"Most likely what will happen next is that an over-reaction from the Protestant left will prompt American Jews into an uncomfortable (but familiar) defensive crouch in which they suppress their anguish and in many cases disgust about Israel and go forth with a fulsome defense of Israel. Which will make the Protestant left ratchet up its rhetoric further, etc."
It reminds me of an article I wrote early on at Beliefnet called A House Divided, about embodying both my progressive protestant (Walter Rauschenbusch) and progressive yet zionist (Louis D. Brandeis) ancestry, and how these both of these traditions influenced my understanding of the Israeli/Palestinian conflict.
I am not sure that the religious left needs to be ultimately divided as Waldman warns. There are many Jews who are openly questioning this offensive in Gaza and the horror that it has produced in the lives of Palestinians. Likewise most liberal protestants, while critiquing this offensive and settler activity, continue as stalwart supporters of the right of Israel and Israelis to live in peace without harassment. Muslims in America also generally support the right of Israel to exist in peace and tend to align themselves with more progressive Jews and Christians on ending terrorism, yet vehemently arguing for the rights of Palestinians to live in dignity and for their homeland.
It is not so important that the religious left be split or not. What is important is that the world not be split. The key is to be even handed as we offer critiques of offenders and support of victims and call for an end to violence on both sides.
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I think that the point here about it does not matter what the religious groups think- it is simply important that we all put up a united front to help stop some of this madness. No matter your beliefs on the subject there should be no one who wishes to see all of this bloodshed and violence continue. I am optimistic that with some new leadership in the country we can make a fresh start in the region, look back on what has not worked in the past and allow ourselves to make some better decisions than we have before. There has been fighting in this region of the world for thousands of years and it is difficult to think of anything that we can do to put a stop to it now- no matter what someone or some group will be unhappy. But that does not mean that we have to stop trying.
Of course, I don't wish to see bloodshed continue, but I know that Hamas will use any cease fire to develop better weapons anda bigger supply of explosive and guns. An immediate cease fire will only lead to more violence in the future unless there is a real cease fire that prevents Hamas from smuggling more weapons and using buildings that Palestinians live in to create more new weapons.
I think the religious Left has long since been split over the legitimacy of Israel's existence. Like the secular Left, large portions of the religious Left have backed off from any support of Zionism since 1967. And, like the secular Left, the religious Left will someday be as embarrassed by this move as the Left was by the Hitler-Stalin Pact.
Marian,
Can you give examples of legitimate leaders on the religious left who oppose Israel's right to exist? I am unaware of such statements.
Thank you.
Paul Raushenbush
"Legitimate" and "leaders" are both kind of in the ear of the beholder. But a number of the Quakers I used to work with seem extremely hospitable to the idea of a one-state solution, as do a couple of Catholic pacifists I know.
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