In his thought-provoking opinion column on August 1, titled “I don’t recognize the intolerant, illiberal country Israel is becoming,” Max Boot expresses his concerns about Israel’s current government, which he perceives as being dominated by religious and nationalist voices. While this viewpoint is understandable, it is unfortunate that he allows a single moment in time to shape his overall perspective on a country he once wholeheartedly loved.
It is important to remember that like any vibrant and dynamic democracy, Israel has experienced shifts and changes in its political landscape over the years. The current coalition government is just one chapter in the ongoing political story of the nation.
Israel’s underlying purpose remains focused on providing a homeland for Jews, allowing them to live as a majority population in one country, maintaining the age-old connection between the land and the Jewish people, and enabling them to control their own destiny, including immigration policies.
This last point should resonate particularly with Mr. Boot. His family, like many others, was able to leave the Soviet Union in the 1970s because they declared their intention to live in Israel. Without this declaration, their emigration might have been hindered. The same Israel that facilitated their departure, even though Mr. Boot’s family ultimately relocated to the United States, continues to serve as a sanctuary for Jews escaping oppressive regimes in the Russian Federation, conflicts in Ukraine, and rising anti-Semitism in Europe and elsewhere. Moreover, Israel has established itself as the most progressive nation in the Middle East and a staunch ally of the United States.
The reestablishment of a Jewish state in 1948, after nearly two millennia of forced exile, was an extraordinary and historic event. And seventy-five years later, it remains an extraordinary testament to the resilience and determination of the Jewish people.
It is worth noting that the writer of this piece served as the Chief Executive of the American Jewish Committee from 1990 to 2022, providing valuable insight and expertise on these matters.
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