Upon examining William Gartland’s letter “U.S. government an Israeli-Policy Beacon,” the anti-Semitism inherent in “Protocols of the Elders of Zion” immediately comes to mind. The “Protocols of the Elders of Zion” was a pamphlet written in Russia claiming that Jews were plotting to take over the world. While this document was dismissed as a fraud in some places in the world, for years it has been widely circulated throughout Arab countries, and in some of them it is the best-selling document behind the Koran.
Gartland’s first error is to associate the creation of the State of Israel solely with the United States. When the United Nations was debating the Partition Plan, President Truman explicitly stated that the United States would not “use threats or improper pressure of any kind on other delegations” (Foreign Relations of the United States 1947, 1173). Truman did support the creation of Israel, believing in the fulfillment of the Balfour Declaration of 1917, which promised the creation of a Jewish homeland.
While some American diplomats did disobey Truman and pressure other delegates, it is important to note that over two-thirds of the United Nations voted in favor of the partition plan in a 33-13 vote, clearly showing strong support for the partitioning of Palestine.
Gartland also brings up the case that Jew-haters love to make, that of the USS Liberty. The USS Liberty was an American ship that entered Israeli waters during the fourth day of the Six Day War of 1967. Israel had received reports of an Egyptian ship approaching, and the United States mistakenly said it had no ships in the area. As a result, Israel thought the Liberty was an Egyptian ship and fired at it.
The shooting of the USS Liberty was an unfortunate mistake, as illustrated by Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara’s statement, “It was the conclusion of the investigatory body, headed by an admiral of the Navy in whom we have great confidence, that the attack was not intentional.”
While Gartland is strongly against Israel receiving monetary aid from America, it is important to understand why Israel is receiving this aid. Israel has always been an important trading partner as well as a valuable source for the exchange of information in both the areas of technology and intelligence. Israel is also the sole democracy in the Middle East, thus playing an essential role in the United States’ desire to promote democracy.
For all these benefits Israel provides, it receives $2.2 billion dollars in financial aid each year, according to the U.S. Department of State Affairs. The next highest receiver of financial aid is Egypt, a country with an oppressive regime that persecutes its own people, the Coptic Christians. It is also important to note that financial aid accounts for less than 1 percent of the United States’ budget.
In short, I would state that I have no problem with people criticizing Israel. Israel makes mistakes, just like every country. What I do have a problem with is people making blatant anti-Semitic lies, as Gartland has done. Let’s keep the blood libels and the “Protocols of the Elders of Zion” as things of the past and examine situations in a more intellectually responsible fashion.
Ben Herman ([email protected]) is a freshman majoring in history.