Shalom and take care
Orthodox Jews used not to celebrate their birthdays: they Were ignorant of the day on which they were born. That was Part of the Jewish tradition of plaintive self-abasement and fatalism: 'Blessed are those that were not born,' as the saying was. This week Israel celebrates her thirtieth birthday, and her people, whatever else they may disagree Upon, will call her blessed for being born. Israel was created lti a conscious act of repudiation of the older Jewish tradition. Centuries — indeed eras — of persecution, humiliation and dispersal had bred habits of deference and cunning. These the Zionists put behind them. The greatest Catastrophe of all the catastrophes in Jewish history left the founders of Israel in no mood for caution or compromise — Which would once have been thought Jewish characteristics. Maybe that exposed the fallacy of talk of 'national Characteristics'; or maybe the Jews had reverted to an earlier type: the only people, of all those to come under the domination of the Roman Empire, to rise up against Rome.
It is not surprising then that obduracy and intransigence have been notable qualities in the Israeli story, never less so than today. This should not be forgotten this week: a birthday is a time for thanksgiving and congratulation, but no friendly service is done if uncritical sentimentality takes Over. Over the years the Spectator has been, from time to time and we trust in an untendentious spirit, a critic of Israeli policy and practice. That criticism began when it was not as popular as it is today to reproach Israel. Israelis blight indeed be forgiven wry amusement at seeing their cause so ostentatiously deserted by the fashionable Left in last, West. Not so long ago socialists acclaimed Israel as the last, best hope of the world, which was an exaggeration. bIow they acclaim Palestinian terrorists as heroic freedom fighters, much more of an exaggeration. We have been more consistent, and do not repent. What, then, is our attitude to Israel? It could be summed UP in words once written by Mr Bernard Levin: 'admiration for the incredible achievement, hope that it will continue, combined with the strongest possible condemnation of her crime against her original Arab population and the cam paign of lies she has waged ever since on the subject.' That was written thirteen years ago, before the Six-Day War. Today one would have to add: and grave apprehension for the future, as well as a fervent prayer that Israel will see that the decent course is also the one which is in her best interests. Since 1967 the achievement has been if anything even more incredible. The creation of Israel and her preservation as a democratic and prosperous society against all adversity has been one of the most astonishing stories of our age.
But since 1967 the crimes have continued and multiplied. 'Crime' may seem a harsh word, for Israeli rule over the conquered territories has been benign enough. But the inescapable fact remains that the West Bank is conquered, its people are unwillingly ruled by a foreign power. Slowly, inexorably, the Israeli Government has revealed its intention of holding on to Judea and Samaria, against the wishes of its inhabitants, against the world, and indeed despite earlier, contrary assurances. Weizmann and Ben-Gurion must be turning in their graves — and Jabotinsky smiling in his.
Israel's own best interests seem obvious enough, except to her present rulers. Of all the achievements perhaps the most incredible is that after four fierce wars and thirty years of warmer than cold war Israel has begun to be accepted by her neighbours. Egypt desperately wants to make formal peace. Even some Palestinians now admit that the Jewish State has come to stay. At the same time it has long been obvious that Israel must, in the end, compromise. And to many well-disposed observers it would seem too obvious to need explaining that Israel should settle with the Arabs now, on favourable terms, when she is going to have to settle with them one day on less — perhaps much less — favourable ones. That is why on this birthday we send oui warmest greetings to Israel, but add to them the keenest hope that she will now or soon make a supremely generous gesture which will guarantee her permanent survival, not only as a prosperous democracy, but in peace and security. To the next thirty years: shalom — and take care.
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