Sunday, May 18, 2008

And Less of Levy

That's Gideon Levy of Haaretz (and "Palestine", wherever that is. More of a mind-set and psychological state than anything). He's complaining about American Jewry's financial contribution to Israel, as if he doesn't benefit from tours and conventions and seminars he's invited to by Diaspora Jewry groups):-

...We are dealing with an impatient, aggressive Jewish community, one whose aggression is reflected in its relations with Israel.

In many areas the damage is direct and considerable. The settlements in the territories, for example, would not have thrived and grown had it not been for the big money flowing from American Jews. An investigation by the Ynet news Web site released around two years ago found that American Jews sent $100 million (???) to the settlements in the past decade.

Dozens of Jewish associations foster and finance the most nefarious project we’ve ever had here, from the One Israel Fund to the Hebron Fund, from American Friends of Ateret Cohanim to Shuvu Banim. They are all fattening the settlements, some openly and others under the table. By so doing American Jews are helping to shape and mutilate another state.

The contribution of American Jewry to Israel may, on balance, be positive. They financed and built for us quite heavily; we in turn offered them a safe haven and a source of pride.

Neither side of this equation, though, is relevant any longer. We no longer need their money — certainly not at the price of their interference — and it is doubtful we can still offer them that haven or pride. Let’s part as friends, then.

Let American Jews attend to their own business, and us to ours.

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