How Both the Right and the Left Get Israel Wrong

Image by Nikki Casey
My comments are directed to Jane Eisner’s opinion piece of January 7, Chemi Shalev’s article, on which Eisner based her comments, is biased, exaggerated and plays loose with the facts. Unfortunately, the opinion piece repeats some of Shalev’s errors. While there are worrisome trends in Israel, in terms of incitement against the Left, or those who disagree with the Netanyahu government’s policies, what Eisner and Shalev portray is overblown.
Let’s start first with the controversy about the novel. The book was not banned; the book was taken off the required list for the bagrut (Israeli matriculation high school exams). Teachers in Israeli high schools are free to assign it. In fact, after the controversy broke, the author gave some readings from her novel in Israeli high schools. That hardly qualifies as banning the novel from schools.
The legislation to regulate NGOs does not constitute suppression of free speech. The proposed bill would only require NGOs which receive more than 50% of their funding from foreign governments to register that fact and be transparent about where their money comes from. There are similar requirements in the United States for lobbyists. It would also be a good idea for NGOs to report their donations from private foreign funders, as well, as has been proposed by Tzipi Livni.
As for withholding government funds, although several threats have been made, the only actual instance I’m aware of is the government’s decision not to fund a play being put on in Haifa, which gave heroic treatment to an Arab terrorist who killed an Israeli soldier. The play was staged without government funding. Can you imagine the U.S. government funding a play that was sympathetic to the killer in Fort Hood or the San Bernardino killers?
What should concern the Forward is the intolerance and overheated rhetoric of both the Left and the Right in Israel. For example, two Hebrew University professors recently called the Justice Minister, Ayelet Shaked, a Nazi and filthy scum. Several years ago, when the authors of Torat Ha-Melech, an extreme right-wing book which halakhically justifies harsh treatment of Gentile civilians during war, were called in for questioning by the government for incitement, no one from the Left protested this infringement of freedom of speech.
The real danger is that the voices of moderation are being lost in Israel as Israel becomes increasingly polarized. To really understand the complexity of Israel, you have to base your opinions on a wide reading of the Israeli Hebrew press and a viewing of Israeli media.
Rabbi Alan Iser
Wynnewood, PA
The Forward is free to read, but it isn’t free to produce

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward.
Now more than ever, American Jews need independent news they can trust, with reporting driven by truth, not ideology. We serve you, not any ideological agenda.
At a time when other newsrooms are closing or cutting back, the Forward has removed its paywall and invested additional resources to report on the ground from Israel and around the U.S. on the impact of the war, rising antisemitism and polarized discourse.
This is a great time to support independent Jewish journalism you rely on. Make a gift today!
— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO
Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.
Most Popular
- 1
Opinion The dangerous Nazi legend behind Trump’s ruthless grab for power
- 2
Opinion I first met Netanyahu in 1988. Here’s how he became the most destructive leader in Israel’s history.
- 3
Culture Did this Jewish literary titan have the right idea about Harry Potter and J.K. Rowling after all?
- 4
Opinion Yes, the attack on Gov. Shapiro was antisemitic. Here’s what the left should learn from it
In Case You Missed It
-
Opinion Itamar Ben-Gvir’s visit to a Jewish society at Yale exposed deep rifts between US Jews
-
Fast Forward On his first trip to Auschwitz, New Jersey governor urges vigilance against rising antisemitism
-
Fast Forward Survivors of the Holocaust and Oct. 7 embrace at Auschwitz, marking annual March of the Living
-
Fast Forward Could changes at the FDA call the kosher status of milk into question? Many are asking.
-
Shop the Forward Store
100% of profits support our journalism
Republish This Story
Please read before republishing
We’re happy to make this story available to republish for free, unless it originated with JTA, Haaretz or another publication (as indicated on the article) and as long as you follow our guidelines.
You must comply with the following:
- Credit the Forward
- Retain our pixel
- Preserve our canonical link in Google search
- Add a noindex tag in Google search
See our full guidelines for more information, and this guide for detail about canonical URLs.
To republish, copy the HTML by clicking on the yellow button to the right; it includes our tracking pixel, all paragraph styles and hyperlinks, the author byline and credit to the Forward. It does not include images; to avoid copyright violations, you must add them manually, following our guidelines. Please email us at [email protected], subject line “republish,” with any questions or to let us know what stories you’re picking up.