I came across your blog by coincidence, and I am glad I did. People like you who reject the vetust tribal codes, and strive to reinforce the universal human values even in exceptional situations give me great faith in humanity. It takes exceptional intellect and courage to be constructively critical of one’s own people, when knowing that you may come off as a traitor and a sell-out. I hope you will not let these allegations cloud your moral judgement. I find myself in the same situation in that, as an arab, I am expected to harbor hate and anger towards israel, but i don’t. While not always agreeing with Israel’s political policy and leaders, I believe in its right to exist and coexist with its neighbors. I have been branded as a sell-out, but I refuse to let tribal mentality of “you’re one of us or against us” drag me into a vicious circle of hate and discrimination. If we all work on improving the respective mentalities of our groups, this conflict might stand a greater chance of being solved.

You are very welcome to Morocco anytime,
Shalom, Salam

PS: I apologize if my english is incomprehensible at times

for sure you have followed the development in Israel about the Boycott law. I am deeply concerned about this slide of Israel society towards – yes, i don’t know any other word describing it: – Fascism: the interdiction to voice any other opinion than that of the majority. Silencing part of the society. As Bradley Burston writes in Haaretz (http://www.haaretz.com/blogs/a-special-place-in-hell/israel-s-boycott-law-the-quiet-sound-of-going-fascist-1.372881), this is a turning point of Israel society. Do you share my point of view?

I just read “Light a Candle for Gaza” on the Mondoweiss website. I just want to let you know what an important, courageous article (the version without the heavy, creative editing). I am an avid reader of your blog and just want to express my appreciation of the wonderful work you are doing. You are making the world a better place.

Please feel welcome to come to Australia, anytime!! The community here is quite conservative when it comes to Israel. Many in the Jewish community don’t realise that a ‘circling the wagons mentality’ is only going to hurt successive generations of Jewish-Israelis; not help them.

Instead of compassion we see hardening if the hearts and closed minds. This is a sure recipe for prejudice and bigotry. People like yourself, Rabbi Brian Walt and other voices of conscience; offer a glimpse of the light that is to shine upon the nations.

Shalom Salam Peace

Stewart Mills
Sydney, Australia

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-gouldwartofsky/through-the-looking-glass_b_596704.html

Through the Looking Glass: The Myth of Israeli Exceptionalism

In the bloody wake of the Mavi Marmara, with its righteous torrent of international outrage, and in view of a new confrontation impending at sea, a point of vital importance has gone missing. It is one that many Jews and many Gentiles grasp, but do not name.

It is the myth of Israeli exceptionalism, and its contradictions go to the heart of the radical disconnect between world opinion – including growing swathes ofJewish and Israeli opinion – and the actions of the war party in Israel and in the United States. Yet most of us still see the conflict through the lens of some exceptionalism, as if through Alice’s looking glass.

…

A new generation of Jews, as hawk-turned-dove Peter Beinart has observed, is refusing to accept this moral assimilation, for which ideologies of exceptionalism are but a mask. Many of them joined demonstrations this week in New York and Tel-Aviv. More and more refuse to see the conflict through the looking glasses of exceptionalism, through the blinders of extreme nationalism and tribalism.

Our generation and others must now chart a course towards the only safe harbor there is: An end to the blockade. An end to all forms of terror. A port of peace and freedom. A beginning.

With all the respect that every human being deserves, I must say that I have never seen someone so full of hate and anger. Well actually I have, but the comparison would be too offensive for me to make. As someone that has no side on the situation between Israel and Palestine I have a question, so here it goes:

Palestinians have been fighting the Israelis, and the Israelis have been fighting the Palestinians; for how long has this been going on? IT IS NOT WORKING for either side!!! It’s way past time to try something different. The people of Israel has as much right to live in Peace as the Palestinians have, so come on and work for it; don’t fight against it.

On a more personal tone Mr. Teboul, “housing hate in your heart is like drinking poison and wait for the other person to die”. Whichever the religious believe of anyone, a heart that houses hate, will never have space to house Adonai.

I’m enjoying your work, learning of it from Mark Braverman’s book Fatal Embrace (you are quoted there). I’d love your take on this essay:
http://acjna.org/acjna/articles_detail.aspx?id=529

Best wishes!
Steve Feldman
sfeldman@wfubmc.edu

I just ran across your name on a one year old website story. I want to thank you for all you do for Justice and human rights. You are indeed a light shinning in the darkness of man’s inhumanity.

Bless you, L. Pinch