Some thoughts on boycotting Israel

Prof. Neve Gordon, a non-Zionist Israeli political scientist at Ben-Gurion University in Beersheva, has reluctantly endorsed boycotts and other international sanctions to pressure Israel to end the occupation of Palestinian territories (i.e., to "save Israel from itself").

I first met Gordon when I participated in the Meretz USA Israel Symposium in 2003. He spoke to our group at that time. I remember vividly how, when asked about the possibility of a one-state solution, he spread his arms wide and said "We are living in a one-state solution." He knew, as most of us agreed, that two warring ethnic groups being forced to share one state would lead only to continued conflict and the domination of one people by the other.

I'm glad that he hasn't changed this particular perspective, but I see his viewpoint as expressed at CommonDreams.org problematic in assuming that the conflict is only the fault of Israel. My feeling is that responsibility for the ongoing nature of the conflict is shared. Although Israel's behavior in Gaza and elsewhere has been deplorable at times, the Intifada launched in 2000 was basically a self-defeating tact by the Palestinians-- as was the idiotic spate of rocket and mortar attacks on Israel from Gaza, after Israel had completely withdrawn from there.

I think that a boycott demonizes Israel and Jews in ways that I'd hate to see. I also don't know that it would work. What it may do is further influence educated and talented Israelis to leave Israel so that the country becomes poorer, more right-wing and extreme. (Israel's political makeup is a total refutation of Marxist class theory: the more working class or poor you are in Israel, the more right-wing and "patriotic" you are likely to be.)

Besides, Gordon is not entirely correct that Israel is increasingly right-wing today, although I could see why he'd think so. Israel is more splintered today and more at sea as to what direction to go. After all, most of a decade of a peace process cost hundreds of civilian lives in several waves of terrorism and ended in dismal failure; and a unilateral withdrawal also ended in more attacks on Israeli towns.

Its two largest political parties at the moment (Kadima and Likud) together received less than 50% of the vote! Its centrist opposition party (Kadima) actually won more votes and seats than the governing Likud did. Gordon is correct that the left and center-left are shattered.

If boycotts worked to bring peace and a two-state solution, I'd feel differently. But aside from being unfair to most Israelis, I don't think they'd work. And if Israel were forced to retreat in weakness, I think that there's a good likelihood that the Palestinians and other Arabs (plus Iran) may see Israel as rife for the kill. The Palestinians deserve to live free of occupation, but-- thanks to the Intifada and electing Hamas-- they have not proven to most Israelis that they can co-exist in peace.

My hope is with Obama, international diplomacy, good sense and good luck. In other words, my hopes are not great, but I don't see things as hopeless. Gordon's support for boycotts is an act of desperation.