ADL's Attitude May Give Rise to Anti-Semitism
Abraham Foxman, national director of the Anti-Defamation League, said Sunday morning that U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry's "outrageous behavior" will unite American Jews.
"When there is a crisis the American Jewish community comes together," Foxman told Israeli Army Radio, in answer to a question put to him - to what degree is the Jewish community affected by fluctuation in Israeli-U.S. relations.
"I think Kerry's outrageous behavior will unite the American Jewish community," Foxman said. "It is chutzpah to lecture Israel about the risks of peace and war."
Kerry, whose shuttle diplomacy included two meetings with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and three meetings with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, said Thursday that the current talks on a two-state solution to the decades-old conflict might be a final chance for the two sides to find lasting peace.
“I believe that if we do not resolve the issues between Palestinians and Israelis, if we do not find a way to find peace, there will be an increasing isolation of Israel, there will be an increasing campaign of de-legitimization of Israel that’s been taking place on an international basis,” Kerry said in a joint Israeli-Palestinian television interview.
“If we don’t resolve the question of settlements and the question of who lives where and how and what rights they have, if we don’t end the presence of Israeli soldiers perpetually within the West Bank, then there will be an increasing feeling that if we cannot get peace with a leadership that is committed to nonviolence, you may wind up with leadership that is committed to violence,” he said.
Last month, Foxman criticized American leadership and resolve in the global arena, saying the world increasingly sees a “weak and retreating” United States that “cannot be counted on.”
Speaking at the ADL’s Centennial conference in New York, Foxman expressed apprehension that the U.S. is undergoing a “deep and dangerous change” that would endanger both Israel’s security and the wellbeing of the American Jewish community. “It causes me to lose sleep,” he said.
He lambasted Congressional resistance to U.S. President Barack Obama’s call for a military strike against Syria’s chemical weapons that resulted in U.S. acceptance of the Russian compromise offer. “A huge sigh of relief was heard throughout the nation, but what was also heard was questioning around the world whether America could be counted on.”
And while he didn’t rebuke Obama by name, the administration’s attitude towards talks with Iran was also a cause for concern, he said. “America seems desperate to avoid a confrontation with Iran and the Iranians, aware of that, are playing it to a fare-thee-well.”
True Torah Jews are shocked at Foxman's biting characterization of Kerry's behavior as "outrageous" and his suggestion that this will "unite the American Jewish community" against U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry.
"How ironic that the ADL, whose supposed goal is to fight anti-Semitism, is actually giving rise to anti-Semitism," said Yoel Klein, a spokesman for True Torah Jews. "We can safely say that Foxman's chutzpah and irresponsible behavior will unite American Jews in opposition to his organization.
"One of the worst anti-Semitic slurs throughout the history of our exile has been the accusation of dual loyalty - that Jews are more loyal to another nation than to the nation under which they live. This accusation cost the Jewish people an untold amount of blood, unfortunately. Of course, it was a complete lie - Jews were also loyal to their country and their government. They followed the directive of the Prophet Jeremiah (29:7): Seek the welfare of the city to which I have exiled you, and pray to G-d on its behalf, for with its peace will you have peace. And so too the Mishnah (Avos 3:2) commands, Pray for the welfare of the government. There is indeed a Jewish custom to recite a prayer for our government every Sabbath day after the Torah reading.
"But Foxman's rhetoric plays right into the hands of the anti-Semites, and it is totally false. Jews feel more comfortable and safe under the protection of the American government than under the Israeli government. We pray for our brethren living under the Israelis that they should be saved from all danger.
"Such irresponsible talk can only be understood if the ADL today is nothing but a puppet of Zionism. Then it makes sense that they should wish to encourage anti-Semitism - that's the oldest trick in the Zionist playbook. Zionism feeds off anti-Semitism, because when Jews have trouble in their diaspora lands, they tend to immigrate more to the State of Israel, or at least recognize its importance and contribute to it financially.
"The truth is that far from supporting the State of Israel, American Jews are disgusted by the statements of Israeli politicians over the past week, and wish to distance themselves from them," Mr. Klein concluded.