The Only Democracy in the Middle East? The Battle for Israel’s Soul

July 16, 2010

In a demonstration of support for the New Israel Fund and the values it shares with activists around Israel, leading Israeli thinkers and artists participated last month in a one-day NIF Symposium: “The Only Democracy in the Middle East? The Battle for Israel’s Soul”.  Held in Jaffa with more than 500 people in attendance, the Symposium provided a very public platform to emphasize and endorse the NIF agenda. 

Welcoming remarks by NIF Israel Director Rachel Liel and NIF President Naomi Chazan reinforced the NIF position that love of Israel means the right to criticize, while declaring their commitment to fight against all attempts to silence our work.  American political writer Peter Beinart then offered a compelling keynote address (watch Beinart’s speech here), followed by two lively panels with well-known Israeli figures. 

Beinart, who received widespread attention for his recent article “The Failure of the American Jewish Establishment”, admitted that his renewed zeal for Israel and his commitment to securing its democratic foundation was inspired by the daily activity of progressive Israelis, the very people who make up the New Israel Fund. “You, the people who are waging the struggle for Israel’s democratic soul, you can be our ‘freedom riders’,” Beinart said.  With more and more young American Jews drifting away from Israel, Beinart is convinced that the work of NIF and other Israeli civil and human rights groups can serve as the vital link needed to reconnect and reengage the next generation of American Jews.

The first panel, “Israeli Democracy under Siege: A Call to Action”, moderated by TV commentator Orli Vilnai, entailed a conversation regarding the value and realization of democratic values in Israeli society.  Dynamic exchange took place among panel participants Prof. Moshe Haberthal, Prof. Rachel Elior, journalist Zouheir Bahloul, and Prof. Yossi Yona.  With diverse personal experiences, the panel raised candid points of difference and shed light on the complex system of beliefs that converge in this Jewish and democratic state, agreeing that the political discourse cannot be separated from the dialogue on human rights.

Gal Ochovsky, leading filmmaker, critic and TV personality, moderated the second panel, “Artists Speak Out.”  Popular musician David Broza, writers Rona Kenan and Nir Baram, poet Mati Shemoelof and actress/singer Mira Awad, discussed the role and special responsibility of artists to actively engage in social-political debate.  The panel agreed that they have a greater obligation to take a public stand on political and social issues and that they indeed have a unique ability to make a difference.  In a salute to NIF, Ochovsky ended the symposium with a statement of solidarity: “We have come here today to express our love and support for NIF and its activities.”