Another Republican is visiting Israel. This time it’s Sarah Palin who’s running around the country and wearing a star of David. Like Huckabee and others before her, she’s ingratiating herself with Israel’s right wing coalition and making damaging policy statements about expanding settlements in the territories. She does this with no regard or concern for the welfare of the Jewish people.
That’s because she doesn’t give a damn about the welfare of the Jewish people. Nor has she made the trip in order to get Jewish votes. American Jews are not going to vote for her in any significant numbers.
No, Palin is in Israel for two reasons. It’s good for fundraising among the Republican Jewish minority that consists of heavy hitters like Sheldon Adelson. And it’s good for appeasing her fundamentalist Christian base of so-called “Christian Zionists” with whom she identifies.
These Christian Zionists, who have recently become the sweethearts of some Jewish Zionists, do not have much regard or concern for the future or well-being of the Jewish people. At least not in any way that should matter to any actual Jews.
No, they support Israel - chiefly its current right wing policies - for their own reasons. The establishment of the Jewish State reinforces the fundamentalist Christian belief in the truth of ancient prophecy. (I’m not going to get into its relationship to their eschatology because there’s no common ground among the various wacky fairy tales that Christians have made up about that.)
The bottom line is that Sister Sarah is in Israel for her own gain, unrelated to the best interests of Jews, Palestinians or anyone else in the region.
And I, for one, wish she would take off that damned star.
According to British newspaper The Guardian...
ReplyDeleteIDF officials refused to explain why Palin backtracked and did not enter Bethlehem, however Defense Ministry officials claim the US politician neglected to submit a formal request to tour the West Bank, despite it being standard procedure for any foreign dignitary.
The Daily Telegraph hinted that Palin was not aware of the fact that Bethlehem is not Israeli territory, saying this is a common mistake amongst foreign tourists but not amongst politicians.
The Reform Deist
Since Sarah Palin is probably incapable of locating Alaska on an unmarked map, expecting her to be able to understand the difference between Israeli territory and the west bank let alone parts of the west bank that are controlled by Israel as apposed to parts controlled by the Palestinian authority is asking way too much.
ReplyDeleteAmen, uh er I mean ahem (just clearing my throat)!
ReplyDeleteThe Reform Deist
Perhaps she was there to learn about Israel first hand... and you are awfully judgmental for a Rabbi.. maybe you oughta try reading 'Zen Mind Beginners Mind' by Shunru Suzuki
ReplyDeleteOr do have a snide comment about that as well?
that damned(?!) star. why you even bother with cultural Jewishness is a mystery. The Jewish star is purely a cultural symbol so what are you so ticked off about? That Sarah Palin might be a friend? Of course, you can't imagine that Jews might have friends, can you? Especially Evangelical Christians who might follow Isaiah's charge, "For Zion's Sake I will not keep silent..." No, for you any "friend" of the Jews and especially Israel must have some ulterior motive. Why don't you just become a secular Dane or a secular Swede or secular something else and leave us all alone. Please?
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