Israel hates!
First of all it hates
Arabs FP 11. Februar 2013

Haaretz Feb.10, 2013

It's the settlers - not the ultra-Orthodox - that threaten Israel most
By Gideon Levy

We should ask: how is it that the tribe of the ultra-Orthodox is ostracized, while the tribe of the settlers is glorified? Could it be that we lord it over the weak?

Excerpts:
Israel hates. First of all it hates Arabs, in a deep and purifying way. A mixture of dehumanization, fear and nationalism are at work in Israel. It also hates Muslims, even if they come from Chechnya. Israel hates migrants and refugees − especially if they are black − only a little less, and refers to them, diabolically, as “infiltrators.” And Israel also hates − but less − those within society who are different: first and foremost, the ultra-Orthodox.

They are perceived as “parasites,” who live off society and do not serve in the army, almost a crime in Israeli society − they do not “share the burden.” The fact that, nevertheless, they are one of the two poorest groups in the country does not arouse any compassion or sympathy.

To the secular majority, which considers itself liberal, the ultra-Orthodox have only themselves to blame for their poverty, as if the secular poor people are not to blame for their poverty, as if the state does not have to take care of all its poor.

In short, there are many reasons to hate the ultra-Orthodox. Some are justified, some are infuriating. But alongside them lives another community, with quite a few similar characteristics, which people do not hate. Not only does Israel not hate this community, it perceives its members as having the highest values, as moral, pioneering, Zionist, the pillar of fire that goes before the camp.

This community is only about half the size of the ultra-Orthodox community, yet the power of the former is much greater. It sucks up a great many more state resources and has caused, causes and will cause Israel much more damage than the ultra-Orthodox. It is much more threatening to the future, and the moral and international image of the state. It extorts much more than the ultra-Orthodox do, it is much more violent than the latter, much more arrogant, bullying and no less threatening.

As opposed to the ultra-Orthodox, these people are our brothers. As opposed to the ultra-Orthodox, they are Zionist; they pass the acceptance test. Zionists? That is doubtful. If the test of Zionism is ensuring the future of the Zionist state, then it is they of all people who are the greatest threat to it.

But Israelis love to love the settlers. They have replaced the kibbutz and Palmach, on whose values Israelis have been raised. The settlers are not Diaspora-like, like the ultra-Orthodox. Their violence and extortion are accepted with inconceivable tolerance; after all, they are considered to have the highest values of anyone. They also listen to the commandments of God and the rabbinate, but their democracy is more tyrannical and racist than that of the ultra-Orthodox. It is these commandments that lead them to maintain and sanctify apartheid.

You have the wrong address, Israel. History will yet judge which of these groups was more instrumental in worsening Israel’s fate. Meanwhile, we should ask: how is it that the tribe of the ultra-Orthodox is ostracized, while the tribe of the settlers is glorified? Could it be that we lord it over the weak?

You have the wrong address, Israel. History will yet judge which of these groups was more instrumental in worsening Israel’s fate. Meanwhile, we should ask: how is it that the tribe of the ultra-Orthodox is ostracized, while the tribe of the settlers is glorified? Could it be that we lord it over the weak?



Full article:
Israel hates. First of all it hates Arabs, in a deep and purifying way. A mixture of dehumanization, fear and nationalism are at work in Israel. It also hates Muslims, even if they come from Chechnya. Israel hates migrants and refugees − especially if they are black − only a little less, and refers to them, diabolically, as “infiltrators.” And Israel also hates − but less − those within society who are different: first and foremost, the ultra-Orthodox

Like every kind of hatred, hatred of the ultra-Orthodox has its sources, motives and reasons, only some of which are justified. Everything about the ultra-Orthodox is different − their language, values, culture and, of course, faith. They remind us of the Diaspora of our ancestors, which we want to forget. They themselves contribute to hatred toward them with ugly manifestations of violence toward those different from them and by their arrogance, as if their values are the only ones and the absolute ones, by their intolerance toward the customs of secular people and by their aspiration to force their customs on everyone else.

They are perceived as “parasites,” who live off society and do not serve in the army, almost a crime in Israeli society − they do not “share the burden.” The fact that, nevertheless, they are one of the two poorest groups in the country does not arouse any compassion or sympathy.

To the secular majority, which considers itself liberal, the ultra-Orthodox have only themselves to blame for their poverty, as if the secular poor people are not to blame for their poverty, as if the state does not have to take care of all its poor.

They also threaten to become the majority, another primeval fear that arouses hatred of them. Children mean happiness in Israel, but not when they are the children of the ultra-Orthodox. They are threatening. The ugly talk about their culture sounds like talk of a virus or a pest. Yes, they segregate, humiliate and discriminate against women. Their political parties are not democratic, the law of Torah is not democratic, and a council of sages is not a primary election. They don’t study English or math, either. What’s worse, heaven forfend, they are not Zionist.

In short, there are many reasons to hate the ultra-Orthodox. Some are justified, some are infuriating. But alongside them lives another community, with quite a few similar characteristics, which people do not hate. Not only does Israel not hate this community, it perceives its members as having the highest values, as moral, pioneering, Zionist, the pillar of fire that goes before the camp.

This community is only about half the size of the ultra-Orthodox community, yet the power of the former is much greater. It sucks up a great many more state resources and has caused, causes and will cause Israel much more damage than the ultra-Orthodox. It is much more threatening to the future, and the moral and international image of the state. It extorts much more than the ultra-Orthodox do, it is much more violent than the latter, much more arrogant, bullying and no less threatening.

Its customs, language and dress are different than that of secular people, and yet secular people do not perceive them as a threat. It is also increasing in numbers, but that is not considered offensive. True, the skullcap they wear is smaller and more colorful, their language more modern, the attitude toward women slightly more egalitarian, and they serve in the army − and how.

As opposed to the ultra-Orthodox, these people are our brothers. As opposed to the ultra-Orthodox, they are Zionist; they pass the acceptance test. Zionists? That is doubtful. If the test of Zionism is ensuring the future of the Zionist state, then it is they of all people who are the greatest threat to it.

But Israelis love to love the settlers. They have replaced the kibbutz and Palmach, on whose values Israelis have been raised. The settlers are not Diaspora-like, like the ultra-Orthodox. Their violence and extortion are accepted with inconceivable tolerance; after all, they are considered to have the highest values of anyone. They also listen to the commandments of God and the rabbinate, but their democracy is more tyrannical and racist than that of the ultra-Orthodox. It is these commandments that lead them to maintain and sanctify apartheid.

You have the wrong address, Israel. History will yet judge which of these groups was more instrumental in worsening Israel’s fate. Meanwhile, we should ask: how is it that the tribe of the ultra-Orthodox is ostracized, while the tribe of the settlers is glorified? Could it be that we lord it over the weak?
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