I think that the distinction needs to be made between someone who is Jewish by Faith, someone who who is Jewish by Race, someone who is Jewish by
Culture, and someone who is an Israeli Nationalist, because they are all independent things.
There are 13,155,000 Jews by Faith worldwide. There are only 5,400,000 Jews by Faith who live in Israel. That isn't even half! There are about as
many Secular Jews (Jewish by Culture) in the world as there are Jews by Faith in Israel!
In Israel alone, while 43% of the Jewish population described itself as non-religious, only 5% of the Jewish population described itself as
anti-religious. A majority described themselves as traditional or more (35% traditional, 12% religious, 5% haredi).
Israel is a Secular Nation, although it has a tendency towards Political, and yes, Racial Sectarianism, it is definitely not a Theocracy. Israel is
certainly not a Jewish Nation, although it's government sometimes tries really hard to be, but at great cost to their reputation both amongst the
Israeli people, as well as their reputation amongst the rest of the world.
Even in regards to Judaism as a Religion it is as varied as Christianity. There are Hasidim who are Followers of the teaching of Israel Ben Eliezer,
Haredim who are Ultra-Orthodox, Conservative, Reconstructionist, Progressive, Reformed, Liberal, Karaite, and even Secular Humanistic Jews.
Although 1 in 50 people in the Western World are Jewish in some form, and yes...you are going to find them in all walks of life from Banking, Finance,
Law, Medicine, Science, Social sciences, Psychology, Academia, Industry, Entertainment, Media, and so forth, I don't subscribe to the Zionist
fear-mongering ideas of a World-Wide Jewish Conspiracy that have persisted since the Russian Orthodox Church fabricated the Protocols of the Learned
Elders of Zion to discredit Rasputin to the Tsarina and the people of Russia. If there were a World-Wide Race or Culture that did secretly control the
majority of the world (at least since the 16th century), it would be the Dutch, not the Jews!
But what is there not to like about Windmills and
Wooden Clogs, so you can't really hate the Dutch for being the Secret Overlords!
The Nation of Israel has some serious issues, and you'll find that the biggest and most outspoken of opponents of many of their policies are
Jewish.
I certainly don't like the fact that Israel is allowed to stockpile the largest Nuclear Weapons Arsenal in the world (larger than the U.S., Russia,
and China's combined!) without scrutiny or abiding by International Treaty. I don't like the fact that Israel is provided exceptions universally by
other nations, such as no other nation is allowed to have their satellites view Israel. I certainly don't like the fact that those in the Israeli
Parliament won't even allow talks about allowing their government be comprised of a number of Palestinians proportional to the population. I
certainly am appalled at the manner in which the Israeli government treats Palestinians and hasn't honored the Israel-Egypt Treaty which gave
autonomy to Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Most of all, I do not like that the United States would treat the government of Israel with
the kind of exception that we do not show even towards China, Russia, or other nations which are now our "Allies", especially considering the gross
Human Rights Violations that the nation of Israel commits.
I have a lot of issues with the Israeli government personally, but I don't have any issues with Jews of Faith, Race or Culture...nor do I condemn
Jewish Nationals for what their government does. That is there issue to resolve just as here in the United States we have a corrupt and failing
government that our citizens have to find a way to resolve.
Jews of Faith, regardless of what type of Judaism they follow, don't proselytize their religion, so they don't bother me when they practice their
spiritual beliefs in their own way. Those of Jewish Race don't bother me as it really doesn't bother me if their mitochondrial DNA belong to the
same haplogroups as their host (non-Jewish) European communities, with only small deviations in frequency. Heck, even Jewish Culture is fine, even if
it is not my cup of tea, so long as I'm not forced to eat Gefilte and Galleh, or grow Payot, and wear a Yarmulka or a Shtreimel, and learn Yiddish.
And even though I've butted heads with many a Revvi for being a Goy researching and studying certain Jewish manuscripts for being in violation of
Talmudic Law, as I neither had children nor was of the appropriate age, even if being a Goy was not enough of a reason to deny me, I'm still okay
with that.
However, politics in Israel...well then I'm right there with you on taking issue! Just as two Jews and an Arab in Israel will all be friends and
laugh and break bread together as brothers on the subjects of Religion and Culture, the moment you bring up the topic of Politics in Israel, you are
going to have three different opinions from three people who are vehemently hostile towards one each others viewpoint...which is why Peace in the
Middle-East is not very likely any time soon.
And that's precisely the point...Judaism, whether you are talking about a Religion, Race, Culture or Political entity, is far too fragmented to ever
come to an agreement on anything. The more Orthodox a Jew is, the more they love their debate...whether it be over Torah, or Talmud, or Secular Issues
and Politics. If you can't find three Jews to agree on something pertaining to Judaism without fiercely debating it, then how could they mastermind a
World-Wide Conspiracy? Really!
Politics in Israel are indeed messed up something awful and there is plenty to leave a foul taste in just about anyone's mouth, Israeli, Jew,
Palestinian, and American alike. However, do not mistake bad Politics and horrific practices of government for being representative of the Jewish
people.
It almost makes me wonder what foreigners on ATS think about Americans from the things our government does that are posted here as news on ATS alone!
*SHUDDER*