Theodore Bikel and Mandy Patinkin have a long history of support for Israel. Now, they see themselves as supporting Israel by boycotting it! They have signed a letter in support of Israeli theater professionals who refuse to perform in Ariel, on the West Bank.
The Israeli artists refuse to perform there and Patinkin and Bikel support the refusal because such performance would normalize a cruel occupation. They go on: When a group of people suddenly have the clarity of mind to see that the next compromise looming up before them is an unbearable one and when they somehow find the strength to refuse to cross that line we cant help but be overjoyed and inspired and grateful.
Put us down as neither overjoyed, nor inspired, nor grateful.
Put us down as needing a definition of, and a demonstration of, the cruelty of Jews, the overwhelming majority of whom live in peace on the land of Israel, disturbing no one unless, with rare exception, first disturbed by others.
With about the same expertise to rule on the structural integrity of the Twin Towers before 9/11, Mandy Patinkin intones about another area he knows nothing about: The settlements are in direct violation of the Green Line and of international law.
Ah, the Green Line: that border which leaves Israel 9 miles wide at its narrowest point, which Arabs in two wars exploited to try to cut Israel in half and destroy her.
But worry not. Mandy Patinkin knows better. Israel has no right to expand that border. That would be cruel.
It must feel very good to stand up, as the Israeli artists are doing, and to salute those who stand up, as Patinkin and Bikel are doing. We would advise a short consultation with the Israelis who lost their limbs, their eyesight or their loved ones to Palestinian terrorists originating on the West Bank. These are the people who have truly stood up. They are the heroes. Not Mandy Patinkin. Not Theodore Bikel. Not the Israeli artists.
Copyright © 2010 by the Intermountain Jewish News
