I'm glad to see @jfederations opposing this disastrous bill, but there are a lot of issues with this response. Starting with...1) We shouldn't be disappointed; we should be infuriated. (1/9)
haaretz.com/amp/us-news/.p…
haaretz.com/amp/us-news/.p…
2) "They also believe very public debate over original segregated communities clause –which highlighted that key coalition parties endorsed blatant discrimination – damaged Israel’s image internationally." Problem isn't Israel's image or debate. Problem is discrimination. (2/9)
3) Ditto "Another clause...would downgrade Arabic from an official language to one having “special status”...Diaspora leaders believe [this] would create negative perceptions worldwide of state-sanctioned discrimination against nearly a quarter of country’s population." (3/9)
4) "Asked if he believed North American Jewry opposed bill in its entirety, Silverman responded, “Israel is a sovereign nation. I’m not going to be critical of the total bill.” Just. Stop. Saying. that Jews who don't live in Israel can't criticize its policies. (4/9)
Assuming you wouldn't also say that ppl who don't live in Syria, China, Russia...or the US for that matter can't criticize policies there. The _entire point_ of international human rights is that there's collective responsibility for what happens everywhere. (5/9)
5) Finally, “What I am challenged by are those aspects of bill that could have indirect consequences for Diaspora.” I'm worried about this too. The religious fundamentalist takeover of Israel is bad for both Israelis & Jews everywhere. But it's a symptom, not the problem.(6/9)
The Israeli gov't is waging a full-fledged attack on democracy. Just this week, they passed laws aimed at blocking human rights groups from speaking in schools, & discriminating against LGBT parents in surrogacy. And Netanyahu welcomed anti-Semitic autocrat Orban to Israel (7/9)
Plus the public searches at the airport of American Jews carrying anti-occupation literature. (Not to mention the 51 years of occupation themselves, which violate the human rights of Palestinians & threaten the security & soul of Israel) (8/9)
We should be screaming not about Israel's image, and not even about impact on world Jewry (ok, that too...but as symptom), but about blatant attacks on democracy & human rights, govt-sponsored discrimination, entrenched occupation. Which are more than disappointing. (9/9)
