Zionism

Just over a year ago, Peter Beinart offered a compelling diagnosis of, "why Zionism is dying among America's secular Jewish young".  His now-famous conclusion: "Because they have inherited their parents' liberalism, they cannot embrace their uncritical Zionism." And because they perceive Israel as a "regional hegemon and an occupying power," they reject their parents' readiness to, "grant Israel an exemption because its survival seems in peril." 

Two essays published over the last few weeks serve as first-person testimony, indicative of the trend about which Beinart has been warning.

Has opposition to the entrenchment of Israel's West Bank settlements become the new litmus test for whether one can be defined as "pro-Israel"?  Two developments in recent weeks suggest this is the case.

  Meretz USA for Israeli Civil Rights and Peace was disturbed to learn that the Hillel Foundation for Jewish Student Life at Brandeis University has reportedly denied recognition to the Jewish Voice for Peace student group due to JVP's support for a targeted boycott of settlement products.  While Meretz USA disagrees with JVP on many issues related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, including the need to explicitly advocate for a two-state solution, we reject the idea that a boycott of the settlements in the Occupied territories is the same as delegitimization of the State of Israel.

As a proud partner in the 2nd national J Street conference, Meretz USA invites you to join us in Washington DC between February 26 and March 1 for this important assembly of the American Jewish pro-Israel/pro-peace camp.

When we first gathered under the J Street banner in October 2009, it was clearly a time of renewed, albeit cautious, hope.  There was a new activist pro-Israel/pro-peace president in the White House; Israel's Prime Minister had just declared his nominal commitment to a two-state solution; a moratorium on Israeli settlements was in the works; and, with the boundless energy provided by J Street, the pro-Israel/pro-peace camp in the US had reached unprecedented heights.

As we head back to DC, much has changed. 

On the surface, it's been a tough year for the peace camp (though, as you'll soon see, there's also some very good news to report!):

Buy Israel - Don't Buy Settlements (They're not the Same)

On February 15, 2011, Meretz USA President, Dr. Moises Salinas-Fleitman, and chair Theodore Bikel issued the following statement on behalf of the organization.

Based on our love of Israel, and our sincere, abiding and growing concern for the State of Israel's secure and democratic future, Meretz USA for Israeli Civil Rights and Peace, a longstanding affiliate of the American Zionist Movement, wishes to clarify our position regarding various manifestations of the boycott/divestment/sanctions (BDS) tactics being employed around the world, including in Israel itself.

From Edie Joseph, Meretz USA “Intern in Israel” scholarship recipient and summer 2010 intern at the Israel Religious Action Center of the Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism