Dr. Cornel West. (photo: Vice News)
Cornel
West: The Occupation of Palestine Is 'Devouring' Israel's Democratic Soul
By Taly Krupkin, Haaretz
09 March 17
The American philosopher and BDS supporter wonders if the occupation
is 'devouring' Israel's democratic soul and calls it 'a sad moment when an
Einstein would not be able' to enter the country. But he remains optimistic.
The new law denying entry to foreigners who call for a boycott of
Israel or the settlements has sent shock waves through liberal Jewish
communities in the United States for potentially closing Israel’s borders to
prominent public figures.
A
prominent voice for the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement in recent
years has been philosopher Cornel West, one of America’s leading intellectuals.
In a
conversation with Haaretz in the aftermath of the measure's approval by the
Knesset on Monday, West voices concern for the future of democracy in the
country. The legislation, he suggests, is a betrayal of a tradition of Jewish
philosophers committed to human rights, such as Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel, a
Jewish theologian who marched with Martin Luther King, Jr. in Selma.
“lt’s
a sign of panic, a sign of hysteria, a very sad response to an intense
situation,” says West. “Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel would turn in his grave
thinking about the spiritual blackout that is occurring in Israel. Einstein
turns over in his grave, too." Both Rabbi Heschel and Einstein, he says, "had
deep commitment to Jewish self-determination, Jewish self-respect, but always
had a universal vision, and embraced Arabs, Palestinians and others.
"With
this particular act, Einstein could not go to Israel. Rabbi Abraham Joshua
Heschel, if he were alive, and had a critique of the occupation, or said people
have a right to boycott, he could not go. Does this mean that Israel actually
is ready to turn its back on some of its prophetic figures, who themselves were
Jewish?... it’s a sad moment when an Einstein would not be able to get into the
country of his own people."
West
has publicly supported BDS for years, and as such, is one of the prominent
public figures who could be denied entry under the new law.
“BDS
is not a homogenous movement," he says. "There are a lot of different
voices, but it is the only non-violent response I can see to the very ugly
occupation, and I would do exactly the same if there was a Palestinian
occupation of Jews. It’s a moral issue, a spiritual issue”.
Asked
whether he would consider visiting Israel to speak about BDS and the
occupation, in spite of his support for a boycott, West says he would have,
before the ban.
"I
could not get in now. But I consider Israelis my brothers and sisters, whether
they are Jewish or Arab, just as I consider Palestinians, who are wrestling
with the Israeli occupation”.
West
also expresses concern for the future of Israeli democracy, in light of the
legislation. The
law "shows that BDS is getting stronger but it also shows that any
critique of the settlements, any critique of the ugly occupation is grounds for
excluding people from the country," he says.
"What
about the people inside the country?," he asks. "Are you going to
have internal aliens? Critics of the occupation, people who live right there,
in Tel Aviv, are you going to say they don’t have the right to be inside their
own country? That is what authoritarian regimes do. It’s just sad to see Israel
move more and more in that authoritarian direction.”
“One
of the most important, precious things is that there have always been some
democratic practices alongside the ugly occupation” he adds.
“Is
the occupation now devouring the very democratic soul of Israel itself? That is
the kind of question that Albert Einstein would raise, that Rabbi Heschel would
raise, that Gertrude Stein would raise, that Susan Sontag would raise, these
are questions inside the context of Jewish life.”
West
also offers an optimistic prediction of the effect he sees the ban having on
Israeli society. He suggests that it may mobilize the opposition.
“I
think this kind of law will actually bring out all the best in Israelis, We
will really see who is committed to democracy, who is committed to human
rights," he says.
“Because
what we are seeing in the States, with the International Women’s strike, with
the demonstrations in airports and town halls: Trump is actually bringing out
the best of America, those who want to oppose these neo fascist laws. The kinds
of laws passed by the Knesset are going to bring out the best In Israelis. They
may not be able to win in the moment, but there is going to be a round two.”
C 2015 Reader Supported News
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"The master class
has always declared the wars; the subject class has always fought the battles.
The master class has had all to gain and nothing to lose, while the subject
class has had nothing to gain and everything to lose--especially their lives."
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