Assaf Wohl
צילום: זיו רון
Where is our Jewish honor?
In order to survive in Middle East, Israeli leaders must start behaving like mobsters
Has anyone recently heard the term “Jewish honor”? It appears it has become extinct in our public discourse – and what disappears from the discourse is also lacking in reality. Those who watched Olmert’s pathetic pursuit of Assad’s distancing neck know well what I’m talking about. Those who did not quite feel like uncorking champagne bottles in the wake of our “moral victory” over Hizbullah also probably recognize the nadir we’ve reached.
The essence of the problem on this front is that we excel mostly in the field of wishful thinking. That is, we really want our neighbors to be polite and well-mannered people that boast a ratio of one professor for every five citizens. Yet as the people of Israel find it difficult to separate wishful thinking from reality, we proceed to draw dangerous conclusions that come with a heavy price tag in blood. For example, we refuse to reconcile ourselves to the fact that compared to the vast majority of our neighbors, the Huns and Vandals would be considered merciful social workers.
Therefore, we forgive them when they burn synagogues or fire rockets and mortar shells, as long as there are no casualties (and at times, even when there are.) We even forgiven them for abducting soldiers and civilians and for the Syrian flags found on each tree at Arab communities in the Golan Heights. “It’s not that bad,” the new Israelis tell themselves. “We’re not living in a movie like The Godfather. Honor is a matter best left to mobsters.”
This is also how the “moral victory” over Nasrallah was born. Some may ask what “moral victory” means exactly when it comes to defeating Hizbullah. The answer is quite simple. After all, we all know that Hizbullah’s secretary general is preoccupied, day and night, with ethical philosophy magazines. Despite this, morally speaking, we really kicked his ass. We showed him what it means to be Spinoza. We proved to him that he violated Kant’s categorical imperative at least twice. We really showed him who the boss is.
Clearly, this is the only reason why he has been sweating during his speeches. In addition, the IDF continues to hit hard and even harassed Lebanese civilians with threatening phone calls. Meanwhile, President Peres scribbled on Samir Kuntar’s clemency form that “he’s not forgiving.” Wow, now that’s a victory. I’m sure Hizbullah can’t handle it.
But anyone who would make a small effort would be able to notice that the Middle East is not Disneyland. Our neighborhood happens to be a violent and neglected slum that has no room for our Western standards of conduct. Around these parts, those who do not respect themselves cannot hope to see their neighbors respects them – around here, respect equals deterrence.
Judaism of muscle
Therefore, I’m calling on our leaders to immediately end the displays of obsequiousness they have been undertaking on our behalf. I fail to grasp how a leader backed up by a powerful army like the IDF is repeatedly conducting himself like a battered woman. Did our leaders forget that Jews are not supposed to turn the other cheek?
Had I thought that our elected officials know who Max Nordau is, I would advice them to review his speech about “Judaism of muscle,” which he delivered in the Second Zionist Congress. Perhaps they would then realize that a Jew who wishes to survive fires missiles first, and then reads some psalms only if there’s time left for that.
Yet I’m willing to lower myself to their standards and use terms that are more familiar to them. My modest request is that in all matters pertaining to the State of Israel’s honor, they should simply start behaving like mobsters.
They should bring back terms such as “honor” and “vendetta” to the discourse with our neighbors; otherwise, we simply won’t survive here. Beyond this, if they’re behaving like mobsters in their dealings with us citizens anyway, why don’t they do the same vis-à-vis Assad and Nasrallah?
