British hypocrisy reigns supreme
British academicians apparently unconcerned about occupation in Ireland
The British University and College Union (UCU) has decided to call on its members to "consider the moral implications" of ties with Israeli academic institutions, and even weigh the imposition of a boycott on those same institutions to protest Israel's policy towards the Palestinians.
Beyond the intolerable harm to academic freedom, this decision features grand hypocrisy; the Union, which sees fit to condemn Israel's "occupation" in its own country has no problem identifying with the British occupation of Ireland, which has lasted for hundreds of years now and led to violent struggles and peace deals that failed one after the other.
We are talking about yet another expression of European hypocrisy in all matters related to "occupation" and the Jews.
There are those who compare the British struggle against Irish terror to the Jewish battle against Palestinian terror, yet they forget the essence: The British army is an occupier in Ireland; the IDF is not an occupier in its own country.
We are talking about a unique case in history where a population group is indeed subjected to another government, yet this government cannot be characterized as an occupier, because we are talking about the government's own country. The correct comparison is not between Israel and the British occupier, but rather, between the people of Israel and the Irish people.
And by the way, there is plenty of appreciation for Israel among the Irish over our ability to completely rid ourselves of the British rule.
An Israeli who visits Ireland cannot but be impressed by the manner in which the Irish treat their homeland and the preservation they display in their battle against the English occupation of Northern Ireland. The free Ireland, which covers about three quarters of the island and includes 26 districts, views the six northern districts, which are subjected to English rule, as districts yet to be liberated.
The passage between free Ireland and Northern Ireland is not felt at all on the ground: No separation fence, no roadblocks, and no border signs even – everything points to the fact this is one national entity; meanwhile, the ancient Gaelic language spoken by island residents is being revived.
Decisive response needed
It's difficult to avoid comparisons to Israeli realities: The sovereign and "powerful" State of Israel, which spreads across about three quarters of the ancient Land of Israel, treats the remaining liberated quarter as "occupied land" that should be returned to the Arab occupier instead of the British occupier that was removed about 60 years ago.
The frightened Israel is setting up a barrier separating it from the cradle of its own history: A separation fence, roadblocks, and other means, based on the imagination of architects and contractors who are lining up in an effort to get rich from this white elephant, along with their media collaborators who worship the current golden calf.
Meanwhile, we see a process of withdrawal when it comes to the Hebrew language and provincial self-depreciation in the face of the Anglo-American linguistic occupation: The "Hi and Bye" culture and foreign names for new neighborhoods in Israel (The Sea and Sun complex in northern Tel Aviv, "West Park" in Rishon Lezion, "City Heights" in Kfar Saba, etc.)
There is no reason why the Jews should not learn from the Irish who are also a small nation with rich cultural creation, widespread diaspora, and a grief-stricken homeland - how to treat our country. I do not mean emulating the violent methods employed by radical terror groups, but rather, the tight link to national roots, in comparison to the alienation displayed by a large minority in Israel to its own homeland.
For 40 years, since the Six Day War, the dominant perception in Israel was that the "Territories" are a deposit meant to implement the crazy idea of land for peace, which turned out to be land in exchange for terrorism. The time has come to sober up from this absurd perception, which exploded in our faces, as could be expected.
We can demand that the government of Israel reject the idea of a Palestinian state west of the Jordan River as well as the "Two-state" vision, while also condemning the hypocrisy of Northern Ireland's occupiers.
We can also demand that the government of Israel deal with its main mission - gathering the people of Israel in the Land of Israel - rather than dealing with the establishment of a new country for its enemies west of the Jordan River implementing the demand for a Palestinian right of return to the western Land of Israel, as declared by Foreign Minister Livni.
Arab migration to the western Land of Israel, even if it is to a "Palestinian state" rather than to the State of Israel, constitutes a dangerous and severe demographic blow and contradicts the government of Israel's mission. The government would do well to promote the immigration of Diaspora Jews instead bringing more Arabs to the Land of Israel.
And as to the hypocritical boycott by the British academicians – we must respond decisively and stop identifying ourselves with the "occupation" accusation. When many Israelis points a finger at themselves, as if the IDF is an occupier in its own country, we cannot complain about academic elements in Europe who are fed by libels courtesy of anti-Semitic Christians and Muslims as well as Jewish self-haters.
Dr. Breiman is the former head of Professors for a Strong Israel
