Day: February 12, 2019

Money and Israel

Posted in Daniel Serwer - February 12, 2019 - 0 Comment

Newly elected Member of Congress Ilhan Omar has generated accusations of anti-Semitism for her tweet implying that money (Benjamins) from AIPAC is the main reason for support for Israel. This was by way of explanation of her claim that

Israel has hypnotized the world, may Allah awaken the people and help them see the evil doings of Israel.

I don’t much like that appeal to Allah, but in addition Omar certainly oversimplified the situation: many members of Congress support Israel for religious reasons, and others because they think it is in America’s national security interest or because the two countries share democratic values. But charging that money is also a main factor in blinding Congress to Israeli wrongdoing is not in my view anti-Semitic, as many have charged.

Mehdi Hasan makes the point graphically in a series of tweets:

So, on the whole controversy, I wanted to do this pointing out the absurdity of saying it’s off limits to mention money and support for Israel, when the US media (rightly) does mention money, influence-peddling & lobbying when it comes to Saudi Arabia and DC. 1/

Why is it okay to talk about Saudi lobbies, and Saudis buying Trump, and Saudi-first policies, why is it not Islamophobic to say all of that, but it’s anti-Semitic when it comes to Israel? Try changing Saudi to Israel in some of these mainstream headlines – here we go: 2/

Here’s the Washington Post; remember, Saudi, not Israel: 3/

Here’s the Washington Post again; remember, Saudi, not Israel: 4/

Here’s the New York Times; remember, Saudi, not Israel: 5/

Here’s more from the New York Times; remember, Saudi, not Israel: 6/

Here’s Vox; remember, Saudi, not Israel: 7/

Here’s NPR; remember, Saudi, not Israel: 8/

Here’s more NPR; remember, Saudi, not Israel: 9/

Here’s MSNBC; remember, Saudi, not Israel: 10/

Here’s the Tablet; remember, Saudi, not Israel: 11/

Here’s the FT; remember, Saudi, not Israel: 12/

Here’s Vanity Fair; remember, Saudi, not Israel: 13/

Here’s Time magazine; remember, Saudi, not Israel: 14/

Here’s Politico; remember, Saudi, not Israel: 15/

To be clear, it’s not illegal, & of course above it’s the Saudi *government* buying influence in DC vs pro-Israeli *American* groups buying influence in DC but the point is that influence *is* bought. Don’t be naive or play dumb. We see it with Saudi, why not with Israel? *ENDS*

The short answer to that question is that many of us do see it, and that includes the majority of American Jews who, like me, would like to see an end to Israel’s mistreatment of Palestinians and creation of a Palestinian state that will live in peace and prosperity with its Israeli neighbors. AIPAC and the money of its supporters is opposing that goal. There is virtue in recognizing reality. It’s not the whole story, but it is an important piece of it. Would anyone pay attention to Sheldon Adelson if he were poor?

Ilhan Omar has apologized unequivocally for using an anti-Semitic “trope.” I wonder how many of her antagonists who expressed anti-Muslim sentiments in response to her will do likewise.

 

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