Recently we ran an article on anti-Zionism and anti-Semitism in New Zealand by our editor Miriam Bell. In part of that article, she referred to an opinion piece, entitled “We are anti-Zionist Jews, we are not antisemitic”, by Fred Albert and Marilyn Garson. Here is their response to that article…

We would like to reply to an article posted on the One Community Chronicle website on 15 March 2019. The article, by Miriam Bell, included a critique of our opinion piece, which was published in the NZ Herald on 13 February. We thank the One Community Chronicle for agreeing to a ‘right of reply.’

We emphasise that we have reached our position as a result of our Jewish heritage and learning. Our stance is not principally about the state of Israel. It is our interpretation of Tanakh. There is plenty in the Tanakh about the importance of justice and ethical behaviour.

The prophet Micah, for example, exhorted us: “It is told to you, man, what is good and what the Lord demands of you – only doing justice and loving kindness and walking humbly with your God.” (Robert Alter translation, Chapter 6:8).

Those words don’t apply to only Jews. No, we see beyond the tribal to the covenantal work of tikkun olam for all people on earth. We don’t think the moral and ethical imperatives of Judaism apply to everyone except Palestinians.

Ms Bell writes that we ask for the destruction of the State of Israel. We have not said that. Rather, we assert the public right to question the dispossession and disempowerment of over a million Palestinians, in order that we may imagine a just future. It is emphatically not anti-Semitic for Jews – or anyone else – to discuss history and seek justice within international norms and laws.

Miriam Bell says that we imply that our views are widely shared in the Jewish community. We have not said that. We said that a number of key modern Jewish thinkers challenged the choices that Zionists made – and they did. The history of Zionism, and the choices made at critical junctures, pointed Zionism in its current, strongly nationalist direction. It’s important to discuss the rise of nationalism in our world.

We have had communications from other Jews who agree – some more firmly than others – with what we said in our article; but didn’t want to say anything out loud. We don’t say that there are large numbers, but there is a growing minority out there,

Perhaps they are wary of being labelled anti-Semitic, if they speak. We feel it is time to hold these discussions openly. Let us agree or disagree in a respectful way, and still keep our sense of community. We don’t, thank goodness, all need to think the same way. Judaism has always been plural.

Lastly, we remind you why we wrote our opinion piece. Benjamin Netanyahu asked our government to limit the permissible conversation about Israel. Israel is a state, and its actions, policies and origins are matters of politics and history. Political challenge is not automatically anti-Semitic.

As active religious Jews, we don’t accept that label for our interpretation of Tanakh, and neither should others who speak out with good intentions.

– Fred Albert and Marilyn Garson

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In response, Miriam Bell says:

“At no point in my article did I write that Fred Albert & Marilyn Garson asked for the destruction of Israel.

“However, earlier in the article I wrote that most members of the NZ Jewish community – despite holding different views about various issues affecting Israel – believe that Israel should exist, that it is critical that it does and that demanding its destruction usually does qualify as antisemitism.

“In my 850 word article, I talked about Fred Albert & Marilyn Garson’s article in just four paragraphs and my focus was on their response to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s request to NZ’s Defense Minister, Ron Mark, that New Zealand include anti-Zionism in the definition of antisemitism that it subscribes to.

“But my article in fact concentrated on the response of the community to their opinion piece – which I thought was interesting. That’s because it highlighted to me that most people do not consider criticism of Israel or the Israeli government to be anti-Zionist or antisemitic. But they do consider denying the right of Israel to exist antisemitic – and anti-Zionism these days tends to be all about denial of that right.

“Finally, I want to emphasise that I do not consider criticism of Israel, the Israeli government and/or its policies antisemitic. Everyone has that right and should feel free to use it. And I said just that in my article.”