Getting the message

The definition of “getting the message” is to understand something that is not being said directly.

Before and after the Shoah, Judeophobia reverted to a discreet mode at least in democratic countries. It took the form of subtle discrimination often disguised as social ostracism in country clubs, golf establishments, universities and some professional groups. It also manifested itself in a coded language where certain phrases and words conveyed more than a hint of aversion to Jews.

After the shock of the Shoah gradually wore off and with the re-establishment of Jewish sovereignty, the reticence in expressing anti-Jewish views gradually dissipated.

That is where we find ourselves today, where full-blown rhetoric and slanderous lies about Jews and Israel are now standard fare.

Paradoxically the problem facing us is that whereas once we had to decipher coded messages, many feel unable or more likely unwilling to understand the raw incitement now being hurled in our direction.

If one does not understand the implications of what is being said, it follows that one will be completely taken by surprise when negative things happen. Far too many still “didn’t get it” even when in the past, the consequences have been dire.

Over the last several weeks, we have read the Torah portions relating the episodes of the spies sent by Moshe to report on the Promised Land and the abortive attempt by Korach and his followers to depose Moshe and Aaron as leaders.

In most probably the first case of anti-Zionism and self-loathing breast-beating, ten of the spies who were sent to scout out the Promised Land came back with such devastatingly negative reports that caused many of the Israelites to recoil at the prospect of making aliyah. Only Joshua and Caleb had anything good to say but they were unable to stem the panic engendered.

The punishment for this gross display of lack of faith was forty years of wandering in the wilderness until the current generation of ex-slaves died out, and a new generation was prepared to fight for and settle the land of Israel.

The attempt by Korach and his fellow malcontents to depose Moshe and Aaron also ended in disaster for them.

You would think that these two calamities might have conveyed the clear message to the multitude that certain actions have consequences, yet, despite everything, they still relapsed periodically into idolatry and behaviour not exactly in accordance with the laws received at Mount Sinai.

Over the last two thousand years in particular, the Jewish People have, from time to time, failed to learn the lessons that when others declare their intention to exclude, banish and target them they should heed the warning signals.

When almost daily rhetoric clearly indicates which way the wind is blowing there are unfortunately too many unwilling to get the hint. Whether it is political correctness, naivety, self-flagellation or just a desire to ignore reality, the message just does not seem to resonate.

A brief summary of current pronouncements should illustrate the problem.

The recent Victoria State gathering of the Labour Party was predictably an occasion for all the Israel bashers to show their true colours. Recognising “Palestine” has long been the objective of the far left. Ignoring the daily incitement to murder and eliminate any vestige of Jewish sovereignty and pretending that Abbas and the PA are paragons of democracy are standard features of these resolutions.

The Queensland Labour Party supports doubling aid to UNRWA, presumably without insisting on accountability as to how its funds are being used. It also insists that the Federal Government shifts its UN General Assembly votes back to a more neutral position. We should all recognise ill winds when they start blowing.

How long will it take before the Federal Labour Party is stampeded into embracing the terror gangs now in charge in Ramallah and Gaza? The message couldn’t be clearer. Will Jewish voters get the message or, instead, follow their American counterparts and continue to support a party drifting slowly but surely into the anti-Zionist camp?

Meanwhile, rumours continue to swirl about an impending deal between Iran and the USA. Despite denials from Washington, there is enough evidence pointing to some sort of sell-out being cooked up, which will appease the Mullahs and facilitate Iran’s march towards eradicating the “Zionist entity.”  An indication of which way the foul wind is blowing can be garnered by the comment made by an unnamed Western official to the Reuters news Agency.

“The key objective of the impending nuclear deal between the US and Iran is to stop Israel from attacking Iran.”

In plain undiplomatic language, it really means that rather than thwarting and preventing the Iranians from carrying out their aim to destroy Israel and scuttling their sponsorship of terror, the Biden Administration is preparing to follow the Neville Chamberlain script.

The only difference, of course, is that Israel in 2023 is not Czechoslovakia of 1938. That message should be clear.

Despite protestations of the USA having “our back” and other such rhetoric designed to lull Israelis into a euphoric state of optimism, the sad reality is that slowly, but surely, the Democratic Party is being dragged to the left fringes.

Secretary of State Blinken has just made a pilgrimage to China, where he stated that the US does not support Taiwan’s independence. That message should be received loud and clear in Jerusalem. If Taiwan’s alleged closest ally can shamefully stab them in the back while visiting a country pledged to its elimination as an independent nation, then the same scenario can be enacted with Israel or South Korea.

The US is very “troubled” by the prospect of Jews building homes in places like Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria. While the State Department calls Iran a major state sponsor of terror it seems that Washington is not so troubled when it comes to actually doing something to scuttle Teheran’s nefarious ambitions.

The PA President for life, Abbas, has just paid a visit to China where he was embraced as a bosom buddy and comrade in arms. The Chinese President stated, “China has always supported the just cause of the Palestinians to restore their legitimate national rights.”

Legitimate national rights championed by the President of a country pledged to take over Taiwan and which had previously destroyed Tibetan independence. Birds of a feather do indeed flock together.

Diplomatic silence in the face of such hypocrisy is no excuse. We should be making a fuss but so far there has been only silence. Is anyone getting the message?

Someone who did get a message, albeit belatedly, is the soon-to-be departed American Ambassador to Israel, Tom Nides. A Democratic political appointee, he faithfully articulated the politically correct line during his tenure whereby any Jewish presence in certain parts of Israel is “verboten”. When Arab terrorists murdered yet more Jews this week, he expressed profound sorrow at the loss of life on all sides. In other words, killing Jewish civilians and killing their murderers and facilitators was equally deplorable. After an uproar, he issued another tweet in which he attempted to backtrack. Of course, by then, the damage had been done and for all except the hopelessly gullible, the message was perfectly clear.

One hopes that whoever succeeds Nides will be more attuned to the realities of the situation, but given the prevailing agenda in the White House, that is a forlorn expectation.

The United Jewish Israel Appeal in the UK has issued a directive that any groups visiting Israel under its auspices who wish to visit places over the “green line” must first receive special permission from them to do so. In other words, a visit to the Kotel, Mount of Olives, Rachel’s Tomb and Cave of the Patriarchs, among other places, cannot be contemplated without first getting the OK from an organisation which is purportedly Zionist.

What’s next? Perhaps a ban on visiting Jerusalem because the UK Government does not recognise the city as Israel’s Capital.

 Are we getting these messages and what do we intend to do about them?

Michael Kuttner is a Jewish New Zealander who for many years was actively involved with various communal organisations connected to Judaism and Israel. He now lives in Israel and is J-Wire’s correspondent in the region.