Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Tzipi Hotovely has slammed American Jews in an interview with i24 News for what she believes to be a lack of patriotism to the United States.
She argued that American Jews did not “[understand] the complexity of the region”.
“People that never send their children to fight for their country,” she said. “Most of the [U.S.] Jews don’t have children serving as soldiers, going to the Marines, going to Afghanistan or to Iraq – most of them are having a quite convenient life.”
“They don’t know how it feels to be attacked by rockets,” Hotovely continued. “Part of it is to actually experience what Israel is going through on a daily basis.”
Hotovely’s remarks prompted a firestorm of condemnation by the American Jewish left, who portrayed Hotovely as anti-Jewish, despite the fact she is a practicing Orthodox Jew.
Ronald Lauder, the President of the World Jewish Congress, dubbed Hotovely’s comments as “disrespectful of the Jewish people living in the Diaspora.”
Rick Jacobs, the President of the Union for Reform Judaism, took a similar stance, describing the remarks as “anti-Semitic” and claiming “they evidence a shocking ignorance.”
Haaretz columnist Chemi Shalev echoed Jacobs’ response, accusing Hotovely of engaging in a “hypocritical anti-Semitic attack”, while Ron Kampeas, the Washington bureau chief of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, called it “a classic anti-Semitic trope”.
“U.S. Jews have been here before her and will be here after her,” said Nachman Shai, a center-left Israeli politician, who has called for Hotovely’s dismissal. “They don’t need lessons from her, not on loving Israel and not on who is considered to be a Jew.”
Hotovely, a rising star in Israel due to her attractive appearance and nationalist political views, made the remarks in response to a decision by American Jewish campus organization Hillel to cancel a scheduled speech by her at Princeton University, after heavy pressure from the Alliance of Jewish Progressives and J Street. First elected in 2009, she quickly rose through the ranks of the governing Likud, and is said to represent a hardline faction within the party.
I don’t want my children dying for any organized criminal syndicate personally…
I’m in an agreement with him. I would have joined if it weren’t for my medical conditions
The Truth hurts. What would Washington and Jefferson say about dual citizenship?
First and foremost, Rob Kirby can go fuck himself. I think we can all agree to that.
Secondly, I’m in shock that I’m saying this, but I agree with the American Jews on this one. You can’t define Judaism by the state of Israel or of one’s service in the IDF (which is a good cause). Jews have existed in the U.S and lived in the U.S far before the State of Israel was established. And if the IDF was so Jewish, why do you allow non-Jews in? The IDF is not about defending the Jewish people, it’s about defending the state of Israel.
“Defining Judaism”? What are you talking about? For any American jew to claim they have just as much insight as your average Israeli about their national interests is ludicrous. It’s like saying that an Anglophile has as much as an understanding what’s in England’s best interest as the average Brit. While I’m sure Israel welcomes my support of them, I’d never dare to suggest I understand the predicament that Israel faces just because I share the faith of the majority living in Israel. And any Jew that feels they are equally entitled to an opinion on Israel should either move to Israel or shut their pompous trap.
Well, I’ve lived in Israel for a significant, so I think I follow your standards. Secondly, her campaign is to get American Jews to serve in the IDF because of their faith. And you only strengthen my point that your religion has nothing to do with whether you should or shouldn’t serve. So yes, she should shut her “pompous trap” about American Jews.
Lol a self hating jew I guess
What if Israel fights its own wars and America fights its own wars? #WinWin
good call; Deputy …
seems like a fair comment, especially once Israel stops letting the Orthodox skip military service 😉