(August 4, 2019 / JNS)
by Steve Frank
Nonprofit advocacy group J Street has recently been campaigning
against Birthright
Israel, an educational program that sponsors free 10-day heritage trips to
Israel for young Jewish adults. Over 600,000 young adults have participated in the
program since its founding in 1999.
against Birthright
Israel, an educational program that sponsors free 10-day heritage trips to
Israel for young Jewish adults. Over 600,000 young adults have participated in the
program since its founding in 1999.
J Street charges that Birthright trips lack Palestinians voices, fail to
incorporate the Palestinian narrative and neglect to visit Palestinian sites in the West
Bank. As an alternative to the traditional Birthright tour, J Street recently sponsored
a trip to Israel for 28 participants who visited Palestinian sites in the West Bank and
heard from spokesmen for the Palestinian cause.
incorporate the Palestinian narrative and neglect to visit Palestinian sites in the West
Bank. As an alternative to the traditional Birthright tour, J Street recently sponsored
a trip to Israel for 28 participants who visited Palestinian sites in the West Bank and
heard from spokesmen for the Palestinian cause.
According to The New York Times, “In the West Bank
settlement of Har Gilo,” the J Streeters “received a harsh history lesson from a veteran
opponent of the occupation. Then they toured an impoverished, water-starved Palestinian
village that Israeli settlers want to demolish, and visited the city of Hebron, where
repeated outbreaks of violence have turned an entire Palestinian business district into
a ghost town.”
settlement of Har Gilo,” the J Streeters “received a harsh history lesson from a veteran
opponent of the occupation. Then they toured an impoverished, water-starved Palestinian
village that Israeli settlers want to demolish, and visited the city of Hebron, where
repeated outbreaks of violence have turned an entire Palestinian business district into
a ghost town.”
The J Street trip and the Times article about
it were highly
criticized in a pointed piece
in Commentary magazine.
The Commentary review noted that there was not a word in
either the trip or the Times article “on the murderous
Palestinian anti-Semitic violence that necessitates Israel’s policing of such places [as
Hebron] to begin with,” “no mention of the kleptocratic Palestinian leadership that’s
consigned generations of Palestinians to certain ruin” and “no mention of the fact that
the Palestinians have, again and again—and again—refused to make peace with Israel when
it was offered.”
it were highly
criticized in a pointed piece
in Commentary magazine.
The Commentary review noted that there was not a word in
either the trip or the Times article “on the murderous
Palestinian anti-Semitic violence that necessitates Israel’s policing of such places [as
Hebron] to begin with,” “no mention of the kleptocratic Palestinian leadership that’s
consigned generations of Palestinians to certain ruin” and “no mention of the fact that
the Palestinians have, again and again—and again—refused to make peace with Israel when
it was offered.”
However, there was one particular failing of the J Street trip that has not
received the attention it deserves.
received the attention it deserves.
A favorite stop of anti-Israel activists escorting celebrities on tours of
Israeli “oppression” in the West Bank is the now-shuttered Shuhada Street in the Old
City of Hebron. Shuhada Street is a half-mile long road in Hebron which used to be the
thriving market center of the city, frequented by Palestinians and Israelis daily.
Today, it is a virtual ghost town, largely shut down by the Israeli military for
security reasons. A visit to Shuhada Street is designed to underscore alleged Israeli
apartheid and the cruelty of the Israeli occupation in the West Bank.
Israeli “oppression” in the West Bank is the now-shuttered Shuhada Street in the Old
City of Hebron. Shuhada Street is a half-mile long road in Hebron which used to be the
thriving market center of the city, frequented by Palestinians and Israelis daily.
Today, it is a virtual ghost town, largely shut down by the Israeli military for
security reasons. A visit to Shuhada Street is designed to underscore alleged Israeli
apartheid and the cruelty of the Israeli occupation in the West Bank.
However, as discussed at
length here, the tale of Shuhada Street is a myth. Shuhada Street was a
highlight of J Street’s alternative tour and the group fell for the myth, hook line and
sinker. To date, no one has pointed out that the J Streeters were duped on their visit
to Hebron.
length here, the tale of Shuhada Street is a myth. Shuhada Street was a
highlight of J Street’s alternative tour and the group fell for the myth, hook line and
sinker. To date, no one has pointed out that the J Streeters were duped on their visit
to Hebron.
The Times‘ fawning article on the J Street tour
featured a picture of Shuhada Street with the following caption: “The students toured
what were once Hebron’s main market streets, now a graveyard of abandoned storefronts
and apartments.”
featured a picture of Shuhada Street with the following caption: “The students toured
what were once Hebron’s main market streets, now a graveyard of abandoned storefronts
and apartments.”
The effect of the visit on the student participants was dramatic. As
the Times reports, two participants said they were
“reconsidering” their belief in a Jewish state. One stated that he “came in here a very
ardent Zionist,” but that he was “starting to doubt … whether Zionism is even worth
pursuing anymore.” Another participant described walking
“in stunned silence through the post-apocalyptic streets of Hebron, where severe
restrictions on movement have shuttered most Palestinian storefronts.”
the Times reports, two participants said they were
“reconsidering” their belief in a Jewish state. One stated that he “came in here a very
ardent Zionist,” but that he was “starting to doubt … whether Zionism is even worth
pursuing anymore.” Another participant described walking
“in stunned silence through the post-apocalyptic streets of Hebron, where severe
restrictions on movement have shuttered most Palestinian storefronts.”
These reactions were similar to those of others who have been escorted
through Shuhada Street by pro-Palestinian activists. Pulitzer prize-winning American
Jewish author Michael Chabon on a tour of Shuhada Street called it “the most grievous
injustice I have ever seen in my life.” Hollywood actor Richard Gere likened the
situation in Hebron to segregation in the Jim Crow-era American South. Jeremy Ben Ami,
the head of J Street, has said of Shuhada Street: “It is impossible to be a Jew and not
feel shame at the way Palestinians are treated in the center of
Hebron.”
through Shuhada Street by pro-Palestinian activists. Pulitzer prize-winning American
Jewish author Michael Chabon on a tour of Shuhada Street called it “the most grievous
injustice I have ever seen in my life.” Hollywood actor Richard Gere likened the
situation in Hebron to segregation in the Jim Crow-era American South. Jeremy Ben Ami,
the head of J Street, has said of Shuhada Street: “It is impossible to be a Jew and not
feel shame at the way Palestinians are treated in the center of
Hebron.”
However, what is generally missing from such pro-Palestinian activist tours
(the J Street tour was no exception) are the following salient facts:
(the J Street tour was no exception) are the following salient facts:
• The Jewish connection with Hebron is deep and dates back almost 4,000 years
to when Abraham, the father of Judaism, came to the Land of Israel and settled in the
city. Abraham purchased a plot of land, known as the Cave of the Patriarchs, as a burial
plot. The site is the final resting place of Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebecca, Jacob
and Leah, the Patriarchs and Matriarchs of the Jewish religion. As a result, Hebron is
considered to be the second holiest city for Jews after Jerusalem.
to when Abraham, the father of Judaism, came to the Land of Israel and settled in the
city. Abraham purchased a plot of land, known as the Cave of the Patriarchs, as a burial
plot. The site is the final resting place of Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebecca, Jacob
and Leah, the Patriarchs and Matriarchs of the Jewish religion. As a result, Hebron is
considered to be the second holiest city for Jews after Jerusalem.
• Present-day Hebron is divided into two parts. The Palestinian Authority
controls 97 percent of the city, and forbids Jews to enter. The Israelis control three
percent of the city, including the site of the Cave of the Patriarchs, which is open to
people of all faiths, as Muslims and Christians also claim descent from
Abraham.
controls 97 percent of the city, and forbids Jews to enter. The Israelis control three
percent of the city, including the site of the Cave of the Patriarchs, which is open to
people of all faiths, as Muslims and Christians also claim descent from
Abraham.
• Unlike other Palestinians cities in the West Bank (Ramallah, Nablus,
Jericho), where Jews are prohibited by law from living or even visiting, 85 Jewish
families reside near the Cave of the Patriarchs in Hebron. Jews have suffered violence,
including massacres, by Arabs in Hebron since the 1920s. Suicide bombings and shootings
caused the Israeli authorities to largely shut down Shuhada Street as a security
measure, resulting in its present abandoned condition.
Jericho), where Jews are prohibited by law from living or even visiting, 85 Jewish
families reside near the Cave of the Patriarchs in Hebron. Jews have suffered violence,
including massacres, by Arabs in Hebron since the 1920s. Suicide bombings and shootings
caused the Israeli authorities to largely shut down Shuhada Street as a security
measure, resulting in its present abandoned condition.
• In place of the now shuttered fruit and vegetable stalls on Shuhada Street,
a new, thriving
Arab commercial district exists less than a mile away, surrounded by
almost 200,000 Palestinians (and no Jews, who are forbidden to enter this
Palestinian-controlled area). The new commercial district includes an ultra-modern,
nine-story indoor
mall, Kentucky Fried Chicken franchise and all the accoutrements of
a modern, sophisticated commercial area.
a new, thriving
Arab commercial district exists less than a mile away, surrounded by
almost 200,000 Palestinians (and no Jews, who are forbidden to enter this
Palestinian-controlled area). The new commercial district includes an ultra-modern,
nine-story indoor
mall, Kentucky Fried Chicken franchise and all the accoutrements of
a modern, sophisticated commercial area.
Very few outsiders can or do visit this part of modern Hebron. The J Street
tour was no exception. In lamenting the demise of the old market on Shuhada Street, none
of the J Street tourists seemed at all aware of the prosperous new commercial market
nearby.
tour was no exception. In lamenting the demise of the old market on Shuhada Street, none
of the J Street tourists seemed at all aware of the prosperous new commercial market
nearby.
• The J Streeters were unaware that “Shuhada Street […] is not the main
thoroughfare of Hebron as claimed. It is a comparatively small road in the Old City.
Hebron is a large, thriving city, with massive factories, businesses and shopping malls.
Hebron is the most prosperous city and main center of economy for the P.A., with more
than 40% of the P.A. economy produced there. There are 17,000 factories and workshops in
all areas of production. There are four hospitals, three universities and an indoor
4,000-seat stadium.”
thoroughfare of Hebron as claimed. It is a comparatively small road in the Old City.
Hebron is a large, thriving city, with massive factories, businesses and shopping malls.
Hebron is the most prosperous city and main center of economy for the P.A., with more
than 40% of the P.A. economy produced there. There are 17,000 factories and workshops in
all areas of production. There are four hospitals, three universities and an indoor
4,000-seat stadium.”
The myth of Shuhada Street, which the J Street alternative tour completely
bought into, is a metaphor for the larger Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Like the rest of
the Palestinian narrative, the myth of Shuhada Street as a symbol of supposed Israel
apartheid and oppression (just down the street from a modern mall where Jews are
prohibited) is grounded in misrepresentations, omissions and facts taken out of context.
It lies at the heart of the Palestinian propaganda machine. This myth must be
exposed.
bought into, is a metaphor for the larger Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Like the rest of
the Palestinian narrative, the myth of Shuhada Street as a symbol of supposed Israel
apartheid and oppression (just down the street from a modern mall where Jews are
prohibited) is grounded in misrepresentations, omissions and facts taken out of context.
It lies at the heart of the Palestinian propaganda machine. This myth must be
exposed.
At the end of the day, the J Street tour is not an alternative tour. It is an
alternative reality, based on alternative facts. This too must be
exposed.
alternative reality, based on alternative facts. This too must be
exposed.
Steve Frank is an attorney, retired after a 30-year career as an
appellate lawyer with the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington, D.C. His writings on
Israel, the law and architecture have appeared in publications including The Washington
Post, The Chicago Tribune, The Jerusalem Post, The Times of Israel and Moment magazine.
This article originally appeared in JNS here.
appellate lawyer with the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington, D.C. His writings on
Israel, the law and architecture have appeared in publications including The Washington
Post, The Chicago Tribune, The Jerusalem Post, The Times of Israel and Moment magazine.
This article originally appeared in JNS here.
NOTES:
* The
Magical Misery Tour – When nuance is black and white –
Commentary
Magical Misery Tour – When nuance is black and white –
Commentary
