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Photo: Reut Hefetz
Schwartz in the London cold
Photo: Reut Hefetz

Tough time in Britain

A week long public affairs tour in England, including a rough visit to Oxford, had Eytan Schwartz facing some new challenges

I was standing on a street in the city of Manchester in England. It’s cold in Manchester, and rainy, and I was taking a photo of the front of the synagogue in which I was about to speak to a group of students.

 

Suddenly, three guys in dark suits burst out of the darkness and asked in a typical stern but polite British tone: "What are you doing here?"

 

"I am tonight's speaker," I answered.

 

"Oh," he said, "for a moment we were afraid. You know how it is - when there is an Israeli speaker, and somebody shows up taking photos of the synagogue, we get a little suspicious."

 

"Sure," I answered, though until that day there's never been a need for security at an event in which I spoke.

 

We shook hands and said goodbye, and I went in to get ready. They – three Jewish student volunteers who serve as security guards for Jewish community events – disappeared into the freezing cold, and stayed there until the last person left.

 

This story, if you’d like, is the essence of my visit to England. On one hand, the country has a hospitable Jewish community is very hospitable, some of it even very Zionist.

 

On the other hand, there are strong anti-Israeli sentiments, the media is seen as hostile to Israel, and there is a very powerful Muslim community that really doesn’t like us.

 

My visit was sponsored by Bicom, a public affairs organization that seeks to improve Israel’s image in the British press and among public opinion shapers and the Jewish community.

 

Lots to do

 

And this organization has lots of work on its hands, judging by what's been going on in Britain recently: The Anglican Church has decided to withdraw all its investments from companies which profit by Israel’s presence in the territories; a group of British architects wants to boycott Israel while construction is ongoing in Judea and Samaria; the Guardian newspaper publishes harsh and depressing lengthy articles comparing Israel to apartheid South Africa. And that's just the tip of the iceberg.

 

On campus - the arena that keeps me busy – the situation is pretty rough.

 

Tuesday: London

 

I arrived at the prestigious London School of Economics for my first lecture as a guest of the pro-Israeli group on campus. The audience was mixed – part Jewish and part not.

 

The first thing that hit me about this group was that during the session I was asked more intelligent questions than at most campuses that I've visited at the United States. If in America I am mostly met with indifference and ignorance, here there is a new arena taking shape. It is focused and sharp – people have strong opinions, and come prepared to argue.

 

For example, I was asked about Kadima’s party roster, the impact of the Amona expulsion, and the history of the U.N. Partition Plan.

 

Many people were critical of Israel, not out of hatred, but rather by people who love the country but do not understand our treatment of Arab Israeli citizens and our policies towards the Palestinians.

 

After exiting the session, I was told by event organizers that the London School of Economics is considered a particularly hard nut to crack, but that in other campuses things are calmer. Unfortunately, they were wrong.

 

Wednesday, Oxford University

 

The splendor and magnificence are all over the place, the buildings look like they were pulled straight out of Harry Potter (actually, several scenes from the movies really were shot here).

 

But the pastoral setting evaporates once the meeting starts. After students recount of series of abuses they have to endure from the anti-Zionist professors and pro-Palestinian organizations, here comes a new blitz of targeted questions, crafted with British academic politesse. Or in other words – "killing you softly".

 

In a week’s time a series of events kick off here under the motto "Israel as an Apartheid State," and one of those present – a kippa-wearing student – tells me he is pro-Israeli, but has a hard time justifying a country which discriminates against Arabs in land acquisitions.

 

Another student, a Jew who loves the country, does not understand why Israeli Arabs do not receive the same allocation of funds as the Jews get? And nobody cares about the nice and beautiful things Israel has to offer. The discussion ends up over and over in whether Israel has a right to exist.

 

As the questions kept on coming, I thought fondly about my first visit to England at the age of 14. Then, "Oxford" was a name of a street for shopping, not a lion’s den.

 

Thursday in Leeds

 

And so it continued: On Thursday, at Leeds University, students described their efforts to hold a day in honor of Israel, and how pro-Palestinian organizations put up a wall, and prevented students from entering the hall, in an simulation of what their "brothers" in Palestine have to suffer.

 

A few days later, at Manchester University, I am told of professors that express opposition to Zionism across the board, and teach the history of Israel as a colonial state that stole Arab land.

 

At every top there were charming students who would do everything to promote Israel, even when it is not popular and does not seem to be worth it.

 

Arousing sympathy

 

Again and again, the basic difference between the United States and the United Kingdom is evident: the British stick to the facts, the rhetoric and specific details. Every self-respecting student dives into the history books, and knowledge is not a dirty word.

 

In the United States, it is easier to stir up sympathy for Israel when talking about terrorism, living in fear, and the desire for peace. British students are more apt to think things through, and talking about bombings and longing for peace are less likely to "work" to them. They fortify their opinions with arguments, and emotion has a much smaller bearing on them.

 

And one more thing: My foray across the pond marks the end of my year abroad. Next week I will post my last column, and in two weeks, I am coming home. The festive farewells and the summaries will have to wait several days, but as far as you are all concerned – this is your second-to-last opportunity to hit me with a juicy talkback.

 

Eytan Schwartz won the television program, "The Ambassador", and has been involved in public affairs on behalf of the "Israel at Heart" organization.

 

 


פרסום ראשון: 02.23.06, 15:02
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