http://www.thestar.com/news/world/article/1096003--why-these-israeli-ads-are-offending-some-north-americans?bn=1 (http://www.thestar.com/news/world/article/1096003--why-these-israeli-ads-are-offending-some-north-americans?bn=1)
QuoteInformative videos made by the government don't typically become YouTube hits.
But a series sponsored by Israeli officials that appears to contrast Israeli Jews with their counterparts in North America raised eyebrows this week after being noted on the website of The Jewish Channel.
The ads, which have been viewed tens of thousands of times each on YouTube, are part of an official campaign by the Netanyahu government's Ministry of Immigrant Absorption to convince Israelis living abroad to come back home.
One ad in Hebrew features a Skype conversation during Chanukah between a child in America and her grandparents in Israel. When the elderly couple ask her what holiday it is, the girl answers, "Christmas!"
Another shows a young Jewish woman, "Dafna," reading sadly about Israel's memorial day for fallen soldiers online, while her boyfriend (clearly American, possibly Jewish as well) pays no attention.
"I don't think I have ever seen a demonstration of Israeli contempt for American Jews as obvious as these ads," Atlantic national correspondent Jeffrey Goldberg wrote this week. "These government-sponsored ads suggest that it is impossible for Jews to remain Jewish in America."
Sarah Barmak
Seige, your brethern are judging you :contract:
Not sure the Israeli government has thought out the consequences of losing the Jewish vote within American politics.
Be careful what you wish for. If all those voters move to Israel who is going to be left to vote for politicians friendly to the Israeli cause in the US.
Jews try to lay guilt trip. Stop the presses.
The government is so deep into their Faustian bargain with American evangelicals, they could care less what the blowback is. American Jews, being Jews, are a PITA to deal with - always asking questions, raising issues, providing unwated advice. The evangelicals are more numerous and less demanding (except that part about wanting Armageddon to engulf the entire state - but most are not in an immediate rush on that).
Interestingly enough, the ultra-Orthodox Jews living in Brooklyn think the same thing about Israeli Jews.
Quote from: crazy canuck on December 02, 2011, 12:11:42 PM
Not sure the Israeli government has thought out the consequences of losing the Jewish vote within American politics.
Be careful what you wish for. If all those voters move to Israel who is going to be left to vote for politicians friendly to the Israeli cause in the US.
You really think support for Israel here is driven by Jews? LOL
Quote from: The Minsky Moment on December 02, 2011, 12:20:59 PM
The government is so deep into their Faustian bargain with American evangelicals, they could care less what the blowback is. American Jews, being Jews, are a PITA to deal with - always asking questions, raising issues, providing unwated advice. The evangelicals are more numerous and less demanding (except that part about wanting Armageddon to engulf the entire state - but most are not in an immediate rush on that).
The current Israeli government is bonkers.
Quote from: Razgovory on December 02, 2011, 12:34:57 PM
The current Israeli government is bonkers.
All this time in the Middle East is rubbing off on them.
Quote from: Valmy on December 02, 2011, 12:31:16 PM
Quote from: crazy canuck on December 02, 2011, 12:11:42 PM
Not sure the Israeli government has thought out the consequences of losing the Jewish vote within American politics.
Be careful what you wish for. If all those voters move to Israel who is going to be left to vote for politicians friendly to the Israeli cause in the US.
You really think support for Israel here is driven by Jews? LOL
Maybe not all support - as JR said there are a lot of Christians in the US hoping for the end times and see Israel as the way to bring it on. But doesnt it stand to reason that the Jewish vote in some parts of the country is also important to at least some politicians?
Quote from: The Minsky Moment on December 02, 2011, 12:20:59 PM
The government is so deep into their Faustian bargain with American evangelicals, they could care less what the blowback is.
If they can care less they aren't totally far gone correct??
They have to counter the influx of Russian Jews somehow.
Quote from: crazy canuck on December 02, 2011, 12:47:39 PM
Maybe not all support - as JR said there are a lot of Christians in the US hoping for the end times and see Israel as the way to bring it on. But doesnt it stand to reason that the Jewish vote in some parts of the country is also important to at least some politicians?
In what part of the country is the Jewish vote really significant enough to be that big of a deal? They are less than 2% of the population and further their largest populations are in the most populous states. Besides they overwhelmingly vote Democrat and it is not like the Republicans are anti-Israel.
Quote from: crazy canuck on December 02, 2011, 12:47:39 PM
Maybe not all support - as JR said there are a lot of Christians in the US hoping for the end times and see Israel as the way to bring it on. But doesnt it stand to reason that the Jewish vote in some parts of the country is also important to at least some politicians?
Maybe in New York or in Florida, but an ideologically divided group of about 5 million in a country of 300 million is not exactly a block with unlimited power.
Quote from: DGuller on December 02, 2011, 01:02:07 PM
Maybe in New York or in Florida, but an ideologically divided group of about 5 million in a country of 300 million is not exactly a block with unlimited power.
Ideologically divided on Israel-related issues, though?
Quote from: Capetan Mihali on December 02, 2011, 01:11:46 PM
Ideologically divided on Israel-related issues, though?
Well to be fair hardly anybody who matters in American politics is ideologically divided on Israel-related issues.
Quote from: Valmy on December 02, 2011, 01:01:33 PM
Quote from: crazy canuck on December 02, 2011, 12:47:39 PM
Maybe not all support - as JR said there are a lot of Christians in the US hoping for the end times and see Israel as the way to bring it on. But doesnt it stand to reason that the Jewish vote in some parts of the country is also important to at least some politicians?
In what part of the country is the Jewish vote really significant enough to be that big of a deal? They are less than 2% of the population and further their largest populations are in the most populous states. Besides they overwhelmingly vote Democrat and it is not like the Republicans are anti-Israel.
Yeah, but it doesn't really hurt any politician to support Israel and there is little to gain for opposing it. Same thing with the Cuban exile community.
Quote from: Razgovory on December 02, 2011, 03:22:01 PM
Yeah, but it doesn't really hurt any politician to support Israel and there is little to gain for opposing it. Same thing with the Cuban exile community.
The Cuban exiles have the unique position of being important in a vital swing state. But my primary point here is that it is not the Jewish community that is the main movers in the pro-Israel thing. It is the Evangelical Christians...well and all those who just do not like Muslims and/or Arabs.
I personally think the Cuban exiles popped their wad with Elian Gonzalez. It's just a question of whichever Castro is still alive of presenting an opening.
The ad's been pulled, with some rather regretful press releases.
Quote from: Valmy on December 02, 2011, 03:24:01 PMwell and all those who just do not like Muslims and/or Arabs.
All Americans except Muslims and/or Arabs.
I'd bone Bar Refaeli.
No jews is good jews. :smoke:
Quote from: Josephus on December 02, 2011, 04:06:51 PM
Quote from: Valmy on December 02, 2011, 03:24:01 PMwell and all those who just do not like Muslims and/or Arabs.
All Americans except Muslims and/or Arabs.
They should stop being such acceptable targets of my murderosity.
Quote from: Valmy on December 02, 2011, 03:24:01 PM
Quote from: Razgovory on December 02, 2011, 03:22:01 PM
Yeah, but it doesn't really hurt any politician to support Israel and there is little to gain for opposing it. Same thing with the Cuban exile community.
The Cuban exiles have the unique position of being important in a vital swing state. But my primary point here is that it is not the Jewish community that is the main movers in the pro-Israel thing. It is the Evangelical Christians...well and all those who just do not like Muslims and/or Arabs.
The Evangelical Zionists is a new phenomenon. When Truman supported the Israelis it wasn't because of Evangelical Christians.
Quote from: Razgovory on December 02, 2011, 07:12:34 PM
The Evangelical Zionists is a new phenomenon.
That's just utterly and completely inaccurate.
Quote from: fahdiz on December 02, 2011, 07:14:58 PM
Quote from: Razgovory on December 02, 2011, 07:12:34 PM
The Evangelical Zionists is a new phenomenon.
That's just utterly and completely inaccurate.
Oh? I have alternative theory: Fahdiz doesn't know what he's talking about. I think it's a very robust theory with a bright future. What do you think?
:lol:
I am pretty sure you're pretty wrong, Raz. Though they've gotten a lot more attention in the past ten years or so.
Quote from: Razgovory on December 02, 2011, 07:17:35 PM
Oh? I have alternative theory: Fahdiz doesn't know what he's talking about. I think it's a very robust theory with bright future. What do you think.
I think you're upset that I called your shit out earlier and are trying to pick a fight. I think my concern in this particular case is with your data, not with you.
I also think Christian Zionism comes out of a restorationist movement in the 19th century, picked up serious steam during and after WWII (and thus Israel's establishment) and has remained a considerable political lobby in the US especially ever since.
But please. If you do know what you're talking about in contrast to me :rolleyes:, give the date of this "new" movement's beginning.
After the foundation of Israel. Yeah, there were a few people who discussed the idea of Jews returning to Israel in the 19th century, but it couldn't really be a movement. Most Evangelicals had little use for Jews prior to 1947 one way or another. Hell, half of them thought Jews were crypto-communists.
What shit did you call out earlier anyway? The term limit thingy? I stand by that. Actually, I wasn't picking a fight. I don't even feel like debating this. I made a statement, you called it false, and I responded in a way that I thought funny and indicative that I didn't really care about discussing it (though I sarcastically asked what you thought of my theory). Ide thought it funny as well, so at least I was partly successful.
I'm a neutral observer.
You laughed!
I'm a jovial fellow.
I don't feel like debating today. Just being mildly insulting. Just came back from the Chinese restaurant. I do love the taste of cat.
Quote from: Razgovory on December 02, 2011, 07:12:34 PM
The Evangelical Zionists is a new phenomenon. When Truman supported the Israelis it wasn't because of Evangelical Christians.
I thought the French were the main backers of the Israelis until the 1967 war.
Quote from: Valmy on December 02, 2011, 09:03:27 PM
Quote from: Razgovory on December 02, 2011, 07:12:34 PM
The Evangelical Zionists is a new phenomenon. When Truman supported the Israelis it wasn't because of Evangelical Christians.
I thought the French were the main backers of the Israelis until the 1967 war.
US was the first country to recognize Israel. They did so with in half an hour I think. When Truman was in the hat business his partner was a Jew, so he had come to like Jews as a whole. Imagine how different history had been had Truman went into the Turban business.
Quote from: Razgovory on December 02, 2011, 09:14:06 PM
US was the first country to recognize Israel. They did so with in half an hour I think. When Truman was in the hat business his partner was a Jew, so he had come to like Jews as a whole. Imagine how different history had been had Truman went into the Turban business.
Well that and he was a leftist and leftists tended to be pro-Israel back then. But really it was not like the Jews were just going to pack up and go home (after all...they had no home) if the US had not recognized them. The place would still be a disaster zone it would just be a disaster zone with slightly different details, so history probably would not be that different.
If they had forced the Jews back home we would have let them ride the Germans like horses. They could eat as many as they catch.
Quote from: Razgovory on December 02, 2011, 09:34:20 PM
If they had forced the Jews back home we would have let them ride the Germans like horses. They could eat as many as they catch.
Yeah because they were all from Germany.
Incidentally, I had my meds changed today. I'm wondering if by some of the reactions I'm getting if I'm a little different the usual.
Quote from: Valmy on December 02, 2011, 09:35:36 PM
Quote from: Razgovory on December 02, 2011, 09:34:20 PM
If they had forced the Jews back home we would have let them ride the Germans like horses. They could eat as many as they catch.
Yeah because they were all from Germany.
Well, we couldn't very well let them go to Poland.
Jewish votes are irrelevant. Jewish money is not.
Quote from: Valmy on December 02, 2011, 09:03:27 PMI thought the French were the main backers of the Israelis until the 1967 war.
French and the Soviets were very friendly to Israel until the late 50s early 60s. The USSR saw Nasser as too much of an opportunity to miss up and after Algeria the French felt they'd little to gain or in common with Israel. I think US support picks up at roughly the same point. LBJ again but also the US had lost Nasser so little need to balance the sides any more.
QuoteUS was the first country to recognize Israel.
You've said this before but it's not really true. US and USSR offered de facto recognition at around the same time, but the first country to legally recognise Israel was the USSR, followed by the rest of the Eastern Bloc. The US didn't legally recognise them until after their first elections. Israel's the only country I can think of that pulled off having such close relations with the two super-powers at the height of the early Cold War.
Quote from: Razgovory on December 02, 2011, 08:38:28 PM
I made a statement, you called it false, and I responded in a way that I thought funny and indicative that I didn't really care about discussing it
Then carefully, casually, take your statement and place it into your ass.
Nah.