Channels
Photo: AP
Cairo - anti-Semetic as ever, perhaps even more
Photo: AP

The paradox of the Cairo synagogue

Israel is paradoxically the number one promoter of feminist and civilian affairs in the Arab world

The view from the windows of Cairo's only functioning synagogue has changed this week: Yedioth Aharonoth reports that now synagogue visitors can "enjoy" a huge poster portraying present and past Israeli leaders as butchers and murderers.

 

The fact that the poster is a tribute of the Egyptian artists union might come as a surprise to some, since anywhere else in the world, artists traditionally promote liberal points of view, and are generally more open and enlightened in their perception of the Other.

 

So how can it be, then, that a quarter-century after the Israeli-Egyptian peace treaty was signed, the professional unions here still insist on a demonic, evil and anti-Semitic presentation of Israel and the Jews?

 

There is no doubt that in the past year, mostly due to fears of the Saddam Hussein precedent, the Egyptian regime has allowed buds of civil society to grow throughout the country.

 

The first manifestations of these buds are multiple presidential nominees in this year's elections, one of whom is a woman, and permits to establish liberal society research institutions.

 

Therefore, when logic kicks in, it seems the new activists should be open for cooperation with Israeli society, but here, once again, one realizes Egyptian liberal activists are anti-Israeli in the most part. This is just another manifestation of the Cairo synagogue paradox.

 

There is a reason for this paradox: liberal groups have a hard time fighting two battles simultaneously; one for their positions and the other for the relationship with Israel.

 

In fact, it is their head-strong objection to Israel that legitimizes them: the battle against Israel is actually the Egyptian liberals' platform to launch their political agendas. Their outspoken hatred to Israel is what makes the public accept them, at least on a superficial level.

 

In a more humoristic tone, one can say Israel has recently turned to the number one promoter of feminist and civilian matters in the Arab world. This is not a new phenomenon.

 

In the past, hatred for Jews in Europe functioned as an outlet for steam or a means to certain ends. At least in this sense, American lawyer Alan Dershowitz was right when he said Israel fills the traditional role of the "Jew."

 

Therefore, in the Arab world, Israel and the Jews pay the price of feminism or enlightenment.

Not all organizations are actually liberal. Sometimes, an organization defined as "civil" is actually a fanatic Islam group. "Human rights" organizations cover up for societies that have hardly anything to do with human rights.

 

This presentation does not create a dilemma for Israel alone, but mostly for the West that treats civilian Arab organizations with the type of holiness reserved for similar organizations in Western Europe. Perhaps it is time to peel the outer layer off these organizations in order to examine their guts.

 

If Egyptians want women rights, it should not be achieved at the expense of others. Perhaps it is time Israel stops functioning as a platform to get legitimacy for liberal organizations. On the contrary, let it be a platform to negate that very legitimization. Accordingly, the "test of Israel" for these organizations will continue, but this time it must be turned on its head.

 


פרסום ראשון: 04.21.05, 12:10
 new comment
Warning:
This will delete your current comment