the blog of denver’s intermountain jewish news — talking about issues important to our community
The concrete barriers surrounding the Jerusalem neighborhood Gilo will be removed. The barriers were erected eight years ago during the second Palestinian intifada to protect the residents of Gilo from regular sniper fire from the Palestinian town Beit Jala. The decision to remove the protective structures, announced Aug. 12 by the Israel Defense Forces, was made due to the “stable security situation in the area.” (Photo JTA)
Earlier this week Israel announced it would participate in a UN inquiry into the disastrous flotilla raid in May. It marks a contrast with Israel’s lack of participation in a similar inquiry on the Gaza War, which resulted in the now infamous Goldstone Report. Seems as though Netanyahu is thinking differently this time. But will the final result differ?
It’s fair to say that affecting change is nearly impossible from an isolated position. There’s an idiom that goes something like “better to be part of the process than outside of it”. This is an adage Israel has not adhered to. In the past Israel has - rightly - argued that the track record of certain organizations makes their stance on Israel one hundred percent clear. The UN’s Human Rights Council is a good example. Why participate in a kangaroo court? Does on volunteer himself to a lynch mob?
This time around, however, Israel’s taking a different tack - and one that we support. If “Israel has nothing to hide,” as Netanyahu says, why not state its case openly and actually confront people with the truth? While Israel has the moral high ground in removing itself from certain deliberations, it may not be the wisest move. The game will never change if you don’t play.
Israel-related stories abound in the Intermountain Jewish News and in the Jewish press in general. But there were two stories in particular that caught our eye this week - for their contrast. In Pennsylvania, a senatorial election has morphed into a “proxy war” between different pro-Israel camps, namely the more left J Street and the conservative Evangelical Christian movement. The man at the center is Rep. Joe Sestak, whose credentials on Israel are being called into question by the two sides. You can guess what’s being said: he’s not strong enough on Israel, or, he’s pro peace and security in the region for all parties. Of course these discussions are important, albeit predictable.
Meanwhile, in a local story, Gov. Bill Ritter, returning from his participation in an delgation to Israel, signed several economic agreements with Israel, including support for Israel’s Tomer natural gas field. In other words, a bilateral relationship between our state and the State of Israel has been established. And there’s no better time. Israel has a stable, fast-growing economy, with an extremely large amount of start-ups. It’s a highly innovative environment, so who wouldn’t want a piece? [More...]
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