Page 20 - Issue 14

contradictions, rather than let one issue dominate
my approach.

Too often I see those on the left of the British
Jewish community look at Israel in exasperation
and assume it’s so obvious: if Israelis are anti-
occupation or in favour of a two-state solution,
why not simply vote for the left-wing parties and
bring that about. The answer I would posit is that
once in the voting booth voters are more
concerned with who they think will keep them
safest on the bus tomorrow than with who might
create peace in 20 years.

A similar dynamic I would argue is in play here in
the UK. People on the left wonder how parents
can send their children to left-wing youth
movements but then also support what they see
as a right-wing establishment or organisations
such as StandWithUs or North West Friends of
Israel? How the community can express a desire
for a two-state solution one day, and yet refuse to
condemn the occupation the next? In my view the
answer is similar to the Israeli voter thinking about
their safety on the bus tomorrow: many in the
community are happy to oppose the occupation
or support more nuanced views of Israel in
private, but when faced with the harsh reality of
antisemitism on university campuses (let alone in
the Labour Party) they seek a more strident
defence of Israel at all costs. It is more