Yossi Sarid and American Jews

I was reading Haaretz last night and I came across this article from Yossi Sarid:  Dear U.S. Jews, please don't let Netanyahu deceive you in where he talks directly to the American Jewish Community saying:

This appeal is being directed to those friends who can still think for themselves and demonstrate responsibility when it comes to us. Don't submerge yourselves in the flood of nationalist-religious history that is currently washing over us. Don't confuse governments that come and go with the state, which must always remain.....

.........None of them will pay the full price of the recklessness and craziness. Not Obama. Not Hillary Clinton. Not Dennis Ross or AIPAC or Chabad in Brooklyn. When the price in blood has to be paid, and it will come soon, it is only we who will pay, as always. So we are telling it straight. Don't be more patriotic than we are. Don't do us any favors. It's our blood we're talking about.

Now Sarid's letter contains mistakes such as overestimating the message that voters in NY - 09 sent to the President regarding Israel. The fact of the matter was that NY-09 was far more about America than it was about Israel, yet, the narrative is being spun to reflect an alternate reality. But for the record, Weprin and Turner had almost identical stands on Israel. No, this election was about a relatively conservative base reacting to conservative rhetoric in an election where many of the voters (but not most) were Jewish.

And as for rhetorical flourishes regarding the freedom loving Palestinian People and Mahmoud Abbas being "a man of dialogue", statements regarding the Right of Return and PLO Ambassador Areikat's rhetorical bombs about the ethnic cleansing of Jews certainly give lie to that.

However, Sarid has a point and one that I personally have felt conflicted about for a long time.

What is the role of the diaspora and American Jewish community in Israel? Really, where should we be commenting and where should we be holding?

Sarid is right.. American Jews are not the ones who have to man checkpoints in the West Bank. They are not the ones who have to live under the threat of rockets from Gaza, Lebanon or possibly from a Palestinian territory on the West Bank, They are not the ones that would have to fight should an annexation of the West Bank be declared. So really, how is up to us (American Jews) to be more patriotic than Jewish Israelis particularly when we are not exactly picking up and moving there in vast numbers.

On the other hand, the diaspora community has always been vital to the survival of Israel. America contributes $ 3 billion dollars annually to help Israel. Private donations help fund multiple projects in Israel that benefit all Israelis, Our polity has promised to guarantee Israel's security. SO... maybe we do have something to say.

For me (and this is just a personal observation), it is not up to me to tell the Israelis what to do, but, I do believe that as a Jew and as someone who strongly supports the existence of Israel I think it is right to be able to comment and as good friends do, point out flaws where they exist. That said, it is up to the Israelis as to whether they want to listen and do something about it or do they simply ignore it.

Sarid's last sentence is telling and he is right - Israelis have to pay the price of their actions. Unless we (the American Jewish Community) want to go over and share the obligations they face then this is up to them, and not us.

This is an article that hits at the heart of the diaspora/Israel issue and it is one that is going to become far more important as things heat up in Israel.