with Palestinian counterparts whom they had come to support.
The Government of Israel, however, submitted names to its counterparts in several counties of persons they consider to be trouble makers. These governments – includingTurkey– prevented, with the help of local airlines, most of the pro-Palestinian activists from boarding the planes. The few who arrived were mostly detained in Israel and are now on their way back. You’ve no doubt read much about it.
The Government of Israel considers its actions to have been a great success and ministers have gone out of their way to congratulate themselves and each other. Foreign Minister Lieberman has been lauded for his diplomatic acumen.
But the incident filmed by a Palestinian cameraman that shows Lt.-Col. Shalom Eisen hitting a 20-year old Danish demonstrator with his M16 rifle has been a source of embarrassment to the government. The president, the prime minister and the chief of staff have all condemned it.
Eisen’s sister, on the other hand, has told the media that he acted in self-defense. There’re also suggestions that the film may have been heavily edited. Most of us would like to believe that no Israeli officer, particularly one wearing a kippa, would act in such a way. Therefore, attempts will be made to offer a different spin and I can imagine that local Jewish media, including the many organizations that have taken it upon themselves to make Israel’s case, will offer a different version than the seen so far.
Many Israeli public figures seem to have a contrary view. It’s expected that politicians outside the government should use such an event to criticize it. But independent analysts seem also to share their understanding. They may wish to show that the government overacted in the way it prepared for the “flytilla” and thus invited the world press to seek out dramatic situations.
Some critics have been particularly unhappy with the letter with which the government greeted the activists who managed to get into Israel. Instead of being self-confidently relaxed and cheerful, the letter was overly sarcastic and suggested that the visitors first go to champion human rights in Syria, Iran and Gaza and then come to Israel to report on what they’ve seen. Many consider this an immature approach that reflects defensiveness in place of confidence and is typical of the present Israeli Administration.
The two versions neatly reflect the diametrically opposed approaches to the conflict in general and the situation of the Palestinians in particular. Whereas the establishment believes that its handling of the issue is fair and justified – and those who oppose it, from within and from without, must be anti-Semites – critics are appalled by the insufficient attention to the plight of Palestinians under Israeli control.
One side celebrates with triumphant self-congratulation, the other advocates humble self-scrutiny. As hard as I try, I find it difficult to side with the former.
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Marmur is spiritual leader emeritus of Holy Blossom Temple in Toronto. Now dividing his time between Canada and Israel, he may be contacted at dow.marmur@sdjewishworld.com