Khalidi, commenting on Arab antisemitism, stated in a recent PBS interview: "I think the problem of antisemitism in the Arab world, while it has roots that go back before the Arab-Israeli conflict, obviously is mainly driven by that conflict...I think if you were to have a rapid and just resolution to the issues between Israel and the Palestinians, that the overwhelming majority of what one now sees as antisemitism and other expressions of hostility towards Jews would disappear."
Oh, if it were only so. The only part of Dr. Khalidi's statement that has historical precedence or is even founded in reality is that the roots of Arab antisemitism go back before the conflict. In fact, the underpinnings of Arab antisemitism and, indeed, world-wide antisemitism are so vastly more far-reaching as to make a highly respected, highly intelligent academic's response sound like the naivete of a school child.
This provocative statement is not meant to indict Dr. Khalidi of disingenuous rhetoric. In fact, it should not be interpreted as a slight on Dr. Khalidi in the least, nor an impeachment of the Arab intellectuals' perspective in general. I am enamored by the profound and impassioned dialogue verbalized by these men and women and hardly impressed with the dismissive nature of some of Israel's and worldwide Jewry's leadership toward the Arab intelligentsia.
The problem is, at least with reference to Arab antisemitism, this widely held opinion is not in the least grounded in truth - either historic or current. What is even more unfortunate is that this sentiment forms the basis for the dominant world-wide present-day opinion vis-a-vis Israel, Jews, Zionists and the so-called Palestinian issue.
If Israel would just end "the occupation" - stop the repression of the Palestinian people - than everything would be hunky-dory! Jews would live without fear, Israel would finally have peace and the world's most publicized source of political and sectarian conflict would finally be over. Life could start again and we could finally move on to other critical issues such as solving world hunger, restoring international economic stability, and reducing global warming. Right?
Well, like many reading this, I may be an idealist - a dreamer...and a believer that hope springs eternal. But, as much as we may believe that all things are possible (and with G-d, they truly are) even I understand through a well-intentioned analysis of the facts on the ground the following reality:
1. Antisemitism did not start with the Arab-Israeli or "Palestinian" conflict, it will not end with it.
2. Concepts like "occupation" and "repression" are truly one-sided and originated to sway world opinion and promote a vilification of Israel (not to mention, clearly lack a fluent historical perspective).
3. The foundation for Arab antisemitism, like all other forms, is in large part the projecting of Arab intra-cultural repression and demagoguery onto an outside entity.
4. Antisemitism has been a well oiled machine for over 3500 years, reappearing in various forms through the centuries and is not going away any time soon.
Let's be honest...through history, like any other group, we Jews have been far from perfect, with some having committed malfeasance. Israel's historical policies vis-a-vis the "Palestinian issue" have been noticeably imperfect at times and marred with their share of injustices. But, from a perspective of sitting at the mountaintop of human history, antisemitism is a reality that is so many standard deviations beyond the norm of human evil, that it borders on - well let's just say it - the metaphysical. And, Arab antisemitism is no different.
If historical science were a litmus test for veracity (and we all know it is not) than the obsession that mankind has had with the scapegoating of the Jewish people (fully 0.1% of the world's population by religion) should have engendered a fascination chief amongst those in all of history.
Tying the end of the Arab-Israeli conflict to the conclusion (or even reduction) of antisemitism is like tying an individual winning a national lottery to the end of all poverty. The former is less likely than being struck by lightning! And the latter has absolutely no relationship whatsoever with the former!
And, regarding the Palestinian issue, what will be the end of this high-stakes, high-toll conflict? Is there a possibility of true and lasting peace...of a just and truly equilateral disengagement of hostility. There have now been four generations of Arabs who have witnessed the re-population and rebirth of the Jewish Nation in the region we now call Israel. And, with it, there have been four generations of Arabs who have, despite the moderation of some, taught the succeeding generation to hate...who have vilified Jews as the source of all their ills and have placed their "national" hopes, not on peace with Israel, but on the elimination of any Jewish presence in the middle east.
A wonderful mentor of mine once asked 2 questions: 1) If the Israelis would immediately and unilaterally put down all their weapons and would unequivocally commit to fighting no more, no matter what the consequence - what would happen? 2) If the Arabs would do the same, committed to peace with no threat to Israel at all, what would happen? His answer? In the first, there would be an immediate mass infiltration into and the sure destruction of the Jewish state of Israel. In the second, peace would reign within 24 hours.
Whether you believe this scenario or not, the following video compilation should give you pause for reflection on the idealistic, yet misguided belief that peace and coexistence is even possible, let alone dependent entirely upon Israel. That Israel's relinquishing of its so-called "occupation" and agreeing to the unilateral demands of the world to give up sovereignty over its land in exchange for Palestinian self-determination will be rewarded by the goodwill of its Arab neighbors and world opinion is more than a pipe-dream. It is a farce.
What is the answer then? What will be the final outcome? The fact that Arab antisemitism is all-pervasive is indisputable. One may think that these videos depict only radical extremists that have no impact on the average Arab. But, reality says otherwise. A recent poll obtained by the Pew Global Attitudes Project documents how deeply these attitudes are reflective of the general Arab populace. Researchers found that the percentage expressing “favorable views” about Jews - not Israel or Israelis...JEWS - was not only low, but nearly non-existent: Egypt - 2%; Jordan - 2%; Pakistan - 2%; Lebanon - 3%; Palestinian Territory - 4%; Turkey - 4%. Commenting on these statistics, Walter Russell Mead stated in a recent blog: "Repeat until your conscience goes to sleep: there is no anti-Semitism, and if there is, it is all the fault of the Jews."
Will the world continue its illogical and nonsensical vilification of all Jews with the pretext of punishment for the Arab-Israeli conflict? Is it just a matter of time until history fulfills its quest to end the "Jewish problem"? For the answers to these questions, we only need to look at history, which dictates that the strong always overcome the weak. Or does it?
How do we measure strength? How did the fledgling Jewish nation overcome the onslaught of 1947 when 5 Arab nations descended on it for purposes of annihilation? How did it manage to survive when faced with a 100 to 1 disadvantage in 1967 in terms of manpower and artillery during the "Six Day War"? How has it endured a 100,000,000 to 1 disadvantage in terms of Muslim to Jewish regional populace most of whom are committed to at the very least, its vilification and at the most, its eradication?
I am a scientist. I am steeped in the Cartesian culture of experimental science, which is often at odds with historical science. But, even I am intelligent enough to see that history has something to say that defies logic, the theories of strong v. weak and the ultimate predictability of the laws of science. The passion for survival is one of the strongest of drives, especially when all odds are opposed to it. But, history is fraught with nations, peoples, lands who fought with only survival to gain - and lost.
Here is where the spiritual has answers that the experimental sciences might attempt to exclude. WITH G-D, ALL THINGS ARE INDEED POSSIBLE. Or, as some might put it..."it ain't over 'til its over." What looks impossible to us humans is temporal - that is, it is subject to an alteration in time a space. And, with a G-d that works above and beyond the laws that govern our reality and Who has demonstrated that time and time again throughout recorded history, there is always hope.
There is no question in my mind that the worst is ahead of us. We are fast approaching a time in the Middle East conflict that defies logical options. The Palestinian Authority will soon deliver a proposal to the United Nations, which brings to fruition the well-documented favorable world opinion to unilaterally create a Palestinian State. With any "official" pronouncement, Israel will likely be forced to respond in like-kind by annexing Judea and Samaria officially. What will happen then? The answers are so very elusive.
For most of us who are steeped in reality, there is no apparent end to the stalemate. Peace in this part of the world is illusory - always has been. The difficulties in overcoming suspicion, and so much ignorance, hate and evil, injustice and intransigence are far-reaching. But, when all seems lost, although Israel and we Jews must be grounded in reality, prepared to stand in strength, mindful of the responsibility to do what's right - even when the most horrible option seems the only one left - will we call out to the human god of history, relying on military strength and the will to survive only to combat the world of prejudice and of hate? Or, will we cry out to a grace-filled and merciful G-d Who can do all things?
As long as we have breath, it's not too late. As unlikely as it seems, we must try to work diligently to overcome the impossible. But, even when the impossible stares you in the face, our hope must never be in the impossibility of human choice, but of G-d's divine grace.
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