Posted on 09/13/2009 5:20:04 PM PDT by Ari Bussel
A Stubborn People by Ari Bussel
Not taking action has a tendency of coming back to bite us.
Mordechai Va’anunu, who exposed the atomic secrets of Israel, was motivated, according to Ha’aretz newspaper, “by reasons of principle: he was concerned that Israel's nuclear program was, in his view, out of control, that there wasn't Knesset supervision of the program, or public monitoring of any sort. Financial reward was not his motive. The fact is that he did not receive money from [the Sunday Times] for [the Times’] report."
It was the mid 70’s when Va’anunu worked at the Nuclear Compound in the Negev. He was a student at Ben Gurion University and associated with some Arab students. A fellow resident of Beer Sheva from that time recalls: “Va’anunu was standing on the grass at Ben Gurion University arguing with people on politics, inviting and urging them to talk with him. He was dismissed as an out fringe.”
In 1985 Va’anunu resigned his position as a technician at the Nuclear Reactor and left Israel. A year later after the Sunday Times published his story and the pictures he had taken, he was kidnapped from Rome by the Israeli Intelligence Services and brought to justice in Israel. He served his term until 2004.
A professor at BGU from that same time who is also being dismissed as somewhat on the fringe is now a second-generation faculty member at BGU. He recently called on “foreign governments, regional authorities, international social movements, faith-based organizations, unions and citizens to suspend cooperation with Israel.”
Prof. Neve Gordon states his call to “BOYCOTT ISRAEL” is motivated by a deep concern for the future of his two boys. His pulpit is his Poli-Sci department, and when he states with academic certainty that Israel is an Apartheid State, people are listening. He is readily dismissed by some fellow members of the faculty at BGU as a “Post-Zionist,” “one of about 80 members of the permanent staff (8%) who publicly associate themselves with the left.”
What is the difference between Va’anunu and Gordon? One sold his country’s secrets, the other claims it should be boycotted. One was tried for treason, while the other is hailed as fighting for “academic freedom.” Both claimed to be motivated by honorable principles and were dismissed by the mainstream as on the fringe. Each caused great damage to the Jewish State of Israel.
Va’anunu’s actions provided proof for something the world has long known—Israel has a fully operational nuclear program based in the nuclear center in Dimona. Israel’s enemies have throughout the decades tried to target this center: from Saddam Hussein in 1990-1991 to Hamas in 2008-2009.
Gordon’s call for a boycott undermines the fabric at Israel’s core. Attempts to starve Israel may lead to its downfall, but cannot cure an “Apartheid” condition that does not exist. Nor will it bring about peace with Muslim Palestinians whose only goal is that the Jewish State cease to exist.
The call to BOYCOTT ISRAEL is neither new nor unique. Let us look at some current examples:
Shareholders of a certain group of mutual funds in the USA are considering a proposal that requests the Boards of these Funds to “institute procedures to prevent holding investments in companies that, in the judgment of the Board, substantially contribute to genocide or crimes against humanity, the most egregious violations of human rights.” The shareholder meeting is scheduled for October 27, 2009.
Two years ago Methodists were considering Caterpillar divestment for selling heavy equipment to Israel.
Two months ago today, we received a request to sign a petition “to vouch for medicine and for Israel.” Dr. Yoram Blachar, president of the Israel Medical Association and the World Medical Association wrote to his colleagues:
“Whatever political views one may hold, we firmly believe that politics has no place in medicine. Medicine is meant to serve as a bridge, not a divide. The intermingling of medicine and politics is dangerous, particularly when opinions, presented as facts, are presented on the pages of medical journals.
“Legitimate protests are fine; the cynical exploitation of medicine in advancing political and/or anti-Semitic agendas crosses the line. We view the current situation as extremely dangerous for the future of Israeli medicine, of academic freedom and international cooperation.”
Dr. Blachar was outraged by a letter spearheaded by Dr. Derek Summerfield and signed by 725 physicians. The letter publicly protested and appealed his recent appointment to the president of the WMA. He writes further:
“Anti-Israel activity and campaigns in the medical press are unfortunately nothing new; however they have reached a new ‘low’ in the last few months.
“Derek Summerfield has a life-long agenda of criticizing Israel; he is well known to us through his inexorable venomous campaign against Israel, the IMA and Dr. Blachar, in numerous letters and on the pages of leading British medical journals such as the BMJ and the Lancet.”
Dr. Blachar was expressing his outrage and indignation since he himself was the target of the effort. Suddenly these “boycott” and “divestment” calls hit close at home. Was he as determined to fight beforehand when “illegal outposts and settlements” and “occupied land” constituted so-called legitimate discourse?
One must understand that the calls to BOYCOTT ISRAEL are an effective tool in the propaganda war against the Jewish Homeland. It becomes increasingly more difficult to fight them as the body Israel is used to fight itself. Israelis become the conduits and messengers, turning the battle inward.
A specialist in genetics and a colleague of Dr. Blachar in Israel, Dr. Rivka Carmi is the president of Ben Gurion University of the Negev. Dr. Carmi’s deep understanding of how the body fights itself should be used to try and help the institution she leads.
Dr. Carmi, according to a fellow physician, “is an extraordinary woman who served as an officer at the IDF, finished her medical studies with distinction, and despite being able to choose any program of her liking, chose to live in the Negev and work at Soroka Hospital in the Negev. To remind you [says the physician] it was in the 70s.”
He continues: “During her work at Soroka she established the prenatal department and the genetic institute and worked there with dedication for many years as she has sacrificed her personal life. She represents Israel in major international forums and was even a candidate for the position of the Israeli ambassador to the UN (which she declined in order to continue her role as the President of Ben Gurion University).”
So what does Dr. Carmi do in response to the call by the head of one of BGU’s departments to “BOYCOTT ISRAEL?” She promises to work quietly and rushes ten days later to Los Angeles to meet with major donors. She refused to entertain a request to meet with a group of local activists on behalf of the Jewish Homeland.
The same doctor colleague of hers replied, after a discussion between them that lasted an hour: “If you or your friends contribute directly or have an intention to donate directly to the university, then it is your full right to demand a direct meeting with Prof. Carmi or another representative and receive the requested details. If this is not the case, you will need to suffice with general information from the media or the one you are receiving from me. PROF. CARMI DOES NOT OWE YOU PERSONALLY ANYTHING. [Emphasis in original.] If after the explanation of the spokespeople or Prof. Carmi or another representative you choose not to donate to the university, I regret but understand your decision.”
Is it indeed the case that other than to Ben Gurion University’s major donors, Prof. Carmi does not owe anyone, anything? Prof. Carmi has a far-reaching obligation to shape up her university. The damage caused by a respected member of the university calling Israel an “Apartheid State” affects every Israeli and every Jewish person.
Tomorrow, when other segments of the Israeli academia, professional and academic associations and the country as a whole are boycotted by elements from the UK to the USA, from France to Indonesia, on what basis could Israel fight these divestment and boycott efforts?
In France, dozens of people went to a Carrefour supermarket chain and removed anything made or grown in Israel from the shelves. You are invited to share the feelings watching this “protest” on YouTube. More recently, the same was done in Trader Joe’s in the USA. People from outside and from within Israel are calling for action against Israel.
Prof. Carmi – if you do not take decisive action now and pretend the problem will go away, you are deeply mistaken. It will come to haunt you with greater intensity from directions you cannot even envision. The only resources required are true leadership and courage to do the unusual, to take a step now. There is no need to talk with your donors. They, and many others, know the many bright lights of the university. Fix that which needs fixing, before it comes to bite you again.
The frequency and magnitude of each subsequent attack on Israel are increasing with frightening pace. They mutate from the Op-Ed pages to the Calendar and Sports sections and will soon engulf every aspect of Israel.
We must all remember our downfall will come due to our own sins: “Since so said God: You were sold for free, and not with money will you be salvaged.” (Isaiah 52:3) We, not anyone else, sin when our heart become haughty and we think we are those to be thanked, forgetting God our Lord who took us from Egypt from the house of slavery (Deuteronomy 8:14).
We forget that the advances and discoveries at Ben Gurion University do not make us all-powerful, academic freedom is not absolute and if we – including Prof. Carmi – do not change our ways now, our position will continue deteriorating. Do not say in your heart “it is my strength and my might which brought me here” (Deuteronomy 8:17), for it is not.
Israel is a miracle and those at Ben Gurion University partake in its wonders. You bless the world by spreading knowledge and advances, by making new discoveries and amazing developments in diverse fields. It is your job and responsibility to safeguard this amazing process of bestowing a blessing onto the nations – for your sake, for Israel’s sake, for the world as a whole.
### In the series “Postcards from Israel,” Ari Bussel and Norma Zager invite readers throughout the world to join them as they present reports from Israel as seen by two sets of eyes: Bussel’s on the ground, Zager’s counter-point from home. Israel and the United States are inter-related - the two countries we hold dearest to our hearts - and so is this “point - counter-point” presentation that has, since 2008, become part of our lives.
© Postcards from Home, September, 2009 Contact: aribussel@gmail.com
Attempts to starve Israel may lead to its downfall, but cannot cure an "Apartheid" condition that does not exist.
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