I’m sure the name of that German visionary has come back to you by now. And, very intriguing, your account of what went wrong with the Belafontes. I’ll have to take issue, though, with your description of how “Holocaust survivors got together to create a state dedicated to assuring what had been done to them would never again be done to anyone.” Holocaust survivors were unwelcome everywhere except by the Jewish community of Palestine, where of course their entry was legally blocked as long as the British occupied the territory on an expired League of Nations mandate. When the British packed up and left there was no governing authority, and so an immediate threat to all Jews in the region. The first Israelis would not have been worrying overmuch about future holocausts, but the renewed one that actually confronted them.
One flaw...the people you mentioned in your examples loved each other. So...bit of a stretch to apply this to most Israelis and Palestinians, maybe? I hope I'm wrong.
I thought of the in-law angle, but figured that at least one person (the child of the in-law) ideally had a history of loving them. It's certainly true that Jews and Palestinians are related. I think there's a segment of the Israeli population who is going back to God's covenant with Abraham to justify their actions, as in, doesn't matter who is living there now (or was living there back then), the land belongs to Israel.
Wow, Dan! Another great column on a topic I struggle to think about without a deep sense of resignation, helplessness and despair. I wish the powers that be were as wise as you!
From reader Robert Zaller:
I’m sure the name of that German visionary has come back to you by now. And, very intriguing, your account of what went wrong with the Belafontes. I’ll have to take issue, though, with your description of how “Holocaust survivors got together to create a state dedicated to assuring what had been done to them would never again be done to anyone.” Holocaust survivors were unwelcome everywhere except by the Jewish community of Palestine, where of course their entry was legally blocked as long as the British occupied the territory on an expired League of Nations mandate. When the British packed up and left there was no governing authority, and so an immediate threat to all Jews in the region. The first Israelis would not have been worrying overmuch about future holocausts, but the renewed one that actually confronted them.
Congratulations, Dan and Barbara on your 60th.
Right behind you at 55 years.
I’m enjoying your musings very much. And they are pithy as well!
Best regards,
Fran Gallun
One flaw...the people you mentioned in your examples loved each other. So...bit of a stretch to apply this to most Israelis and Palestinians, maybe? I hope I'm wrong.
In-laws aren't always easy to live with. You could say the same for Jews and Palestinians, who are distant cousins if you go back far enough.
I thought of the in-law angle, but figured that at least one person (the child of the in-law) ideally had a history of loving them. It's certainly true that Jews and Palestinians are related. I think there's a segment of the Israeli population who is going back to God's covenant with Abraham to justify their actions, as in, doesn't matter who is living there now (or was living there back then), the land belongs to Israel.
Wow, Dan! Another great column on a topic I struggle to think about without a deep sense of resignation, helplessness and despair. I wish the powers that be were as wise as you!