U.S. Jews protest pullout silently
The absence of large-scale, genuine, organized anti-pullout campaign in the United States is glaring. Jewish groups provide explanation: The president, congress, and the American public all back the disengagement
Amidst the sea of anti-pullout demonstrations in Israel, the absence of a large, organized, resolute protest in the United States is glaring. Why aren’t the masses hitting the streets and protesting outside Israeli embassies and consulates? Why, as opposed to the Oslo period, is there no clear voice of dissent against the plan? Why isn’t the ultra-Orthodox community protesting?
Borough Park Assemblyman Dov Hikind brought two delegations of American Jews to Israel. They were photographed from every angle, but it was a drop in the ocean. Pullout foes tried to take advantage of the crowds marching in the Israel Day Parade on Fifth Avenue in New York. But only hundreds – possibly one thousand – took the time to march into Central Park to demonstrate against the Israeli government.
Members of the U.S. ultra-Orthodox community are furious. They recall how easily 50,000 people took to the streets to demonstrate against the Oslo Accord. Yet pressure on the community's leadership this time around lead to a letter of protest. Nothing more. Silence pervailed.
“The president is in favor, congress is in favor, the American public is in favor,” is the explanation provided by Jewish organizations, and it may serve to explain it all.
A hotline to the ambassador
Thursday night, heads of the Orthodox Union, the largest umbrella organization of orthodox Jewry, asked for a meeting with Israel’s Ambassador to the U.S., Danny Ayalon. During the meeting OU leaders said they were flooded with complaints from their community: inappropriate police behavior, discrimination, deprivation of electricity, food and water.
Ambassador Ayalon tried to soothe them: “It is a difficult time for both evacuators and evacuees,” he reminded them and promised: irregularities will be dealt with. They concluded the meeting by agreeing to establish a “hotline” between the OU and the embassy in Washington that will look into every claim of mistreatment by the evacuees.
This last minute request to hold a meeting with the ambassador is a reflection of the disagreements and pressures within the Orthodox community. Although this community comprises about 10-15 percent of American Jews, its members, who mostly reside on the East Coast (particularly New York) are the most concerned with Israel.
Orthodox leaders are enraged: the people want to protest but are faced with a brick wall. The public knows that heads of the OU are capable of easily mobilize 50,000 people to demonstrate in front of the White House, in front of Israel’s Consulate in NY or anywhere else. Yet the leaders hold off.
The largest protest in the West: 300 people
In an interview to Ynet, Malcolm Hoenlein, Executive Vice Chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, said: A number of demonstrations were held but large numbers of Jews are disappointed and worried. They turn to their synagogues. Many oppose the plan. A few went to Gush Katif.
Hoenlein, an Orthodox Jew, added: It is not an American topic and there’s no place here for demonstrations. The president is in favor, congress is in favor and the American public is in favor.” This may be the complete explanation.
An estimated 80-85 percent of American Jews are Reform and Conservative. Politically, they are at the Center and the Left. Many live on the West Coast where there are little signs of opposition. Most are in favor of the disengagement.
Ehud Danoch, Consul General of Israel in Los Angeles, says 300 people participated in the largest anti-pullout demonstration in front of the consulate. In San Francisco, numbers were even smaller. Still, he said: “The Jews here are very involved and are concerned with events in Israel. People realize this is a historic step.”
