DAVID BADDIEL: Why I conceded to the JC editor in our Israel debate

When I stated my lack of a deep connection to Israel, he said I was revering Jews but only as long as they are weak and fleeing, never when powerful or strong. It was a really good point.

I take my Kippah off to the editor of the Jewish Chronicle. During our online podcast, he played a Knight’s Move of Bobby Fischer quality over my position on Israel. That position is: it’s a foreign country. Jews who don’t live there are not responsible for it, and the assumption by progressives that they are, is antisemitic.

This position pisses off progressives, and I’ve noticed, also pisses off some Jews, including some progressive Jews, who feel deeply connected to Israel. I don’t.

It’s here that the editor, Jake Wallis Simmons (JWS) burrowed in, like a mole into my arguments, by using not just Jews Don’t Count but my new book, The God Desire. In that book I say that it’s impossible for me, even as an atheist, not to have an emotional response to Judaism, because the religion, or at least the continuance of it over so many centuries, is emblematic of Jewish survival, and I will always be moved by Jewish survival.

JWS said: “So why don’t you feel an emotional connection to Israel — surely it’s a great example of Jewish survival?”

I felt a twinge of something here, of a different attack strategy than I’m used to. But I had a defence: “The Jewish survival I’m talking about is the one my family, on both sides, are examples of: survival against the odds, of small communities clinging on to their culture whilst fleeing away from much more powerful regimes. Israel is not an example of that.” Sorted, I thought.

But no. JWS had another well-researched comeback: “Yes, but you are a big fan of Dara Horn’s book People Love Dead Jews. And in that, she speaks of the fetishisation of the vulnerable Jew — of the dysfunctional tendency for people to revere Jews but only as long as they are weak and fleeing, never when powerful or strong… haven’t you fallen into that trap?”

I opened my mouth for the response. And realised the only true one was: yeah, maybe. Which is what I said. Because this was a really good point that I hadn’t considered before. I’m still thinking about it.

Checkmate! Why I conceded to JC editor in our Israel debate (Jewish Chronicle)

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