How to Win Friends and Influence People is apparently one of the books that the local members of Jewish Voice for Peace never read. In a counterproductive attempt to get JEWISHcolorado to change its viewpoint on Hamas’ war on Israel, JVP entered the JEWISHcolorado building under false pretenses. (See page 1 this week for details.)
Once inside, claiming to need a bit of help, JVP quickly facilitated the entry of many others and staged a demonstration. As to the sophomoric tactics, we’ll let the readers take them in themselves. Our concern is more with the sheer animus toward Israel that these young Jews manifest.
They would like to see the Israeli system “demolished.” Which system?
The system that brings in persecuted Jewish minorities, of all ethnic and racial complexions, from around the world?
The system that is a democracy?
The system that saves human lives everywhere through astonishingly creative medical discoveries and technological inventions?
The system that gives non-Jewish religions in Israel the right to worship as they choose?
The system that offers Israeli Arabs the right to vote, the right to the Israeli equivalent of Social Security, the right to an education and the right to security (unlike non-Israeli Arabs in Gaza whom Hamas operatives murder without due process)?
The system that preserves ancient ruins, regardless of their religious or national origin?
Which Israel system, precisely, would JVP demolish if it could?
We get the idea from JVP’s wildly uninformed statements that few of its members have ever spent much time in Israel, or, if they have, have not allowed themselves to see it other than through their own, heavily slanted lenses. For example, have they walked the Old City of Jerusalem and observed Israelis and non-Israelis, Jews and non-Jews, mingling freely, peaceably, almost all the time?
JVP members need not enter Israel under false pretenses. They would be welcome as tourists or, for that matter, as citizens.It’s time they took in Israel’s “systems.”
Copyright © 2014 by the Intermountain Jewish News
