ADL criticizes law denying citizenship to Palestinians who marry Israelis

[Gimel]

(In case any DUer missed this news point)

A major American Jewish organization has publicly come out against the new Knesset law preventing Palestinians who marry Israeli citizens from obtaining Israeli citizenship or residency permits
in Israel.

<snip>

In a statement released yesterday, Abraham Foxman, national director of the ADL, said: "We wish such a law was not necessary, but understand that Israel has vital security concerns." He added: "We hope the Knesset will review this law when it expires in a year and explore other methods to ensure Israel's security needs."

Despite its careful wording and the consideration of Israel's security needs, the ADL's statement is considered something of an
anomaly since the American Jewish organizations normally go to great lengths to stand behind Israel's official positions. The ADL monitors
and tries to prevent outbreaks of anti-Semitism as well as racism, xenophobia and violations of human rights worldwide.
http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=325538

[pw]

1. It makes the ADL's job that much harder

When there's a law on the books in Israel that people can point to as clearly racist.

[StandWatie]

2. it would make their job easier..

if they would go back to doing their job and got out of the business of being Israel's PR firm.

[Darranar]

3. The ADL is a reasonable organization...

generally, at least. The situation in the MIddle East is one of their main weak points. I'm happy that they did the right thing and criticized this resolution.

[Violet_Crumble]

18. The thing that concerns me about ADL...

It's their insistance that criticism of Israel = anti-semitism. I wouldn't have a problem with them if they stuck to what they're supposed to exist for - fighting anti-semitism, bigotry and extremism. Their stance of supporting Israel no matter what and not being able to distinguish between criticism and anti-semitism is a big problem. Plus in fighting extremism, they seem to take an extremist stance themselves. I've just taken a look at their site, and they're chiding a cartoonist for using the Star of David in a cartoon where he portrayed Palestinians being hemmed in by a fence with the Star of David on it. According to them, using the Star of David is anti-semitic. No mention from them that it's actually the Israeli flag. And another article where they crow about forcing a US bank to pull an article from a banker who did a 'troubling analysis of the virtues of Hitler's economic policy in Germany in the 1930s'. They claim it was promoting Hitler as a role-model and not putting the economic policy in the context of the Holocaust. Oh, and calling Palestine Palestine was offensive. Huh?? Maybe I should send them the news that they best get on to the publishers of 'The Twentieth Century World - An International History' by William R. Keylor. He discusses the success of German economic policy under the Nazis around 1936, but points out the structural weaknesses in the policies. Nowhere in the chapter I've just read does he mention the Holocaust though. And the lecturer I listened to yesterday spoke about German economic policy but didn't mention the Holocaust. Somehow I think someone needs to point out to ADL that economists and students of International Relations tend to focus on, well, economic matters and International Relations :)

Violet...

[Darranar]

19. I share those concerns...

I feel that they are often oversensitive when it comes to being critical of Israel; they are quick to condemn anything that has the slightest possibility of being interpreted as anti-semitism. That, of course, throws 90% of legitimate criticism of Israel down the drain.

I personally think that the Holocaust had a lot to do with the economy of Nazi Germany; the money and property taken away from the Jewish community was a windfall for many. The economic structure itself, however, had little to do with the Holocaust. I think it is likely another case of teh ADL being oversensitive.

[Jackie97]

31. I also share those concerns....

They do take their definitions of anti-semitism and anti-Americanism waaaay too far.

I have to say though that the Star of David is not just the Israeli flag. It's the symbol of the Jewish religion itself. A person risks getting confused for somebody who is insulting all Jews by using that symbol (Now, we know the manipulative reason why Israel makes that their symbol, 'eh?).

I have to say though that I really like ADL for a lot of their other good points. For starters, that's the only pro-Israel group that I know that that even thinks of the rights of Arabs. There's also a lot of good information on real anti-semitism happening around the world. I'd like to hope that they're just going through a messed up stage right now.

[JesseLman]

33. It's often tough to distinguish, though...

I mean, criticisms that say "I disagree with policy X by Sharon... he should be doing Y, and here's why" are in no way anti-semetic... it's just basic policy critique. Anybody who calls that anti-semetic is just a moron.

But the vitrol with which some people criticize Israel (I'm not spcifically talking about DU; I'm talking more in general), and the refusal by those people to criticize anything the Palestinians do, raises warning flags in the minds of many Israel supporters, particularly Jews.

I, for one, was raised in a household where two of my three living grandparents were Holocaust survivors, and both of my parents had endured rampant anti-semitism directed at them as kids and teenages in the 50's and early 60's. Maybe it's hypersensitivity; it's certainly possible. But after 5000 years of getting kicked around, it's kind of understandable that many Jews would be a little hypersensitive, and be somewhat suspicious of those who criticize Israel with unrestrained vitrol while virtually ignoring faults on the Palestinian side.

[Classical_Liberal]

4. My respect for ADL just went up a notch

, however I wish he hadn't conceded thet law necessary.

[IndianaGreen]

5. It is a racist law that does Israel more harm than good!

Press Release

ADL Concerned About New Israeli Residency Law

JERUSALEM, August 4, 2003 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today expressed concern over a law passed by the Israeli Knesset that prevents Palestinians who marry Israeli Arabs from obtaining residency permits in Israel. The Israeli government has explained that the law is necessary for security reasons, citing instances where Palestinians have exploited their residency permits in order to have freedom of movement in Israel to carry out terror attacks.

"We wish such a law was not necessary, but understand that Israel has vital security concerns," said Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director. "We hope that the Knesset will review this law when it expires in a year and explore other methods to ensure Israel's security needs."

The law passed by the Knesset on July 31 forces newly married couples to choose between living in the Palestinian areas or living separately. The law will remain in effect for one year, when it must be renewed by an act of parliament.

The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world's leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry.

http://www.adl.org/PresRele/IslME_62/4289_62.htm

[Lithos]

6. Give some kudos to the ADL

In the language of diplomacy, this remark does speak volumes about the need for Israel to move forward from such a position.

L-

[Wonder]

9. I have read so much

poo on foxman.

[Classical_Liberal]

15. To be honest it was a fairly weak criticism

Foxman said the law was necessary.

[Jackie97]

7. I'm not surprised....

Out of all of the pro-Israel groups out there, ADL is probably one of the most honorable. They do consider other people, not just Jews.

What I'm surprised about is that ADL gave any consideration for the people who made such a racist law.

[durutti]

8. A Very Mild Criticism

Considering the ADL has failed to comment on the fact that a number of parties in Sharon's coalition openly advocate ethnic cleansing.

[Wonder]

10. If that is the case then

why do you think they would bother taking a stand on this issue?

[newyorican]

11. maybe Foxman recognizes the signs of the rising tide

The ISM is just the ignition starting the engine. Once the world gets a heady snoot full of that familiar apartheid aroma, the same movement that brought S.Africa to its knees will be lurching into motion. The net that movement will cast will be very wide and Foxmans milque-toast protestations will not provide any immunity. Nor will it take 20 years for the movement to reach critical mass.

[Wonder]

12. and this recognition is a good thing perhaps...

this means that the ADL will beam its light onto the Israelis with favor to the Palestinian cause. Be that beakon of intolerance I have heard said that they are. I mean, Isn't that their motto? The motto of the ADL I mean: We are the beakons of intolerance." I have a vague recollection this is the ADL motto. Yes? No?

[Equinox]

14. Newyorican, how long will it take?

to reach critical mass that is.

The sooner the better I hope.

[The Stranger]

32. This may be the most astute and forward-looking post I have read on DU.

Sorry to erupt in kudos on you, Newyorican. Don't worry -- I'm sure absolutely no one will agree.

[Classical_Liberal]

16. It wasn't a stand really

It was more like the dems asking Bush prettyplease to get a new war resolution from the UN, instead of demanding it. Or Bush sayng golly gee that wall is awful far off the green line, you shouldn't do that Ari!

[Wonder]

17. Yes I see now. In light of your post and post #13

it is neither a stand and barely a criticism.

[Classical_Liberal]

21. I didn't postt #13, but it illustrates the point nicely

.

[the_sam]

20. Who Knows?

My guess is the fact that this law got more play in the press.

But I mean, after Sabra and Shatila, Israelis took to the streets en masse. 800-2500 people died at Sabra and Shatila. But 30,000 civilians died in the invasion of Lebanon, and no one demonstrated then.

So who knows?

[quilp]

13. "we wish such a law was not necessary" is a "criticism"?

"hope the Knesset will review the Law". Powerfull stuff! Perhaps if they used restraint like this when discussing the problems the Palestinian leadership face we might get somewhere.

[Equinox]

22. Oh...those [insert ethnic group here]

...are getting out of control. Let's put a "temporary" solution to this until we can come up with something better.

Sorry, that's the way I see this.

[StandWatie]

23. I don't have the book anymore

but there was a chapter in "fateful triangle" by chomsky that dealt with what "old guard" Jewish groups in the US did during WWII and it was all a study by those same groups and the whole thing disintegrated in shame supposedly because these same groups were on record opposing opening immigration to European Jews because they were so fixed upon the idea of a post-war Israel they were willing to let the ground burn under the feet of European Jewry rather than interfere with anything that would interfere with the Zionist project.

I've always wondered if Bnai Brith was part of this lobbying effort but I've never found specifics other than Chomsky's allegations which if they were part of this lobbying effort would make a ton of sense regarding their subsequent usual sycophantism regarding Israel.

[Wonder]

24. well

for what it is worth I have read various stuff in passing which suggest Bnai Brith is messianic. Let's leave it at that. I never persued it in my own searches and sources, and therefore I am neither advocating it as conclusive, nor do I wish to get dragged into a debate in which I would be asked to defend it.

Just chalk it up to something I came across in my travels... and since you mentioned it... the trivial bit just popped back up into my mind, is all.

[Gimel]

25. Clearly a digression

Just thought I'd bring up the point.

[Wonder]

26. What point is that?

Do you feel messianic agendas are not at play at all? They were in the 60s and 70's.

[Gimel]

27. Messianic agendas

...do not need human legislation.

[Wonder]

28. you have a point there

messianic agendas require no humanity there at all, but for perhaps cheap labor.

[Gimel]

29. Volunteer labor

Israel is built with volunteer Jewish labor. A labor of love.

On edit: forgot an e.

[Wonder]

30. messianic agendas are not specific to Israel

I feel you may be misunderstanding. my comment was not specific to Israel. Best I clear that up.