These Islamists need to consider that the Israeli state, although having deep-ceded problems, is a vibrant democracy with an open society struggling to reconcile a Jewish identity with a democratic one. Most Arab countries are not open societies, and citizens (especially women) are subjected to the harshness and brutality of sharia law. All arab citizens of the state have constitutionally-protected rights, such as the right to vote, freedom of religion, and freedom of expression. Many Israeli Arabs have enjoyed high positions in the public service.
Despite these commendable points, It is also no secret that Israeli Arab citizens have had to deal with widespread racism and religious-based discrimination. It is also no secret that the IDF runs an illegal and repressive military occupation in the West Bank, and maintains an uncompromising forcefield around the Gaza Strip. Arab residents of the West Bank and Gaza Strip do not have the same rights as Israeli citizens, and have to deal with a day-to-day life of constant and perpetual harassment. It is no secret that many members of religious militia are not members because they are fiercely ideological, but are members because they wish to defend their country from illegal occupation.
However, these Islamist pressure groups and terrorist networks have religious motivations. They wish to cleanse the "dar-ul-islam" (land of Islam, loosely Arabia) of a state with a majority kaffir (non-muslim) presence, and wish to recruit Palestinians frustrated with occupation to their cause. While Israel humiliates Palestinians in their day-to-day occupation, the Islamic world uses them as pawns in their politically-motivated jihad against the West.
Most pro-Israel activists are American and European jews who have, at best, visited the state on occasion, but hold strong, deep-ceded views that they believe represent the best interests of the state. Such individuals need to keep in mind, just as the majority of Islamist activists do, that Israel is a politically diverse country, with individuals holding all sorts of viewpoints, from those who believe that all arab citizens of Israel should be expelled from Jewish territory, to those who believe that the state should not even exist. Individuals holding the latter view are not only citizens from the Arab Israeli community, but also born-and-bred Jewish Israelis, such as the famed academics Ilan Pappe and Norman Finkelstein. And also, just as pro-zionist Jews exist, so do anti-zionist jews who do not believe the state of Israel should exist. If Israelis and Jews disagree so widely on the fate of the Israeli state, how can pro-Israel activists claim to represent its best interests?
Consider an example. It is a common belief among those in the pro-Israel camp that the best interests of Israel represent the best interests of the United States. John Mearsheimer, a well-known American political scientist, makes the argument that Israel is actually becoming a strategic liability to the US, outliving its cold war usefulness and is receiving more financial aid than any third-world country. He argues that America's support for the country is due primarily to the strength of the Israel Lobby. His opponents decry him and his co-author Walt as "anti-semitic" (Mearsheimer is Jewish). Bernard Avishai, who argues that global enterprise and secular democracy is the formula that will bring peace to the Israeli state, has been publicly accused of "liberal theology". As can be seen, no single one of these intellectuals and activists can be said to represent a consensus opinion.
Another important thing to keep in mind is that the "Islamic World" is a very complicated entity. I use the term in reference not only to countries in which Islam is the majority faith, but to the global body of muslims, including all the various different sects of the religion. There exists a wide variety of theological views and opinions in the Islamic world, and it is a grave mistake to regard the collective body of muslims as a monolith. Even viewing the shia-sunni dichotomy as the only division in Islam is an extremely incorrect statement to make. There exists many sub-groups of muslims such as the Ismailis, Bohoras, Seveners, the "reformists" such as Irshad Manji and their "moderate" opponents, the militant jihadis of Al Qaeda, the forward-thinking Spanish Muslims who issued a ruling against Osama Bin Laden, the friendly, simple villagers and nomads of Arabian and North African deserts, and the Iranian youth movement rebelling against an anti-democratic mullahcracy. Some of these individuals aren't even regard members of other muslim sects as being true muslims.
Bearing all this in mind, it should be remembered that when you are speaking to a muslim, it is incorrect to automatically believe that he is opposed to Israel or the West, and that he holds expansionist views. His/her views might be even more reformist and secularist than you, or they might be so ridiculously extreme that even Osama would shudder at the thoughts.
It is true that more muslims than not have to recognize that Israel is much more complicated than a dirty word, and pro-Israel activists need to recognize that they may very well be helping to dig the grave of the country they have dedicated their lives to defending.
Associated Links:
John Mearsheimer & Stephen Walt, "The Israel Lobby and U.S. Foreign Policy"
Ilan Pappe, from Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia
Norman Finkelstein Official Site
Not In Our Name - Jews Opposed To Zionism
Arabs for Israel
Arab Citizens of Israel, From Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia
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