Page 96 - Kol Bogrei Habonim - Winter 20
P. 96
GOODBYE TO NOSTALGIA Corona, against the economic crisis, and
against Bibi. A few days ago, Bibi asked to
A LETTER TO THE EDITOR accept ten million from a friend for his
judicial defense. At the same time a Likud
ALAN ROSENTHAL follower wanted to bring in a bill questioning
the integrity and political background of the
judges. A half a mile from me, police tear
down protesters’ signs in Balfour Street.
Police brutalise idle spectators
In other words, the country we all dreamt
about, and had hopes for, has turned into
something of a nightmare. This is something
A we haven't been taking major action it is
we have all been aware of for years. Even if
few years ago, at a Habonim
reunion I showed one of my films
something we should have been discussing
about an Australian Jewish convict.
The audience received it warmly, and then a again and again in our 'Kol Bogrei' magazine.
middle-aged woman from London, on a visit, But no. What do we get instead? Article after
gave a talk about the glories of Zionism. article rhapsodising about life on the David
After she extolled all the wonders of Israel, Eder Farm, life on the kibbutz in Horsham,
and called for young people to come, came the early days of Kfar Hanassi, etc. And do
the time for questions. you remember when Moggie did this, or Eric
did that.
In my naiveté I asked a simple question. Why
should people come given the state of Israel Now don’t get me
today? Yes, Israel had done some fantastic wrong. These are
things over the years, but we could not ignore subjects well worth
the poverty in Israel, the hate against Arabs, remembering and
the actions of the hilltop youth, and the telling our children
increasing right-wing chauvinism. The about. And I accept that
reaction to my statement was to evoke a lynch our magazine is also a
mood, which I'll never forget. magazine of record, but
enough is enough. Give
"You don't know Israel," said one person. me a break. Let's get
"You obviously hate Israel. Go back to relevant. Let's start facing up and dealing, just
England." I didn't tell her that I'd been in a little bit at least, with Israel today in our
Israel forty plus years and had made films magazine.
about almost every aspect of the country.
If we are true Zionists, we can't be
Now why do I mention all this? Because as I complacent. We have to wake up. We have to
write, demonstrations surge in Tel-Aviv, act. At this stage I would remind you of
against the problematic handling of the
Howard Beale's unforgettable lines from the
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