When one signs a statement with one’s name, one must stand behind what the one says. If one wants one’s feathers “nylon-permanent”,one must confine oneself to the safety of vacuum tight peace, quiet and almost dead silence. Once one steps out in the open agora of encounters/conflict/ideological propositions/personal pontification/political activism etc.one must expect batallions of Otto Waldmanns sanguinely wanting one’s backside. Otherwise there are much cooler places in the house than the kitchen.

For the record the above is not meant to be at all personal, just customary politness as I am trying to make clear and total UNpersonal remarks regarding personal opinions voiced by persons who,through using this communication method , are simply voicing opinions which, let’s presume,do NOT pertain to their PERSONAL thinking and expressing intellectual structure. Accordingly, Ian would express opinions he would purchase off the shelf at Coles or home made by,say,his gorgeous lady and “admin” would buy them wholesale and Nathan granted from the NIF stock and trade. I, on the other side, can only indulge in what my very personal, solitary,resources allow. Florence left me once, some 17 years ago, then we resumed our union, Felix is too busy making inroads at Cambridge, apparently having my brains, which means devested me of any, so what am I to do when it comes to best defending what is one of the most important functions, defending Israel the best I , PERSONALLY can !!!
Accordingly I am kindly asking Ian to provide me with remarks I could,completely NONpersonally express,hoping that “admin” will find them acceptable. Meantime Nathan,NIF and all concerned may atack me personally,as Nathan actually DID and promiss to keep it personal and not tell either Ian, admin,my wife, or anybody else’s. Felix will be spared, as he’s arriving today and this time jetlag will be an excellent reason to fob off my kveching re the cronic persection his father has been the victim of…..

Ian Lacey

My Zionism may be different from yours, but it is a one in which I take pride as being part of a great many who are committed to the values of justice and democracy asserted in Israel declaration of Independence.

It may make you, and others uncomfortable, when me “and my ilk” stand up to try to make a difference. It may make you rage with anger that I do stand up for the rights of non-0rthodox Jews, for the rights of Sephardi Girls to study as equals in Ashkenazi schools, to work for the welfare of Ethiopian immigrants , that we gladly fight for the protection of greens spaces and the implementation of clean water and water laws. Maybe you are uncomfortable with our battle to end violence in soccer stadiums or that we promote Orthodox women fighting for their status or rights of agunot and women who are refused gets.

Yes I, and the chief prosecutor of the Army, are appreciative of the important work of BTselem, in identifying war crimes when they occurred. Or maybe the chief prosecutor of the army deserves the flippant disregard you have for me and any contribution I may have made to Israeli society.

Otto, how can you not be proud of the incredible work Naomi Chazan, the former deputy speaker of the Knesset did in defending Israel in front of an incredibly hostile forum at the Sydney Opera House?

You are entitled to your concerns, valid or not, but your total inability to acknowledge the incredible merit and contribution that has been acknowledged even by the most vocal opponents of NIF belittles you.

Yours is not the only vision of Zionism.. but it sure seems to be a very narrow, hostile and unpleasant one.

I do not think that you did “your friend” Ian Lacey proud.

To my mind, his response illustrated the difficulties the NIF faces. The Fund quite properly financed the provision of legal aid for people with a genuine grievance. The problem in this case was that the advocacy group funded by the NIF turned an ordinary tenancy dispute into an international cause.

Unfortunately there are a number of advocacy groups financed by the NIF which similarly, and sometimes intentionally, convert Israeli social issues into anti-Israel agitation. It is a problem which the NIF will need to overcome before it seeks contributions from the Jewish community in Australia.

You don’t need to agree with people whose opinion is different from your own and you don’t need to support the work of the New Israel Fund, but you cannot call us antisemites or enemies of the state. There you have crossed the line.

You do , however, need to give people like myself who have made Israel our homes (having chosen to leave the comfort of Australia) out of a commitment to making a contribution to be a part of building a just and democratic Jewish State, our due credit.

In calling me and my wife antisemites or self hating Jews, you only undermine your own credibility and cause deep offense..which is taken personally

I look forward to your apology.

Nathan Cherny,
Dept of Oncology and Palliative Care,
Shaare Zedek Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel

Another news item, not seen by me before the article was written:
New Israel Fund Cut Off From Ford Foundation
Daily Forward April 7, 2011 By Aaron Katsman
While not outwardly admitting it, the Ford Foundation has been swayed by right of center groups in Israel to cut off funding of the New Israel Fund. The controversial New Israel Fund has come under immense pressure for funding extreme left wing political groups in Israel.