by Wendy Elisheva Somerson
The five young Jewish activists who disrupted Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s speech in New Orleans earlier this week shouted familiar criticisms of the Occupation. What was unexpected and new was the way the U.S. and Israeli media portrayed the protest, seeming to hear the critiques with fresh ears and unusual sympathy.
The five activists from the Young Leadership Institute of Jewish Voice for Peace disrupted Netanyahu’s speech at the Jewish Federation’s General Assembly on Monday, November 8, five separate times. The first activist unfurled a banner that read, “The Loyalty Oath delegitimizes Israel” and yelled the same message until she was escorted out of the hall by security. Separated by pauses of a few minutes, the four remaining protesters each unfurled banners and yelled similar messages while they were escorted out: “Silencing dissent delegitimizes Israel,” “Occupation delegitimizes Israel,” “The siege on Gaza delegitimizes Israel,” and finally, “The settlements betray Jewish values.”
[youtube: video=”xjLm6d2Mzgg”]
With each additional disruption, some members of the crowd grew increasingly agitated, and attacked the protesters before security was able to lead them out. Appearing uncomfortable, Netanyahu was forced to respond to the protesters at least twice. At one point, he remarked, “Israel is guilty until proven guilty,” and “the greatest success of our detractors is when Jews start believing that themselves. We’ve seen that today.”
As an anti-Occupation activist (I helped found Jewish Voice for Peace’s Seattle chapter), I have been pleasantly surprised by how much press the youth activists’ action is receiving and even more surprised by how much of it is positive. Anti-Occupation activists are often depicted negatively or completely ignored by the press; however, I believe there are at least three reasons for this newly sympathetic coverage:
- The disruptions of Netanyahu’s speech coincided with Monday’s announcement that Israeli authorities approved construction of over 1,000 Jewish homes in occupied East Jerusalem.
- The activists worked from within Jewish community to turn the Jewish Federation’s focus on the “international effort to delegitimize Israel” on its head.
- Since the horrendous attacks on Gaza in the winter of 2008-2009, the mainstream media has begun running more critical coverage of the Israeli government’s treatment of Palestinians.
What seems entirely new to me is how many Jewish and Israeli sources are situating these activists squarely within the Jewish community, quoting them at length, and referencing the poetic “Young Jewish Declaration,” thereby giving a voice to young anti-Occupation Jews.
For example, in an article about the “hecklers,” the Israeli newspaper Haaretz included 17-year-old Jewish Voice for Peace member Hanna King’s explanation of why they organized a protest:
We believe that the actions that Israel is taking, like settlements, like the occupation, like the loyalty oath, are contrary to the Jewish values that we learned in Jewish day school … This is not Tikkun Olam. Oppressing people in refugee camps is not Tikkun Olam. And it is a hypocrisy that I cannot abide.
The Jewish press has also emphasized that many other Jews at the General Assembly agreed with the young activists. The Jewish Journal highlighted the remarks of an Israeli journalist in the audience who asked, “What were they against … The loyalty oath? The occupation? Gaza? Most Jews would agree with them.” The Journal proclaimed that the protesters “sounded like a younger generation of Jewish activists, rather than the often anti-Semitic protesters who make up [the] left-wing anti-Israel movement.” I had to read this line over and over. While I take exception to this characterization of the so-called anti-Israel movement, I was shocked and pleased to see the Jewish media validate these young critics of the Israeli government as legitimate participants in Jewish public discourse. Often these voices are pushed to the margins, but the Journal quotes another General Assembly attendee as saying, “Hey, we talk about getting the younger generation involved in Israel … here they are.”
A screenshot from Israeli news of young Jewish activist Emily Ratner being removed from the Jewish Federation's General Assembly. Click on the picture to read Ratner's statement about the event on Mondoweiss.
The Jerusalem Post reported that while many General Assembly participants didn’t agree with Jewish Voice for Peace activists’ method of delivery, they did agree with messages about ending Israel’s occupation of the West Bank. Furthermore, several participants said “they would like such issues that weren’t aligned with the policies of the Israeli government to be discussed at Jewish events.”
Seeing all this positive coverage made me want to find out how the activists themselves felt about their portrayal in the media and more about their engagement in the General Assembly as a whole. I spoke to two of the activists, both of whom I know through the Seattle chapter of Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP): Eitan Isaacson, one of the disrupters of Netanyahu’s speech, and Stefanie Fox, JVP’s national organizer, who helped convene the Young Leadership Institute that took place for several days before the protest.
Eitan Isaacson, who has joint Israeli/US citizenship, said the Israeli media has been overwhelmingly positive — and mostly accurate — in representing the activists’ message. He was especially pleased with a live reporter from Israel’s Channel Two, who immediately understood their message that “the real de-legitimizers of Israel are Israel’s policies and not peace and human rights organizations.”
Having put much effort, along with other activists, into a spoof website of Birthright, Isaacson was thrilled that Haaretz highlighted the fake Birthright “tour,” Birthright For Us All, which purports to take Jews and Palestinians on a free trip to Israel that includes a visit to the West Bank and the Separation Wall. Isaacson said they created an alternative Birthright trip to highlight the Jewish community’s practice of using free trips to bribe its youth into supporting Israel. When asked why the press has been so positive, Isaacson said:
The time has come for the Jewish community to talk. We didn’t say anything new. We just made the disaffection of young Jews apparent. The press follows power, so if you want to make an impact, you have to follow the power. If it weren’t for the interruption of Netanyahu, people wouldn’t be discussing it.
A bold new generation of Jewish peace activists: Rachel Roberts, Eitan Isaacson, Hanna King, and Eyal Mazor bring their anti-Occupation message to New Orleans. Photo courtesy of Stefanie Fox.
The press has mostly focused on the Netanyahu interruption; however, Stefanie Fox emphasized that over a dozen young Jews attended JVP’s Young Leadership Institute prior to and during the General Assembly. In addition to planning the Netanyahu protest, they also built connections through formal and informal conversations regarding how to talk about Israel with family members and how to organize within Jewish communities. Through a writing workshop, they wrote “The Young Jewish Declaration” as a collaborative piece. Later at the assembly, they attended panels and workshops where they were pleased to meet other young Jews with similar political views.
Fox and Isaacson were disappointed by the student track that the General Assembly created for young people, which kept them from participating in most of the panels about Israel’s image or future. “The Jewish Federation is reaching out to youth,” Isaacson said, “but not as future or current leaders. They want to redirect any questions they have about Israel into unconditional support.” For example, Isaacson mentioned meeting a Hillel student who came to the General Assembly for a “day of service” in New Orleans, but was overwhelmed by the amount of pro-Israel propaganda.
After the Netanyahu protest, Isaacson talked to several students who felt turned off by the increasingly hostile crowd chanting “Bibi, Bibi” (Netanyahu’s nickname) in response to the protesters’ disruptions. Fox also heard from several young Jews with a range of responses to the disruptions. Many were scared by the crowd’s mob mentality, and many agreed with the message, if not the approach, of the protesters.
I’m thrilled that the next generation of Jewish youth is willing to criticize Israeli policies, that the press is beginning to present young Jewish anti-Occupation activists as legitimate Jewish voices, and that these young Jewish leaders, rooted in the Jewish value of justice, are going to help change the future for both Israelis and Palestinians.
Wendy Elisheva Somerson is a queer Jew who metal-smiths, makes art, and cavorts with other radical Jews in Seattle. Her article “The Intersection of Anti-Occupation and Queer Jewish Organizing” appeared in Tikkun‘s July/August 2010 issue. She has also written for Bitch and other publications.
It is good to speak the truth.
Shalom,
Otto Schiff
It’s rude and undemocratic to disrupt ones right to give a speech. That is not the way to promote dialogue. I wonder whow many of those young Jewish activists live in Israel and would pay the price of conccession without reali gurantees. BTW, for East Jerusalem to be occupiedd, it had to to belong to a sovereign entity. E. Jerusalem was annexed by Jordan in 1952 and was never under control of the Palestinians. Jews resided in East Jerusalem ( The Old City) for centuries until forced to leave by the occupying Jordanians. You see, this works both ways.
Oh David,
You probably need to brush up on your democracy lessons.
There is nothing “undemocratic” about nonviolently disrupting a ruler’s speech with inconvenient facts the ruler attempts to hide.
According to you, the kid who yelled “The Emperor is naked!” was somehow undemocratic.
I think there is somthing quite undemocratic about it. Furthermore, if you wish to be listened to then you have to listen as well.I f this were a right wing portest disrupting a peace now rlly, i would imagine your opinion would be quite different. It’s a 2 way street buddy. Thanks for trying to correct me, but that attempt seems to have failed
My friend, it seems to me that you might be forgetting to think about the conditions in which an activist decides to speak out during an important speech by an Israeli president.
I don’t see any argument for considering this a trespass on the president’s right to free speech, as you seem to imply. On the contrary, his point of view is incessantly broadcast loud and clear by the media here, and if anything drowns out others’ right to speak and address the same public.
It is hardly democratic to give all our airtime to a narrow spectrum of vision. Moreover, the president seems so fully saturated in his own worldview that it might be useful for him (and for those watching, such as ourselves) to know that there are informed, principled, yet dissenting opinions among communities that identify, as he does, as Jewish. Does he have the exclusive right, as he seems to presume, of declaring what is legitimate for Jews to think (“the greatest success of “our” detractors is when Jews believe…”)?
To reiterate, when we decide how to interpret the protesters’ interruptions, we should consider the massive structures of force organized to amplify the president’s ideology and suppress any dissenting views. This is not a case of two equal people, where one interrupts and suppresses the other’s speech.
1. Bibi has the right to be heard, even oif you do not agree with him
2. He is the PM of Isreal, so I guess you can say that he has the right to represent and express the interests of his country
3. i am sure that you would want to be heard than to be shouted down and rudely interupted
4. J Street and any other left wing Jewish organization can purchase airline, a page in locla newpapers or rent facilities to express their views on the conflict. No one is stiffling your right to free speech.
“You see, this works both ways.” Is it right to use the horrors of the past to justify actions that may block peaceful conclusions for today. Have we not progressed at all? Maybe we have and maybe the young Jewish activists reflect that progress.
It takes 2 sides to show progress. On the other side includes a divided PA, Hamas and Hezbollah. We might not want to forget the long shaddow of Iran who ultimatly would do their very best to scuttle any peace effort. I guess in light of this it might be a bit more understandable why many Israelis might just be thinking of the mere idea of surivival in such a neighborhood-in other words the potential horrors of the future. I have no problem with land concessions , but it should come with a real peace, not false hopes
The Golden Calf Builders were in a Party Hardy – – When Moses came back – and Interputed them and simply said – those who will not live by the LAW shall DIE by the Law….
I was heartened by the article and disappointed by some of the comments.
I don’t know about the situation with regard to discussion inside Israel, but here in the United States open debate on the issues surrounding the occupation happens all too rarely.
Thus, it is often impossible for those who do not toe the official line to be heard.
I applaud these young people and I hope their boldness will encourage many more who feel similarly to action.
Bravo!
American Jews can discuss the issue all they want in a relatively safe environment, but it is Israelis who would have to pay the price for any risks they take in the name of peace and ‘justice”.
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I agree that Israeli papers in particular included surprisingly supportive quotes. But Tikkun readers should be aware that the 3000 people in the room were generally NOT supportive of the protesters–when the protesters stood up, they shouted “bibi” and “am yisrael chai” (Israel forever); an attendee put one protester in a choke hold. There is a massive disconnect between the donors and funders of mainstream Jewish organizations and the people who support the concerns of the JVP protesters (if not JVP or the nature of the protest itself), and that disconnect is the real story.
I think that the JVP is out of touch with the reality on the ground. Perhaps reading the Arab media might be a good barometer of the acceptance of the existence of Israel by the Arab world. Keep in mind, the Palestinain Authority resists the demand that Israel be recognized as a Jewish state. Egypt,one of 2 Arab countries with peace treaties supports that resistance. You want facts? When you find tem, it might not support the Tikkun narritive.
David Stein,”I think that JVP is out of touch with thew reality on the ground”. You think amiss, David, I have worked with these people, with a few different heads and board members and I assure you that this organization knows exactly what the reality on the ground is and not in just the Israeli point of view, their critical power is an unending updating of facts on the ground, which is why they resist this affront to Tikkun Olam’s premise. Good better best David, there are always choices in which practice is fair from the most perspectives within world Jewry, whom Israel purports to represent. If Netenyahu chooses to take the orthodox road and say that settlements built are facts on the ground, he has done so and must accept the blow back of his choices.
One particular liability when taking a hard right turn with a precious cargo is flipping the truck and spilling the cargo into the street for all to see and glean from what they will. Openly confronting Jews in America, the UK EU Germany France and Poland, Russia and Austria, who BUILT ISRAEL with their best interests in mind, that being a secure and balanced life for Jews of any ilk in a nation with Jewish values as the most predominant by choice of the people. The history of people taking chances to help Israel and getting burned by remarkably cunning and spectacularly daring statements of racism against Palestinians, self hating Jews and anyone who happen to take acception to the occupations, harshness, or the IDF and Mossad’s glaring attitude problems and crimes becomes an enemy of the Jews in Liborman and Netenyahu’s way of thinking. Who wouldn’t protest such a self centered aspect of Jewish nationality in Israel?
If this is what is known as incitement, how awful for a Jew to be enticing hatred of Jews to send them fleeing into the arms of an albatross Israel, bad karma for illegal acts coming it’s way?
Jews in Egypt ,Jordan, Syria Saudi Arabis, Germany Poland Russia and France the US UK and from Iraq, Iran and the Magreb, north Africa and from south America were scared into thinking that they were being asked to leave as Israel became a solid edifice to the zionist Organizations in many countries. The thought that Jews were terrorized into leaving good homes in integrated environs to live as shamed people, feeling guilty of apartheid, crimes against Arab Palestinians in many nations and the ugliness of attempting always to drive nations to war, threats of war and brash knee jerk reactionary outbursts against Muslims, Mexicans and others,. This cant be the home of Judaic adherents if zionism is running Judaism out of town on a rail, For Netenyahu to demean activists in this way and to make it known that he s proud of turning Americans against one another, making Arabs a divided people and securing Jerusalem as a cash cow for the settlements and the theme park Israel that excludes Arabs as even pertinant to the Holy Land.
David Stein, It is you who are the myopic visionary, not activists intent on making the self determination of Jews and personal thing, not a national mandate to swear an oath to or be excluded from, what is Israel a club for secret society robber barons with a wink and nod to democracy? The answer is frightening to many Jews today in many places, all they ask if for their respect that is due should Israel be their representative and fortress from persecution, To call a human being a self hater is asinine and when Jews do this it makes other Jews sick.
I am so proud of these Jewish Americans, for speaking up for their rights as brothers and sisters of the whole of humanity, they are rejecting criminal enterprise as their nation and would love to see it reformed from brutal measures, unfair land restrictions and travel for Arabs and would love to understand their faith by the right metric from God’s perspective, LOVE means everything and if God isnt about respecting human rights, respecting personal privacy and privileges and respecting all of humanity as one big family irrespective of race color or creed, it is meaningless to hold a divine sentiment towards Israel or attribute it as the holy land if cheating, lying back stabbing and graft even murder in cold blood is not too much for the zionist camps now rather untoward game face towards Palestinians and any avowed enemy, Israel has TOO MANY ENEMIES why do you constantly need to exacerbate enmity by smashing peoples faces in Bibi? You are a damned bully and deserve to be shouted down much further that what these Jewish advocates for self determination did, Be mindful brother Netenyahu that we are not happy whatsoever with your performance as a national face for every Jew on the planet, If you take the job, take all of the Jews or admit that Israel is a hoodlum for empire that loves itself so much that hating others comes naturally.
Jerry, Next you consider rambling on in public, think 2 or times. This response only makes sense for those never who wish the disappearence of the only Democracy in the Middle East’
As for you post being fact based, where do i start?. But I will just point out one little ting to you, there were never Jews in Saudi. As a matter of fact there are no non-Muslims in Saudi
My brother-in-law was killed in the first suicide bombing of an American target – the US Embassy in Beirut, Lebanon. I was there just afterward, tending to my sister, seriously injured in the blast. Most of the western diplomats who spoke with me in the A U hospital initially believed that the bombing was the work of Israel to manipulate coverage against the Palestinians there. The previous summer of 1982 Israel had invaded Lebanon and destroyed much of the infrastructure, bulldozed orange groves, and left the city looking like the ravages of World War II. There was widespread resentment towards Israel, and the Lebanese visitors to the hospital insisted that I take home their anger with President Reagan and his misguided policies. As it turned out, Hezbollah was recognized as the responsible organization for that bombing (and later the airport bombing killing hundreds of our Marines) Perhaps many readers are too young to know of this history. But the actions of Israel – even if they think they are justified – all too often lead to bitterness in a weaker people, and what methods do they have to retaliate? I found the concept of forgiveness greatly underused but have not lost hope that somehow we will realize that we must be willing to move on from deep grievances, and follow the practical road to peace. My sainted grandmother lived with the bitterness of the Civil War all her life; she could not forgive those who destroyed her southern way of life. But surely we have made some progress in seeing the futility of promoting hatred for the other. Supporting those groups that are promoting peaceful steps can only help us reach that goal sooner. I did not hate Hezbollah, and I do not hate them, neither do I hate Israel. But Israel is in a more powerful position to really – really – work for peace, and we must stop blaming each other. Barbara Tuchman was asked what one single thing might bring about global peace and she suggested that if it were possible that every teen could view the earth from space, they would see how we ARE one earth, sharing space. Now that communication is instant, we surely can do better.
Margarate
I am so very sorry about the loss of your brother, I am sorry to say that the dirty Iranan regime had the hands all over this one. Over the years Iran has taken control of Hezbollah to incite a Shia revolution and become the predominant power in the ME. BTW, the civil war in Lebanon predates the Israeli invasion by several years., Before Israel invaded, well over 50,000 Lebanese has perished.The PLO was as deep into that civil war as anyone.. The committed a blody massacre in Damour that predates Sabra and Shatilla. Lebanon wil alwasy be a powder keg until Iran’s proxy army, Hezbollah is disarmed
thanks for speaking out for justice, without which there can be no peace.
More Americans, Jewish Americans especially, but anyone concerned about civil rights and hate, should be giving more thought to the consequences of our blind support for Israel. There will be consequences, especially given Israel’s dependence on its military as a solution for diplomatic problems, and its tendency to let its paranoia excuse excesses in the use of that military force. It’s popular to think “It can’t happen here” but everyone from the First Nation peoples to Japanese Americans, not to mention African Americans can tell you otherwise. Besides, blind support has a tendency to turn to blind rage all too quickly.
If the United States takes a fall trying to help Israel, or Israel is in some way involved with a situation where the US pays a horrific price for yet another conflict it swaggered into, unprepared, too many non-Jewish Americans will forget that without their support, Jews, who only make up 2% of our population, would practically no voice at all, let alone a voice strong enough to direct foreign policy to Israel’s favor. In the dark days of a negotiated withdrawal, and other unpleasant developments that would come with our sudden loss of power and prestige, the American people aren’t going to be much more open minded than were the Germans of the Weimar Republic, as their economy tanked and corruption got out of hand. People will remember Helen Thomas and others whose comments cost them jobs or got them put in the dog house and they will be used as evidence that the “Israel Lobby” was powerful enough to trample free speech. People will remember that even a liberal candidate like Barak Obama ran to kow tow to AIPAC the very day after he secured the democratic nomination–more proof of the clout of the Israel lobby.
It sounds absurd, but look around you today, what of the arguments that you hear really sound like they have any basis in truth, reflection, and reason? How many of our “debates” on the issues have any real semblance of the form? And we’re still paying our debit with our own currency; essentially directing the World’s finances, and throwing our military about with careless regard for the facts behind the conflicts in which we’ve chosen to intervene.
We hear the rantings of the racist Tea Party members, couching their bigotry in the virtues of a small government–too small to give tax money to anybody not like them–and we are alarmed. Imagine that ignorance and hatred out in the open, blatantly, clearly, unambiguously blaming Jews for betraying America, and not just from the mouths of fringe freaks, but ordinary, hysterical, humiliated and frightened Americans trying to negotiate the new world order amid the ruins of the First Republic.
These activists should be commended, and the positive coverage they got is great. But I fear that too many people are still not giving enough thought to the consequences of America’s blind support for Israel, and what that could bode for the future of Jewish America. Just because we wish to believe that America is invincible, immortal, and immune to history, and the consequences of its actions doesn’t mean that the universe has accepted our delusion as fact. These activists got heard, but too many in that audience tried to shut them up, and nobody hauled Netanyahu on the carpet to explain in less fanciful terms just what his recalcitrant position on those settlements is actually achieving.
Paul: ” the American people aren’t going to be much more open minded than were the Germans of the Weimar Republic, as ”
Paul, What are you suggesting, that Americans wil blame all their woes on Jews based on traditional anti semitic myths? I am always amazed how the issue if Israel brings anti semites out of the closet
May God give these young activists the strength till peace prevail in the Middle East. I stand up with them for speaking up against this bully and war criminal Netanyahu.
Fayez, are yo brave enopugh to stand up to the barbaric Hamas organization?
Yes Hammas had their mistakes but remember Hammas is a resistance organization as a result of brutal occupation. Its resisting just like so many groups all over the world before them. Hammas brutality is nothing compare to the Israeli’s. Israel and its supporters has successully brainwashed many by blaming the raped victim “the Palestinians”.
Has anyone, besides me, noticed that the U.S. cookie jar is running on empty? We have millions of unemployed people, with millions more scared of losing their jobs when the next round of pink slips are distributed. 59 million Americans have no health care while Israel enjoys universal health care. More Americans are slipping into poverty as well. We have a two-tiered economic system, with a gusher rising to the top.
The U.S. does not have the money to bribe Israel and then to offer a round of bribes to Palestine and keep this going indefinitely because, as I see it, this peace process is going nowhere.
Empires come and empires go and this American empire is on its way out the door. Give us a call when everyone works out their problems because I am disgusted with the U.S. being in the middle of this never-ending intractable situation.
Well Elaine, I will agree with you on this. Israel no longer needs the aid and I prefer that they walk away from it. On the other hand, much of the moneyy is in the way of military grants which is spent right back here in the US. Furthermore, not one American servicemen has died in the defence of Israel, and I consider the price of a life much higher than a few billion dollars.But to put that money in perspective, $5 billion less than .5% of the $1. 3 trillion US budget
It is just crazy that the U.S. is offering billions–whether its stealth fighters or outright billions– for Netanyahu to abide by a 3 month moratorium to not build in the West Bank. Of course, this doesn’t pertain to East Jerusalem, as I understand it, –just the West Bank. A temporary 3-month halt to construction requiring billions from U.S. taxpayers? Billions that we don’t have?
This is a never-ending story and the U.S. pays and pays and pays.