“By punishing an Israeli soldier for finishing off a wounded terrorist, you’re trying to please the wrong gentiles.”
“What are you talking about? We’re living up to Jewish values. Don’t tell us how to be Jewish.”
“No. You’re trying to please the wrong gentiles.”
This imaginary exchange articulates an unstated tension between Jews, both in Israel and in the Diaspora, and Israel’s gentile supporters in the United States. What drives these Americans? Their motives are not well understood. Now that a military court in Tel Aviv has convicted Sgt. Elor Azaria of manslaughter for killing a “neutralized” terrorist who stabbed his comrade, it’s a good time to shed light on this variance.
The hazards of misjudging one’s enemies are obvious, but misunderstanding one’s friends brings dangers both shrouded and delayed.
I take it upon myself to speak for many Americans who support Israel, even though this demographic is not monolithic and no one has appointed me its representative. Nevertheless, reasonably accurate generalizations are possible. My observations are informed by my background as a cultural anthropologist, a student of history, a journalist and a veteran who has been both trial counsel (prosecutor) and defense counsel at courts martial.
Bottom line up front: We are not Europeans, and we don’t care about your “purity of arms.” Our eyes glaze over when you talk about the IDF being the most “moral” and “humane” army in the world. We are people with the Bible in our bones, and our emotional connection with Israel emanates from our perception of modern Zionists as reawakened Bronze Age warriors.
by Louis Marano
