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Israel is a Trip (1)
15-Dec-2010
Part 1 - Part 2
Consul General Jacob Dayan is the senior representative of the State of Israel in Southwestern United States. He runs a busy consulate and I certainly hadn't expected to meet the top man when I contacted his office with questions about who was paying for my journalism trip to Israel. Yet, the charismatic diplomat whose youthfulness contrasts pleasantly with the responsibility of his office, graciously offered his time to answer some questions. Along the way, I also asked if Israel had anything to do with the recent killing of two Iranian nuclear scientists.
I won't keep you in suspense, Mr. Dayan referred to Hillary Clinton's repeated cautions: "The United States is determined to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons." He also cited the motto, "a nuclear Iran is not an option." The current Iranian regime armed with nukes would affect the US leadership role, straining important agreements with the Arab nations. The shift in the balance of military power right on top of the world's source of energy is an issue of utmost global seriousness. "It is not an Israeli issue; it's an American issue, it's a world issue!" Dayan insisted. The diplomat's firm responses directed me to re-frame the assassination question in my mind: did a collective international concern converge to a consensus to take action? Perhaps Israel played a part, I thought, but it is unlikely that she was acting in isolation from the US and other nations who wish to slow Iran's nuclear progress. This strong impression is as close to an answer as you can get from a diplomat on such subjects. And Mr. Dayan did not mince words when I used the phrase, "the perception of a nuclear weapons program." He was adamant that Iran's intention to acquire nuclear weapons is not a mere perception but a matter of reality. He cited suspicious activities by the IRI, which I took not so much as airtight proof but as an emphasis that in the context of the Islamic Republic's intensely hostile rhetoric, Israelis can't indulge the luxury of a doubt. Israel has made up its mind that Iran is going for nukes, and she is proceeding accordingly. Seriously!
Yet, despite being convinced that the IRI is the greatest threat to the world right now, Mr. Dayan says that Israel has no intrinsic conflict with the Iranian people. After all, only three decades ago the countries were friends going back 25 centuries. He is also upbeat about Iran because he thinks that of all the Islamic countries in the region Iran has the highest potential for a democracy. He attributes this to Iran having a real middle class, without which a democracy cannot grow. Sadly, Mr. Dayan observes, the IRI is eroding Iran's middle class, and therefore the nation's chances for a democracy.
I asked the Consul General if Israelis watched Iran's last elections with interest, and whether they were hoping Ahmadinejad would lose. He didn't take sides with any candidate, but what impressed him most during the Iran election was seeing the desire for freedom in the Iranian people--a people, however, that in Mr. Dayan's opinion do not have an accurate picture of Israel.
Briefly I took the Consul General literally and tried to imagine an accurate picture of Israel. But the boundaries kept shifting and settlements cropped up here and there frustrating my attempt to form a stable image of the country. Mr. Dayan thinks most land problems will be resolved once the Palestinians stop questioning the concept of Israel as a Jewish democratic state on its own piece of land separate from a Palestinian state. Israel is willing to make what Mr. Dayan views as serious compromises on the post 1967 land map to accommodate this two-state solution--even agreeing to settlement land swaps for Palestinian geographic contiguity. But the main deal buster continues to be the right of return issue: Palestinians who became refugees after the 1948 -1949 Arab-Israeli war want to go back to their ancestral homes inside Israel. Any Palestinians still alive from the original refugee crowd would be at least 60 odd years old and therefore not of much concern; the catch is that several million descendants are claiming the same right of return-- as in no more Jewish democratic state on its own piece of land separate from a Palestinian state.
For me, the Israel-Palestine dilemma is a moral balancing act between the right of Jews to live in their own land free of persecution by a non-Jewish potential majority, and the right of Palestinians to continue living on the property of their ancestors. For others, history should decide the matter--some Israelis citing various independent Jewish kingdoms and states that have appeared on and off throughout history. With Chanukah just behind us, Mr. Dayan mentioned Israel's 2nd century BCE Hasmonean dynasty that ruled for a hundred years or so after the Jewish rebellion that the Chanukah celebration marks to this day. For others I have spoken to in the past, the issue goes beyond the ethical and historical. To them it is a matter of worshipping God, and each side would fanatically push the fight to Armageddon. This is the primary reason nuclear weapons and the Middle East don't mix. There was not enough time to get into a discussion about a nuke free Middle East with Mr. Dayan, but there will be plenty of time to discuss the matter with native Israelis during my trip to that country. Mr. Dayan says I should feel free to approach anyone on the street or in the shops and cafeterias to talk about any issue whatsoever. Though he cautions that if there are three Jews, I may find four opinions. His way of saying his country is a democracy where Israelis don't fear expressing their views.
Which brings us back to why journalists, artists, politicians, business people, community activists, etc. from all over the world get invited to go to Israel. Mr. Dayan says many guests are transformed by the experience of this journey. I'll stay open to that; one revealing experience I have had already is the story of how the trip came about. Iranian-American Jewish businessmen, George Haroonian and Bijan Khalili had an idea that some of their non-Jewish compatriots should learn more about Israel. Mr. Haroonian's ancestors go back four generations in the Kashan carpet weaving and export business--as in during the Ghajars--and Mr Khalili is a well known publisher of Iran related books. They knew that Israeli consulates sometimes offer assistance in organizing and funding such excursions, so he approached Mr. Dayan's office. As a result of this initiative by two members of the Jewish Iranian community, a cooperative machinery kicked into action to accommodate the brainchild of these two community activists. The visit may even include seeing President Shimon Peres of Israel who has tentatively made time to meet with the small Iranian group Mr. Haroonian is hosting. What is noteworthy here is how members of the Jewish community have ready access to their country's communal resources, including political and high ceremonial institutions. In our Iranian mythology, access to the powerful is a sign of a just rule; today it is a key indicator of democracy.
My primary interest in this trip will be to find out how our Iranian Jews have fared in Israel culturally. Do Iranian-Israelis compare favorably to Iranian-Americans in keeping our traditional art, music and literature alive and growing. How many have achieved worldwide scientific distinctions? But I will also be asking how it is that Israeli journalists do not go to jail for asking, "Is this any way to treat the Palestinians?" or how it is that an Israeli political protester, unlike his Iranian counterpart, is not tortured or raped in prison even though the country feels under constant threat. The Palestinian conundrum notwithstanding, how do the Israeli Jews maintain a democracy among themselves inside a turbulence of discordant opinions, lifestyles, and values?
Since this is an internet forum, feel free to ask your own questions that may lead to constructive answers towards an Iranian democracy. I'll see what I can learn and share. For Israel critics who suspect America's generous military aid to Israel indirectly reimburses the cost of such trips, the incentive to ask useful questions and engage in constructive discussion has an extra component: this could be your tax money, use it well >>> Part 2
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Safe journey Ari Jaan
by divaneh on Thu Dec 16, 2010 05:57 PM PSTLook forward to your report. Could you ask them how did they put restrainers on their religious fanatics?
Some replies
by Ari Siletz on Thu Dec 16, 2010 05:43 PM PSTSome specifics:
Abarmard: We discussed a visit to the Palestinian Authority. The visit would have to be arranged through the US embassy in Israel. Working on it.
Alaaf: The Purim story does not mention Jews killing any Persians. The fight was between the Jews and the Arab/Canaanite Amalekites who as part of the (semi-fictionalized) Persian Empire each sought influence in the Persian court.
Q: My number one priority will be Iran vis a vis Israel. The Palestinian issue will likely come up as a side issue of the proxy war, not as a separate human rights issue. Why this prioritizing? Because if the Iran-Israel hostilities boil over into a war, the region of human suffering will extend into our Iran--and the war probably won't resolve any issues favorably for the Palestinians either.
Molla: Similar to my response to Q, the extent of Israeli influence in US politics would be out of scope for this project. Though in a vastly larger project the issue may come into scope.
Wellwisher: Thanks for the book reference. Will read it. Interesting description and reviews on Amazon. I'm curious to find out if the book also offers an alternative take on the dangerously hostile anti-Israel rhetoric coming from the IRI.
elhrac: Unlikely that the perpetrator nation(s) will claim Stuxnet due to the amount of damage the worm has done to non-Iranian systems as well. Bottom line, Iran ineptly used non-domestic electronics (Seimens controls) for a high security project. Industrial self sufficiency is written into Iran's constitution. We keep paying the price for ignoring our constitution--the least of which is having worm ridden uranium centrifuge controls.
Ari jaan I have a question.
by Anonymouse on Thu Dec 16, 2010 03:13 PM PSTMy question to be asked from Israeli General Counsel or whichever Israeli official you can ask is the following:
Why do you think having a Nuclear Islamic Republic is not an "option"? What is it that Israel (or America for that matter) think they can do?
When Pakistan detonated an atomic bomb inside a mountain there were several sanctions put in place by Bill Clinton but they were soon rescinded. Now as you know Pakistan is housing Bin Laden and most of the first class terrorists in the world! Pakistani Govt is as flimsy as it gets.
Everything is sacred
Ask the Israelis
by elhrac on Thu Dec 16, 2010 03:06 PM PSTIf they created the stuxnet virus that shut down Iran's nuke program.
arrogance...
by Bijan A M on Thu Dec 16, 2010 03:02 PM PSTHave been away for quite a while but stumbled into Ari’s blog which I found very enlightening. I have a lot of respects for Ari for his intelligence and levelheadedness. I have always thought of Ari as an unbiased, fair, extremely smart and a fun person to be with.
The only reason I decided to jump in and post this comment is when I read Q’s comment. My blood boiled when I saw that much arrogance in any human being to insult such a fine man as Ari to be stupid enough to not understand what he is doing. That is the hight of being full of yourself. Mr. Q spits out in very fluent English the same talking points that he has been, for as long as I remember. So, Mr. Q what is your point (aside from politely calling the blogger, stupid)? You raise a lot of points that can be debated until the hell freezes over. Where is reality? How do you want to bring about peace? Are you delusional enough to think a single state will ever happen? If not, why bring all this nonsense up? The man said why he is going there and I’m sure he is shrewd and observant enough to draw his own conclusions.
I’m still puzzled by your post on this particular blog. Did you think this is a good forum to condense what you have been spewing for the past several years in one comment for the right group of potential readers? The subject of Israel’s existence has been debated at extreme length on this site, but this is not the blog to re-ignite that debate. This blog is about peace and fact finding.
And, to Mr. Siletz, I, as a non-practicing Iranian Jew who has never been to Israel, look forward to read your journal. Knowing you only through IC, I have found you to be extremely rational and unbiased and that’s why I respect your view points.
Have a safe trip and enjoy.
Regards,
Bijan
Bon Voyage!
by Wellwisher on Thu Dec 16, 2010 12:48 PM PSTAri,
If you are interested in learning about the status of Iranian Jews who migrated to Israel – both before and after the revolution –read Iranophobia: The Logic of an Israeli Obsession, by Haggai Ram, an Israeli academic.
It’s a small book that can be read on the plane. It will provide you with quite a few pointers that will come handy when you meet your interlocutors.
Ari khan
by maziar 58 on Thu Dec 16, 2010 10:46 AM PSTyou've allready asked all there is from Mr. Dayan and you're going to have a wonderful time hopefuly there.
I don't know how they say Bon voyage in Hebrew But I'm sure they will Welcome you with smile when you're landeded in Ben gurion . Maziar
So are
by Mola Nasredeen on Thu Dec 16, 2010 09:59 AM PSTPalestinians who have lost their land and freedom and are under Zionist racist regime of Israe, so are Iranians who are under constant threat by Israeli lobby in U.S pushin U.S. to attack Iran, so are muslims whose third holiest place is occupied by the Zionist Jews, so our American tax payers who are being manipulated and forced into unwanted wars, so are the rest of humanity. So stop grand standing RG.
Ari, "free trips" aren't free
by Q on Thu Dec 16, 2010 10:03 AM PSTThis is all about immigration, the only "existensial threat" that Israel faces is the dwindling immigration, and also net out-ward migration of liberal jews to the US. The only reason there is a majority Jewish population today is because of apartheid laws Israel continues to practice.
This is too important to be left to the "tax money". Even if Israel had to pay out of pocket, it would gladly continue spending lavishly for this purpose.
I hope you know you are intended to be part of that propaganda effort. You say your two activist friends want to reach out to non-Jews, so why are they sending you? Isn't it because they want to use you in their operation? Isn't it because you have some persuasive power and a big platfrom on IC?
Look, this is nothing new and you are not the first to make such trips. Hundreds of Americans who are perceived to have even slight power are taken to Israel for these "show tours" every year. From congressional staffers, to student leaders, to even local elected officials and community activists... they are given free trips, given individual attention, wined and dined by the government.
They will listen to you intently, portraying the largest nuclear military power in the entire region occupying others' land as a helpless "victim" using insulting psychological techniques like comparing land surface area with "arab nations" as proof. If you are critical they will listen to you intently and let out a couple of sad sighs for beleaguered Palestinians while in reality do not lift a finger to open the human cages of Gaza and Westbank. If you are critical and have some following, they will simply not allow you to come in, like they denied Noam Chomsky to enter in their "free speech democracy" last time he was invited to speak.
Sure they will let you speak to "ordinary residents". The trick is that just like the US and Iran and just about every other place, the neighborhoods are largely monolithic economically and politically. If they take you to the right neighborhoods, almost anyone will echo the propaganda they want you to hear. This is why I bet you will not be allowed to go to the West Bank where you might hear suffering Arabs or racist fanatic settlers who openly discriminate even toward Sephardic and Mizrahi jews, let alone "dirty Arabs".
They will take you to the Holocaust museum, show you carefully cherry picked bedouin Arabs, druze, Ethiopian jews and secular Muslims to make you think it's all honkey dorry and hide the essential racist colonial enterprise they promote as a "jewish democracy". That's how they operate.
Here's some questions:
1. WHY continue to build settlements, especially if you profess peace? Do settlements, which are often started by gun-toting racists hurt or help peace?
2. WHY don't they recognize a Palestinian state on the '67 borders, even as they insist everybody else should recognize an Israeli state?
3. If they are a secular democracy, why is almost all the land in Israel owned by a couple of private religious Zionist organizations, and can't ever be owned by Arabs?
4. WHY is it fine for a 30th generation European jew to be given free trips and free land just for asking, but not children of people driven out of Palestine by force to come back to the houses they own?
5. How can Israel claim legitimacy from the so-called "continuous presence" of Jews living in the land when for the first 50 years of its existence all it's leaders were European born Jews? Still almost all are of Euro-ancestry.
6. Why is it OK to have Jewish-only roads and still have the audacity not to be called an apartheid state?
7. Why is it acceptable to have second class citizen status and be called a democracy? Why is the Jewish nationality the only Israeli nationality recognized (Arab ethnicity has been rejected by the Knesset)? Why aren't Arab citizens of Israel (so called equal-citizens) allowed to start settlements in the West Bank like their fanatic Jewish citizens?
8. Why is it that after 60 years, there is still 50% poverty in the Arab population compared to a tiny percentage among the Jewish population?
9. Right wing fanatical parties routinely harrass and question the rights of Arab citizens on the grounds that they are "terrorists" and "do not really recognize Israel", when there are religious orthodox Jews who also do not recognize Israel yet they are given lavish government funds and even membership in Israeli institutions, all while not recognizing Israel!
And finally
10. How can one claim to be a democracy and jewish but at the same time call Iran a theocracy for the same reason? Why is it important to have discriminatory policies against the Arabs to keep the 'jewish character' of Israel but still call oneself a democracy? (that's exactly like saying, we want to keep the "white character" of the Southern US, but we are still a democracy).
Tavana, your comment is funny, but you missed molla...
by Roozbeh_Gilani on Thu Dec 16, 2010 09:48 AM PSTHe needs to be sent there, locked in a room with joooooos for 24 hours to realise that they are human beings just like himself (well, assuming molla is a real person himself and not another user ID for you know what ministry of islamist regime, an optimistic assumption I know!)
"Personal business must yield to collective interest."
Looking forward to reading your findings
by Monda on Thu Dec 16, 2010 09:40 AM PSTHave a very fruitful and safe trip, Ari.
Ari
by Tavana on Thu Dec 16, 2010 09:33 AM PSTThe three musketeers below will provide you the best company if you could take 'em with you:
1. Sargord is an ideal companion to help you with cheating, forging documents, misrepresentations, & lies that are desperately needed as your safety umbrella!!!
2. The Abarmard (The Supreme Man) to help you with the so called "oppressed" identifications within Israel as no visits of Gaza is permitted!!!
3. mahmoudg can help you with all the necessary Israeli "pilgrimage" requirements as Israel is like "Mecca" to him & culd help you alot with his connections there!!!
Farewell to You All.
According to
by Mola Nasredeen on Thu Dec 16, 2010 09:26 AM PSTU.S. congress the world is standing on its head when it comes to Israel. We as American tax payers are sick and tired of Israelis lobby controling our political agenda when it comes to our government's foreign policy.
"Congressman Howard Berman (D-CA), chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, rushed to the House floor with a resolution drafted by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee [AIPAC] condemning the Palestinians for publicly suggesting that, in the wake of Netanyahu's refusal to freeze settlements and negotiate, they will consider a unilateral declaration of statehood.
Congress passed the Berman bill, drafted only this week, on Wednesday. When it comes to pleasing AIPAC, there are simply no limits.
This remains true even though AIPAC is embroiled in an espionage/sex scandal that has it scrambling to find $20m to pay off a former top employee who is threatening to produce documents exposing the lobby."
//english.aljazeera.net/indepth/opinion/2010/12/2010121611101496814.html
Happy trails, Ari
by MM on Thu Dec 16, 2010 09:14 AM PSTJudging from your questions to Mr. Dayan, you will do just fine.
mahmoudg
by alaaf on Thu Dec 16, 2010 09:12 AM PSTYour comments are getting more hysterical everyday but thanks for the laugh anyway. Jews and Israelis sure love Persia. You should look up 'Purim', which is essentially the Jewish celebration of the massacre of hundred thousand Persians in hands of the Jews of Persia. You could call it our very own Holocaust.
Good luck Ari
by mahmoudg on Thu Dec 16, 2010 07:10 AM PSTYou will travel to the only democracy in the Middle East and to the only country in the region despite all the heavy propoganda who is still the only friend Persia has had and will ever have in that region. I am sure you will talk to some high level people and please do tell them on my behalf and the millions of others in Iran and the diaspora, that we await the day, our greatest partner, Israel will help Persia free itself from the most notorious murdering regime the world has ever known. Jews had their Nazi's and we Persians have the Islamic Rapist Cultists.
Don't forget to visit the victims
by Abarmard on Wed Dec 15, 2010 06:14 PM PSTSee if you can visit those who are oppressed
Ari, if your current US
by Sargord Pirouz on Wed Dec 15, 2010 06:07 PM PSTAri, if your current US passport has been stamped with entries into the Islamic Republic of Iran, I highly recommend you get a duplicate passport for entry into Israel. This is a fairly common practice among US security specialists that travel to Arab countries as well as Israel (having two passports).
If you don't have a duplicate passport, and the Israeli officials at the airport see IRI entries in your US passport, it could be a headache for you.
Of course, if you use an IRI passport to visit Iran or don't have IRI entries in your US passport, this concern isn't relevant.
Mr. Dayan
by MOOSIRvaPIAZ on Wed Dec 15, 2010 06:07 PM PST"Iran having a real middle class, without which a democracy cannot grow. Sadly, Mr. Dayan observes, the IRI is eroding Iran's middle class, and therefore the nation's chances for a democracy."
Is it not only IRI that is eroding Iran's midde-class Mr. Dayan. It is the sanctions that your higher ups are propsing and pushing the world to adopt that is also hurting the middle-class!
Thanks for the report Ari! I very much agree that people should go visit Israel and get a taste for what Israel is really like! It is also worth while for those who are demonizing Iran in order to bomb it to go visit Iran if they could. We Iranians need to work harder in trying to persuade media people in the west to go to Iran for a visit!
I think this is a great opportunity and who better then Ari
by Bavafa on Wed Dec 15, 2010 05:09 PM PSTAnd I will be waiting for your next report excitingly. I would specially be interested to find out about the average Israeli's attitude towards peace with their Arab neighbors. In particular how much of their reluctance is attributed to their fear of violence posed by their neighbors and how much of their motivation is fueled as a result of the "promised land" and believing this is their land no matter what.
Safe journey
Mehrdad