Wolf, Lamb and Ouroboros

By Israel Shamir





Often meeting Uri Avnery at Israeli demos and in Palestinian villages, I came to admire this active octogenarian and the perennial symbol of Israeli peace camp. But even more I love reading Uri Avnery for his skilful pen and for his glib ability to make palatable even the least acceptable ideas. Bertolt Brecht wrote: a perfect propaganda man could make cat lick mustard, at least by pushing mustard up under cat’s tail. Avnery’s last essay called The Bi-National State is a similar exercise: he wants us to love and accept the Jewish state, for (he claims) the fate of Palestinians would be worse without it.

Why it is better for Palestinians to be locked up in their small enclaves than to be equal citizens of the whole of Palestine? In a mental somersault, Avnery breaks a new ground in public discourse and proclaims: Jews can’t live with non-Jews. The Jew and the Goy are like wolf and lamb; if you want the Wolf dwell with the Lamb, please provide a fresh lamb every day. There was, I understand, a slight difference of opinion who of the twain is a wolf, (classic Zionists clamoured the lamb skin), but Avnery leaves us in no doubt: while sojourning together, the Goy will lose to the Jew. In his own words, “In a joint state, if it were to be set up, the Jews would dominate the economy and most other aspects of the state, and try very hard to preserve that situation

http://www.israelshamir.net/english/wolf.html

I don't know which idea is more obnoxious, that Jews
are all innocent victims of current and historical abuse,
or that they are all rapacious predators on the helpless
remainder of humanity. How about the idea that they are
pretty much like the rest of us? Neither better nor worse?
Or even better, that they are all individuals not to be
classified on the basis of their ethnic/religious background.
:puke:

There is an egregious assumption of cultural superiority
buried in this idea that is also both offensive and ludicrous.

I disagree with Mr. Avnery about the "necessity" for a two state
solution, there is in fact no necessity for anything, the universe
doesn't give a rip, it's up to us to make things work or not.

But since Mr. Avnery often seems to stray into the outrageous
for rhetorical effect, and Mr. Shamir likewise, I can't say I am
inclined to pay too much attention to any of this little spat.