Israel And The ‘Yes, But’ Syndrome

by Francine Klagsbrun
Special To The Jewish Week

I call it the “yes, but” syndrome. You see it in people who tell you their problems, but when you offer positive suggestions, they find every reason to reject what you say. “Yes, you may be right,” they’ll reply, “but...” and they’ll pile on examples of why nothing can improve their lot.
I’ve become aware of a version of the “yes, but” syndrome on a much larger scale during this celebratory year for Israel’s 60th anniversary. It seems that whenever journalists or newscasters say something positive about Israel, they immediately qualify their statements, lest they give the impression that they totally approve of that country. “Yes, Israel won its war of independence against all odds,” they will say, “but it created the Arab refugee

problem.” Or, “Yes, Israel has excelled in high tech, but many of its best people work outside the land.”
We all know that Israel faces many difficulties. But the constant emphasis on those problems in the media, the screaming cover story — “Is Israel Finished?” — of a recent issue of The Atlantic, for example, cry out for a response, especially in this, the state’s anniversary month. So let’s approach the “yes, but” syndrome differently this time, and, without ignoring disturbing issues, focus on positive realities.
Yes, after 60 years, Israel still has to cope with threats to its existence. But the forces that threaten Israel also threaten the entire West — the forces of Islamic extremism or the ruthless hatred of an Ahmadinejad. These threats did not originate with Israel, and Israel cannot handle them alone. But Israel can work toward peace with its neighbors, and is doing so. The peace with Egypt and Jordan did not exist 60 years ago. Now there is a move toward peace with Syria. And as weak as Fatah leader Mahmoud Abbas may be, talks between him and Ehud Olmert continue, because both leaders recognize the urgency for peace. In that there is hope.
Yes, the territories remain an anguishing issue for Israel. But, in truth, had there been no territories, Israel’s neighbors would not be seeking the peace they need to regain their lands, or offering to accept the country they so rejected 60 years ago. Now, Olmert, and before him Ariel Sharon — the very Likud people who urged settlements in the territories — recognize that Israel cannot remain an occupying power forever. Such people, like most Israelis, are willing to compromise on the territories and that, too, is a good sign in dealing with a very complex matter.
Yes, issues of territories and terror, of extremism and existential fears are the subjects we hear and speak about most. But the reality of Israel is not only about such subjects. The reality of Israel today is about a booming economy, industries that lead the world in technology, and tourism that is at an all-time high. It is about top-flight universities, whose scholars are in demand throughout the western world. It is about a vibrant democracy that has absorbed millions of immigrants of differing backgrounds, and has managed to create a culture with film, music, art and literature that expresses the country’s diversity along with its unity.
And yes, like every industrialized nation, this one has problems of poverty, drugs and family abuse. But it is also a country where individuals matter. Marlin and Betty Levin, who made aliyah from America in the 1940s, recently moved into a new assisted-living facility in Jerusalem, Ahuzat Beit Hakerem. It offers concerts, lectures, films and classes (including Bible and bridge) every day and evening, and although secular, it has a kosher kitchen and religious services for those interested. Thirty-five newly built shops circle the building, which houses a clinic with 24-hour nursing care. Mostly, its 450 residents see themselves as a community, meeting often in the pool or at pool tables, in the subsidized restaurant or over tea in the lobby, always active, thinking not about growing older, but about growing mentally more vital.
At the other end of the spectrum, this is a country that regards its children as its most precious resource, which is why the kidnapping of a single soldier can cause ripples of pain across the land. If the French take their dogs to restaurants, Israelis take their children, even to the fanciest places. From ads I saw in Israeli newspapers, I counted almost 40 festivals devoted to children during Passover. Children represent the future, and despite screaming headlines to the contrary, Israelis know that this country is far from finished. Its promise, led by its children, still lies ahead.
So, finally, yes, the age of miracles ended long ago. But no one will ever convince me that the creation of this state was not a miracle. Happy 60th, Israel. n
Francine Klagsbrun’s most recent book is “The Fourth Commandment: Remember the Sabbath Day.”

Westchester Jewish Conference

Westchester’s Jewish Community Relations Organization