May 29, 2009

100 Years Ago In the Forward

Israel Zangwill, leader of the Jewish Territorialist Organization, has come up with a new homeland for the Jews. After the failure of Uganda a number of years ago, Zangwill has now decided that Mesopotamia will serve as a successful homeland for the Jewish people. The Forward editorializes that this brings to the fore the entire question of Territorialism and Zionism, as well. Both are a nice fantasy. Who would be opposed to the Jews having their own land? Who would be opposed to the Jews having a little corner where they could be free of antisemitism? In dreams, one can see good things. But how does one transform this dream into reality?

75 Years Ago In the Forward

Reports from Bucharest, Romania, indicate that King Karol has decided to capitulate to the demands of the fascists in his country’s government and allow the government to be run by a military-dictatorship similar to that of Bucharest’s neighbor, Bulgaria. Details of the deal with Alexandru Averescu, leader of the Romanian fascists and current prime minister, include the fact that Averescu is to become the leader of the entire country and that Karol was forced to break up with his Jewish girlfriend, Magda Lupescu, who, it is said, has been quietly shuttled out of the country. In the wake of these events, Romania’s Jewish leaders, who have long appreciated the king’s liberal sentiments toward the Jewish community, met with Averescu in order to ensure the community’s safety.

50 Years Ago In the Forward

Ironically, Abba Eban, former Israeli ambassador to the United States, wasn’t even an Israeli citizen during his tenure as ambassador. Eban, who is a South African-born British citizen, moved to Israel and became active in its government without ever completing the appropriate steps to become a citizen. Because he is now running for a seat in the Knesset, he has been required to obtain his official citizenship, which he has via an exceptionally quick Interior Ministry missive. Unfortunately, however, Eban will not be able to vote for himself, or anyone else, since in order to do so, he would have had to have been a citizen for a year prior to the election.

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