In defense of political pluralism
We still do not know why or when Taglit-Birthright Israel rejected J Street U’s trip proposal.
It is clear, though, that Birthright’s declared non-political approach does not hold water–especially as a reason to exclude J Street U. Birthright’s spokesperson asserted that Birthright does not “deal in politics,” which amounts to saying that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict should not be central to participants’ relationships with Israel. While this stance is respectable, it is no less political than J Street’s—even if it is less obviously so.
Furthermore, it would be impossible for Birthright to avoid politics, regardless of its official policy. Israel’s conflict with the Palestinians has defined the state from its very beginning, despite some earnest efforts from supporters to re-brand the country’s image. Political issues such as wars, occupations and internal struggles about religious freedom have put Israel at the center of controversies that have gained worldwide attention.
When an organization selects its speakers or schedule, then, it must recognize that those selections are inherently political. Organizations must own up to the implications of their programs—no matter how much those programs strive for impartiality. Presenting oneself as an arbiter or neutral moderator in this context is deceptive.
In promoting a connection to Israel, Birthright must make choices about what it thinks is important. If it wants to offer participants a balanced view of Israeli society, it should not allow the American Israel Public Affairs Committee a Birthright trip while denying one to J Street. This amounts to an endorsement of AIPAC’s platform over J Street’s. Birthright’s claim that AIPAC, a Washington, DC-based lobby, is somehow less political than J Street is absurd.
If anything, J Street U’s record of openness should recommend it for a Birthright trip. From its inception, J Street U has sought to make inroads of understanding in an incredibly polarized climate–the college campus. Unlike many pro-Israel organizations, J Street U has avoided the traditional for-us-or-against-us paradigm to which most campus Israel-Palestine groups subscribe. J Street U realizes that Israel advocacy is not a zero-sum game, that supporting the national aspirations of Palestinians is just as important as supporting those of Jews. Its leaders understand that even when engaging groups that have fundamental problems with Israel as a Jewish state, there is a good deal of room for mutual learning and intellectual growth.
The complexity of the Israel-Palestine issue demands J Street U’s even-handed, nuanced and critical approach. The longer it takes for establishment Jewish leaders to embrace that approach, the more young Jews they will alienate. Every time the Jewish community scolds a young Jew for not being pro-Israel enough, it dampens her enthusiasm for engaging with Israel.
Make no mistake: Israelis and Palestinians face incredible obstacles to a successful and lasting peace right now. They need more allies, not fewer. They need allies who are willing to listen, make hard choices and learn from those with whom they disagree.
Birthright is free to set guidelines for its partner organizations. It should realize, however, that working with AIPAC while refusing to work with J Street U is antithetical to the organization’s declared non-political stance, and that that stance is neither achievable nor desirable.
Birthright should allow J Street U to facilitate a trip that does justice to Israel: one that lets participants examine Israeli society from a social justice standpoint and that doesn’t gloss over the state’s troubling components. Young Jews will come away from such a trip with a deeper understanding of the progressive aspects of Israeli society, a balanced view of its faults and the knowledge and perspective to advocate for equality and change. Going forward, that’s exactly the kind of advocate Israel needs.
Harpo Jaeger is on a leave of absence from Brown University. He is an active member of J Street Western MA, and blogs at New Voices, Jewschool and his own site on topics such as Israel-Palestine, local and national politics and Jewish identity.
