| Of Declarations and Independence |
57 |
bconsider the second paper, issued by the government of Israel to
bexplain Zionism and Israel. It is an excerpt of remarks by
bChaim Herzog, former Israeli ambassador to the United Na-
btions. After describing Zionism as the Jewish demand for “re-
bvived freedom and nationhood in its ancient homeland” and the
bLand of Israel as “the center of its national existence,” Herzog
bstated that “Arabs are free and equal citizens in our state.”
bFree and equal in a state that is irrevocably Jewish? Does
b“free” mean free to work toward an Arab majority in Israel?
bDoes “free” mean free to have many, many babies who in due
btime will be free to vote an Arab majority into the Knesset? Does
b“equal” mean equal rights for an Arab Knesset majority that
bcould vote to change the name of the state to “Palestine” and
babolish the Law of Return that today gives Jews and not Arabs
bautomatic entry and citizenship? In a word, are the Arabs of the
bJewish state for which Mr. Herzog’s ancestors yearned for 2,000
byears free and equal to go quietly, calmly, peacefully, democrat-
bically, to the polls and, by majority rule, vote an end to Zionism
band that Jewish state?
bAnd when yet another Israeli luminary, Michael Comay,
bformer ambassador to Canada, writes to the Jerusalem Post (June
b11, 1976), “I want an Israel which will remain both Jewish and
bdemocratic,” what does he say to the equal Arab citizen of this
bJewish democracy [sic] who asks him: If I have enough babies,
bdo I have the right to want a Palestine that is both Arab and
bdemocratic . . .?
bI do not feel sorry for the Arabs of Eretz Yisrael, no matter
bhow much they feel that the land is theirs. I do not feel for them
bbecause I know that the land is not theirs, that it is Jewish. It is
bthe one and only land that we have, whereas the Arab of Eretz
bYisrael can find a home in any one of more than the twenty
blands of his 100 million fellow Arabs. I feel no pain for one who
brobbed me of my land, no matter how loud his false claim to it.
bBut as I feel neither pain nor guilt, I can understand this Arab
band know the stupidity of the deception practiced on him. It is
ba deception that does not deceive; for the Arab of Eretz Yisrael
bmay be a robber and murderer of Jews, but he is not a fool.
bIndeed, when the “moderate” and the “dovish” Jewish
bleaders of Israel, those who gladden liberal hearts by calling for
bthe return of the “occupied territories,” do so because of “the
b