Did you hear about the local court in Israel that sentenced a newspaper editor and a reporter to a year in jail for criticizing the prime minister? Or how about the 100 men that were arrested at a private party in Tel Aviv because they were "dancing and behaving like women"? Or the Israeli court in Haifa that ruled that the testimony of a man is worth twice that of a woman?
You probably haven't heard, because these abuses didn't happen in Israel.
They happened in Israel's neighborhood, in countries like Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia, and as you might imagine, there are plenty more where those came from.
These silent human rights abuses were on my mind when I read about a controversy that has bubbled up in the Jewish world today around this question: Is it good for Israel when Jews go public with harsh criticism of Israel?
When we complain that Israel's global brand image is worse than that of murderous regimes, isn't our public self-flagellation at least partly to blame?
One recent example is a Jewish group that has been presenting on college campuses a stinging, single-minded and in the eyes of many, exaggerated critique of the Israeli army. Presumably, this type of collective soul searching demonstrates the Jewish values of fairness and good faith, and ought to generate some goodwill in return.
Of course, Jewish criticism against Israel or its policies is nothing new -- but not all criticism is created equal. Criticism that rails against the corruption in Israel's government, for instance, is an example of a political system trying to clean up its act to better serve its people.
But Jewish criticism that publicly undermines Israel's morality and ability to defend itself is another matter, and it can backfire.
If we keep "confessing" to an already hostile world, for example, that we are too harsh in defending ourselves, should we be surprised if that same world concludes that we deserve to be punished -- that we had all this terrorism coming?
And if this public self-criticism happens only on our side -- because the other side doesn't allow it -- aren't we creating a false reality that puts inordinate responsibility on Israel for whatever goes wrong? When we complain that Israel's global brand image is worse than that of murderous regimes, isn't our public self-flagellation at least partly to blame?
In short, shouldn't supporters of Israel be more careful with what it allows its enemies to hear?
As I write these words, I feel like an 80-year-old World War II veteran who spends his days looking at his medals. Nothing, absolutely nothing, can make you more exhaustingly boring and unsophisticated today than suggesting for one second that a Jew should watch his mouth.
For the Jews who don't think twice before criticizing Israel in public, there's no such thing as a bad debate. Go ahead and trash the Israeli army over civilian casualties, watch the enemy exploit this weakness to create even more civilian casualties, and then let's all celebrate the beginning of a "terribly important" debate.
Jews who are careful about not helping the enemy don't have this fetish for debate. They see their home being broken into by people about to hurt their kids. Then, as they look at the faces of their frightened children, they have a choice to make: Do they argue with their spouse -- in front of the burglars -- about who was supposed to call that security company to install the new alarm, or do they figure out a way to protect their children and leave the debate on the alarm for later, in private?
These Jews' mouths might be shut, but their eyes are wide open. They see that when Israel tried to give its enemy what it said it wanted (example: Gaza), things got even worse. They believe in peace, but not suicide, and they believe that in times of danger, knowing when to be discrete can be just as courageous as knowing when to speak out.
This is their guiding question: Does an enemy who wants to kill my family deserve to see all my insecurities?
While the world's press records every Israeli mistake, millions of Arabs are being silently persecuted across the Middle East. Where's the outrage?
So clearly, despite the ingrained Jewish habit of self-criticism, there are millions of Jews today who don't think it's a great idea to vilify the Israeli army in front of American and pro-Palestinian college students. Instead of buying you goodwill, it's more likely to buy you bad PR.
Having said all that, in our collective obsession with Israel, Jews of all political stripes have missed a major opportunity to shine a light on the rest of Israel's neighborhood.
While the world's press records every Israeli mistake, millions of Arabs are being silently persecuted across the Middle East -- gays who are arrested for being gay, women who are humiliated for being women, reporters who are attacked for reporting, Christians who are persecuted for practicing their religion, poets who are jailed for writing the wrong poems.
Where is the outrage? Where are the "Breaking the Silence" campus road shows? Where is the liberal support for these Arab victims of human rights abuse who don't have a fraction of the freedoms that Arabs in Israel enjoy?
For all you progressive Jews out there who believe it's in the grand Jewish tradition to always speak out, here's your chance to yell.
(21) Orrin, April 4, 2014 10:01 AM
Does It Matter?
If well-meaning Jews publicize Israel's mistakes, the enemies of Jews will publicize them.
If nobody talked about Israel's mistakes, the enemies of Israel would make them up.
Either way, the enemies of Israel will continue.
(20) Kat, July 27, 2007 12:30 PM
it's suicidal
and self destructive and yes the lefties are firmly in solidarity and agreement about the guilt of Israel, while placidly ignoring the enemies constant aggressionand human rights violations. Agree that boycott of Jewish doctors who tend to PALS is justifiable but protest as discrimination a boycott of Muslim doctors who we know plotted and planned to blow up civilians.
All this endless guilt does give ammunition to Islamists. I expect those raised in hatred and Koran to despise Jews but the self hating Israeli and American Jews are the worst traitors. When push comes to shove they will still be Jews and persecuted as such. Assimilation did not save German Jewry and it will not save Israelis or Americans blinded by socialist rhetoric.
May GOD protect Israel b/c her people are selling her out daily.
(19) Marc Gottlieb, April 16, 2007 11:04 PM
Better to reign in Hell than serve in Heaven.
Yes, let's forget that "grand Jewish tradition" of honesty and introspection.
Let's forget our human, let alone uniquely Jewish, aspirations to unblemished morality.
Let's commit Lashon Hora against well-meaning Jews who wish to preserve these things.
All things considered, I guess you're right.
(18) Lynn, March 14, 2007 12:32 PM
When to shut up
The old saying my mother told me, "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all", sure comes to mind in this instance. I have passed this on to my children and grand children. It works! Israelis need to try it on for size.
(17) Anonymous, March 14, 2007 6:45 AM
I choose to remain anonymous and express an opinion that is shared by many rational Jews. Countries in this world that go without any sort of critique are doomed to fail. Recently Mr. Suissa indicated that Jews were wrong in their criticisms of Israel and that they should remain silent in the wake infractions in the Jewish state.The Jewish experience is a on continuum of good through bad. Mr. Suissa sees his experience through the prism of forced exodus in Morocco. The problem is that not every Muslim sanctions the actions of his or her government in the Middle East.Every person born with a Muslim name is not religious.In the specific case of Morocco, Jews still choose to live there. But having said that the reality is that Muslims are one billion on this earth and they have the tendency to attract followers if Jews offered so much light in the world more people would be attracted to our faith. People need to be very honest about that somber reality and stop pretending that we are the only people that do not seek followers.Thank goodness that Jews have the right to exercise what all free willed people on this earth can to speak out and be heard instead of behave in a repressive tradition that Suissa learned 60/60 years ago in Morocco.
(16) wambui, March 13, 2007 12:18 AM
i totally agree with these words. am from kenya where there's so much negative potrayal of the country by the media, who by the way think they are above reproach,-highlighting corruption,diseases, insecurity etc. the media has thrived in selling such news without stopping to think about the effect this is having on the tourism industry which is a major contributor to our economic growth. it was hardly suprising therefore when they US & BRITAIN placed kenya as a high insecurity alert-no go zone. the media think it's democracy or press freedom or reality, but what they don't know, is that we,on the ground love our country dearly and are still here. We are tired of reading how bad it is over and over again,actually they western media should not be blamed for there negative potrayal of africa...i think we have done pretty well ourselves. i think, that if it's so bad, they should just relocate to Sudan, or Somalia for example,no pun intended.well, that is just what i think.
(15) Baruch, March 12, 2007 9:24 PM
non violent responses to terrorism
Those responding to violence perpetuate violence by responding in kind. Every modern republic can see where terrorism is condoned. It is those modern nations who must ralley around Israel and condem violence. Those nations that allow terrorism to flourish should have their assets frozen and be prohibited to trade on the open market. All common borders with righteous nations should be closed. Isolation will lead to either starvation ,internal revolution, or hopefully negotiation with the free world.
(14) Jacque Budd, March 12, 2007 8:52 PM
Israel is too nice to its enemies
In looking at israeli history, including relentless attacks against israel; Israel has historically been too easy on its enemies, not too harsh. Israel has been the country who has consistently taken the "high road" in every battle and every war, trying to set an example that SHOULD be FOLLOWED, but unfortunately is not followed by its enemies. Instead its enemies takes advantage of israel's grace to its enemies and uses it to further violate her. (by the way, I am not Jewish, but a third party observer.)
(13) YM, March 12, 2007 7:53 PM
I agree
I agree.
(12) Daniela, March 12, 2007 7:34 PM
I've noticed this ever since I was a teenager 20 years ago...
It's very simple. We're talking about people who want to show on the *outside* that they're loyal and caring enough to criticize, but *inside* they are quite frankly **ashamed to be Jewish**. That's the unfortunate truth of the matter. In the final analysis, when Jews behave this way, what they are really doing is apologizing for being Jewish and showing our enemies that they should not be included in their criticism of Israel or Jews. They are really nothing but cowards.
(11) Anonymous, March 12, 2007 4:29 AM
In response to Fair Criticism
While rebuke is a Jewish principle, so is criticising in private so as not to cause shame ("velo tisa alav chet"). You are missing the point. Jewish self-criticism should not be made in public and serve as fodder to our enemies. We can't fix Muslims or Neo-Nazis but neither should we be providing them with the weapons with which to shoot us. Let's keep our cheshbon hanefesh within the daled amot of the family. (Please reread the burglar alarm example in the article...)
(10) Anonymous, March 11, 2007 7:36 PM
Your piece was well written and, more importantly, expressed ideas that need to be spread throughout the Jewish community. I hope you are publishing your ideas in many other publications.
(9) Anonymous, March 11, 2007 6:07 PM
Fair criticism
If we err, we should err on the side of self-criticism. It's not our job to fix whatever may be wrong with the Arab or Muslim world. It is our job to fix whatever may be wrong with our own world, especially Israel. The principles of tochecha apply well. Nothing could violate these principles more than silence in the face of wrongdoing in our own community.
(8) Max Gersenson, March 11, 2007 5:31 PM
Thinking and speaking need direction ...positively!
THIS ARTICLE NEEDS TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE JEWISH NEWSPAPERS AND GIVEN VOICE OVER JEWISH RADIO AND TV PROGRAMS.
(7) Barry E. Lerner, March 11, 2007 2:24 PM
Israeli PR
For clever people, Jews, and in particular Israelis, have had the world's worst PR. Our leaders do not seem to understand that the enemy presents emotional argument, against which our rational logic is completely ineffective. We are always on the defensive, which in an argument is a guarantee of defeat. As Mr. Suissa says, we must go on the offensive, not just saying, no, we're not as horrible as they paint us, but telling the world of their barbarity and treachery. Examples abound; let's turn the PR war around.
(6) Marni Rosen, March 11, 2007 1:32 PM
Hypocritical Jews
Lefist, "liberal", self-hating Jews are always quick to criticize Israel and Judaism. Of course they won't criticize Israel's neighbors or condemn what Moslems are doing to the innocent people of Darfur. Their hypocrisy and close-mindedness are sickening, yet also sad that they know so little about their own people.
(5) Ran, March 11, 2007 1:09 PM
Encore, encore!
Those who so quickly criticize only Israel are ignorant of the consequences of their actions. They fail to recognize that their thoughtless "struggle" strengthens enemies of Israel that - taken to the extreme - would silence their voices, as well. Everyone - not just Israel and Israelis - IS accountable.
(4) Anonymous, March 11, 2007 12:08 PM
You are making ggod points and keep these views coming. E-mail your articles to Synagogs & Temples in the U.S. to post on their message boards
(3) Anonymous, March 11, 2007 10:27 AM
It's about time...no, it's way past time....
Ms. Suissa nicely articulates that which needed to be said about 10 years ago, and constantly repeated.
(2) Jakub V., March 11, 2007 10:21 AM
Compliments to your ablity to hit the root.
Good column, works even generally. I was wondering why are people around me stopping to watch the news and here it is. Non-constructive criticism cant help anyone, but the enemy of yours, beating your self-confidence.
Thanks for this article.
(1) Zera, March 11, 2007 9:40 AM
Important article
You hit the nail on the head. The point isn't that we shouldn't be critical of Israel. But, since those who are most critical of Israel seem to latch on to any criticism at all of Israel and deny any wrongdoing of other nations whose wrongdoings are worse than any real or perceived wrongdoings of Israel, we're only feeding the sharks when we do criticize Israel in front of them.
One minor point: the sentence "They believe in peace, but not suicide, and they believe that in times of danger, knowing when to be discrete can be just as courageous as knowing when to speak out," I think the word should be discreet (which means prudence) rather than discrete (which means separate and distinct).