Jimmy Warburg in 1958:
Jimmy fearlessly criticized Israeli policy at a time when American Jews reflexively rallied around Israel, treating its policies as sacrosanct. [note: this hasn't changed in the last 40 years, has it?]
"The treatment of Israeli Arabs as second-class citizens is not only morally indefensible but stultifies the Israeli government's professed desire to see justice done to the refugees."
"If an American Jew deprecates the growing influence of the orthodox theocracy in Israel, or the chauvinistic worldwide nationalism of Zionist leadership, or the treatment of the Arab minority in Israel, he is likely to be denounced as a renegade, if not as an anti-Semite."
He conceded the need for a haven from anti-Semitism, but said, "It is quite another thing to create a new chauvinistic nationalism and a state based in part on theocratic bigotry and in part on the Nazi-exploited myth of the existence of a Jewish race." >>>
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Siegmund Warburg in 1978:
<<< When the Labour government gave way to Menachim Begin's nationalistic Likud bloc in 1977, Siegmund castigated the government for colonizing the West Bank. Opposed to dogma and fanaticism, Siegmund associated Begin with the Irgun and Yitzhak Shamir with the Stern Gang and tended to view the new Israeli leadership as so many former thugs and terrorists.
"Safety in this world can never be guaranteed by more barbed wire.. Many Jews inside as well as outside Israel who share the views put forth in this letter are reluctant to speak out publicly because they are afraid that this might be interpreted as a lack of loyalty to the cause of Israel. However, loyalty to sound principles and moral precepts must override any other loyalties."
He denounced Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip as "petty nationalism" that diminished Israeli national security.
"I don't believe in German chauvinism, never did. I don't believe in British chauvinism, I don't believe in American chauvinism, and I don't believe in Israeli chauvinism." >>>
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Naturally, for expressing moderate views (not extreme left-wing, just moderate), they were both publicly excoriated and privately blackballed, despite their extensive involvement in Jewish charity.
Tom |
