From: makowsky@enuxha.eas.asu.edu (David Makowsky)
Subject: Re: Israel and the diaspora
Reply-To: makowsky@enuxha.eas.asu.edu (David Makowsky)
Organization: Arizona State University, Tempe AZ
Date: Sat, 7 Nov 1992 23:42:00 GMT

In article <92312.0400382893684@QUCDN.QueensU.CA> andy <2893684@QUCDN.QueensU.CA> writes:

# In article <4428@bimacs.BITNET>, rothberg@bimacs.BITNET (Danny Rothenberg) says:

# >I think the above argument has another perspective to it which both of
# >you do not have

# >Unlike both of you I live in Israel, and whether you agree or disagree
# >with the policy of the government of Israel you will not necessarily
# >be affected by its consequences.  (Before you flame me, I do realise
# >that anti-Semites everywhere need only the flimsiest excuse for their
# >deplorable activities.)
 
# Ah yes, the famous "wish you were here" argument. Unfortunately, Israel's
# actions often effect us in the diaspora.

	I will not argue here whether or not you are an anti semite.  I
will however state that you are an anti semite's delight when you give
comments like that.

# For example until a few years ago
# about 90% of Russian Jewish emigres emigrated to nations other than Israel.

	This is misleading s until a few years ago, there were
practically no Russian Jewish emigres.  There were plenty twenty years ago.
Guess why it stoped?  One reason why it stoped is  because the Soviet
government was getting upet that they were being diverted from going
to Israel by various emigree groups.  One of the things they told the
Soviets when they left, which was the condition they were being allowed
to leave Russia, was that they were going to Israel.

# Israel, feeling that the inherent right of these people to travel should only
# be extended as far as Israel tried to make it impossible for them to go
# elsewhere by arranging direct flights to Jerusalem and getting the U.S. to
# impose quotas on the number of Russian Jews entering the country.

	The US was (and still is) imposing quotas on ALL immigrants into
the US, and one of the criterion is whether or not the individual is
considered an economic or political refugee.  If Israel is offering
them a refuge, the US is not going to let them in as a political
refugee when they can let in someone else who is.

# As a result,
# the number of Jews leaving Russia has dropped which puts them in great peril
# should the anti-semites come to power. I remember seeing on the CBC a few years
# ago reports of refugee camps in Italy full of Russian Jews who did not want to
# go to Israel but would not be accepted by the US because of the quota.

	You have no idea what you are talking about.  There are Soviet
emigree organizations in Italy practically begging these people to
come to the US.  They have been spotted with signs saying "The Jewish
G-d is in the US".  These things are all documented, and it is this
which caused the slow down of emigration.

	One thing Israel did, however, that helped the slow down was in
not providing the new immigrants with economic oppourtunities.
However, those who refuse Israel's haven due to economic reasons and
choose to stay in Rssia, especially when they can go to Israel and
than apply for immigration to the US hardly qualify as political
refugees.

# Also, Israel's human rights atrocities does nothing to help fight anti-Semitism
# in the diaspora.

	Like I said above.  You are an antisemites delight.

# If Israel should ever tilt to the far right represented by
# Sharon or Kach, I believe Diaspora Jews would be the target of anti-Semitism
# not seen for decades.

	Ditto.
--
"For all I care, you can send your money to the Hitler memorial fund, too, if
that pleases you."

From  arens@vaxa.isi.edu (Yigal Arens) in article <9323@venera.isi.edu>
Newsgroups: soc.culture.jewish