Liberals

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, Israeli Justice Minister Tzipi Livni, and Palestinian Chief Negotiator Saeb Erekat address reporters on the Middle East Peace Process Talks at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C., on July 30, 2013. [State Department photo/ Public Domain]
Beware, J Street: The Kerry deal looks rigged against the Palestinians
Well-intentioned American Jewish liberals backing this latest U.S.-led peace process appear to be riding for a fall. What is J Street going to say if, after urging American Jews to support the Kerry peace mission, that mission wins the support of the right-wing Netanyahu government – but not that of the Palestinians, who view it…
By Larry Derfner February 17, 2014
Israeli Liberals IV: Ending the occupation entails redistribution
A genuine end to the occupation will entail a vast reorganization of space and a redistribution of resources and power. Israeli liberals have a lot to lose from such radical change. If anti-occupation activists wish to target a Jewish audience, they should look at disadvantaged Jewish groups, which have a lot less to lose and…
By Roi Maor March 20, 2011
Social workers protest in Tel Aviv. The occupation is a pressure valve and a distraction allowing elites to maintain their privileges (Photo Credit: Activestills/Flickr)
Israeli liberals III: Supporters of the occupation
Israeli liberals benefit from the occupation. Their support for withdrawal from the occupied Palestinian territories is a mirage In my previous posts, I argued that Israeli liberals are perceived by many commentators, of diverse viewpoints, as the most important target audience for those who wish to end the occupation. Then, by outlining my view of…
By Roi Maor March 17, 2011
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random ad in central Tel Aviv, with not a single Hebrew word or cultural reference, and shows that the true home of many city residents is abroad (Photo Credit: Roi Maor)
Israeli Liberals II: A detached elite looking outwards
Israeli Jewish liberals are focused on social and cultural identity, look away from Israel and towards the west, do not have alliances with economically disadvantaged groups, are sympathetic towards the military, and prefer to exercise influence through non-electoral channels. In my previous post, I argued that Israeli liberals are not the right audience for anti-occupation…
By Roi Maor March 17, 2011
Israeli liberals are not the right audience for anti-occupation activists
Bernard Avishai thinks that BDS (Boycott, Divestment and Sanction) is mostly ineffective, and so do I. But our reasoning is not only different – it actually relies on completely opposite premises about the role of liberal and cosmopolitan elites in Israeli society. This is the first in a series of posts about those elites. Bernard…
By Roi Maor March 16, 2011
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