Walter Ruby on Obama, Israel, And Russian Jews

Ruby Jewsday:

But now that Obama has won the nomination and millions of Americans are feeling inspired by the possibility of transformative politics in America for the first time since 1968 (Talk about 40 years in the wilderness!), it really makes me sad to think of so many Russian Jews being fearful that Obama represents a grave threat to their security or to Israel's security. Nothing can be further from the truth, as should have been made clear by Obama's AIPAC speech, which to my mind went too far into pandering, as all candidates do every four years when trying to cater to the Jewish community and other powerful constituencies. The bottom line is that Obama is committed to Israel's security, but yes, he would likely pick up where Bill Clinton left off eight years ago and push and prod Israel and the Palestinians to reach a peace agreement(something Mc Cain would undoubtedly do as well). Why? Because the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict is bad for America, a spur to Islamic fundamentalism and therefore bad for Israel as well).

In the end, there is going to be a peace settlement in which Israel gives up most of the West Bank and allows some Palestinian sovereignty in East Jerusalem in exchange for a Palestinian commitment to demilitarization and an ongoing international security presence in its territory. Israel will keep the larger settlements blocs like Ma'ale Adumim, Gush Etzion and perhaps Ariel and give up land adjoining the West Bank in return. The rest of the settlments will have to be evacuated. Everyone knows that will be the final settlement; the question is whether we move in that direction expeditiously or drag it out over another decade or two of violence, as Bush allowed to happen. Which is better for Israel and the Jews? The hard line perscription favored by many in the Russian Jewish community will only". It is easy to sit in NY and insist that Israelis should be uncompromising, because it is they and not us who will have to pay the price. [link]

JRT comments:

Our friend Walter Ruby, of Ruby's Jewsday is writing about Obama, Israel and Russian Jews. Walter is our true friend, please be polite if you decide to comment on his post. This said his writing is very typical of an American Jewish liberal who approaches world conflicts as a fight between the boys in a seventh grade of a public school in a good neighborhood. You see, Palestinians and Israelis are having problems. Probably because they did not receive proper sensitivity training. Now, this is not good! They have to make up right away! American diplomats have to play a role of a wise teacher -- walking into a room, stopping a fight and making bad boys to behave. His friends, Russian Jews, are warm, intelligent people but they are SOO entrenched in their antiquated cold war attitudes. Definitely not nuanced and sophisticated. Walter, mon ami! chaver sheli! amigo! These people want us DEAD! Don't take our word for it -- just pay attention to what they are saying themselves.
Nobody is planning to leave you to visit Maale Adumim. As a matter of fact, nobody is planning to leave you alone in NYC either. American Jews are such nice people. If only they could grow up beyond middle school.

posted by: jrtelegraph

Comments

[jrtelegraph]

George,

Do you even know what are you talking about? Where were all these "Palestinians" before Jews came back and built the country? How were "Palestinian" cities thriving before the Jews? Can you show us demographic data about "Palestinians" living in the land say in 19th century? We can talk about migrants who came to the country once Jews started providing employment, built infrastructure, brought health care and education. We can talk about UN welfare system that created a hereditary welfare recipient out of "refugees". We can talk about European anti-Semites planting the germs of Nazi hatred in Arab heads to finish off work they could not finish with Hitler (may his name be blotted forever) final solution. We can talk about KGB inventing Palestinian liberation cause up to Yasser Arafat's costume.
This land is a Jewish land. Everybody else who tried their hand there failed. The Land knows its true owners. This is something for you to ponder on, George.

[George]

Walter Ruby is a clear headed Jew who understands the Middle East. A simple question - why do Russian Jews believe they have more rights to land in historical Palestine than Palestinians who probably have more Hebrew blood in them than the very Russian Jews who continue to hinder any lasting peace. What right does someone who Great Great Grandparents were born in the Upper Volga have over someone who can show his Great Great Great Grandparents were born and lived in Israel/Palestine.

[Jerry]

I am sure to resist to Russian-American Jews' opinions is not mean to be liberal. Their ugly conservatism and fraudulent conviction of Obama as a socialist, as a supporter of Muslims, as a traitor of Israel should be marked as an usual USSR obscurantism of people managed by leaders created the Fifth column supported by Putin.When all of them voted for MacCain it is mean they voted for Putin. Putin also was against Obama but for MacCain. All Russian-American Jews have Republican mood while being in mass as a poor people they must be democrats. And democrat is not the same as liberal.

[jrtelegraph]

As we said when posting Walter's piece in JRT -- any comments are fine, but ad hominem attacks are strongly discouraged. Walter is a liberal and does not make a secret out of it. He also proved many times that he values and loves Russian Jewish community. Comments about him as "durak" -- and he is not -- do not contribute to a productive dialog. Btw, Walter speaks decent Russian. So, please, let's be civil.

-- jrtelegraph

[joseph a kliger]

Rubi isn't "prosto durak", he is a "durak"+Manilov+a Id a Parach (IDISHISM- parshiviy evrey).
Nobody should be polite or impolite on Rubies or take them seriously.Be sure that whenever whatever Rubis say or do is pure bunkum.

[epaminondas]

Ruby is iconic of the jews who MUST see themselves as progressives to have a positive opinion of themselves.

These people all do indeed, compel themselves to either ignore or find tortuous explanations for the now boring list from Zbig to Rice and Powers, Malley, and McPeak, and Bonior, all appointed by Obama.

Abbas, and Meshal are not John Lewis of United Mine Workers.

Dreamy eyed, delusional western anthropocentric ARROGANCE of this kind, just like that of the Stanley Baldwin character, which was wildly popular BTW, not only will solve nothing in terms of basic issues, but will, like it's predecessor, get a lot of people killed.

There is NOTHING to discuss in the middle east presently in terms of real peace. Occasional, situational truces designed to fail are the best that can be hoped for.

[Boris Gorbis]

Walter Ruby is incorrect in assuming (without asking) that Russian-speaking Jews fear Obama's candidacy primarily because of his potential to explode the Middle East just as Carte exposed Iran (and the world) to the rule of mullahs. We reject this candidacy because Obama is a left wing ideologue, because he was brought up in an extreme left wing atmosphere, and married into one. We fear Obama because he is essentailly a racist and a Marxist. His stand vis-a-vis Israel will reflect that as a necessary extension of his personal views and convictions critical of America and anatagonistic to many of its features we hold dear. It is patently unfair for our dear friend Walter Ruby to see our community as miopic to all but Israel. On the point of proof Mr. Ruby is also wrong by equating massive enthusiasm with the right course of action. We too notice the groundswell of support for Obama. We notice the media and celebrity driven enthusiasm. Walter, if you watch the old German newsreels from the 30's you might have to agree that being an idol of the crowd does not a nation savior make. As a personal opinion I give Obama credit for being articulate and exasive. I also expect him to move this country to the brink of to a world-wide conflict while making America poorer and unfree.

[Alex Koifman]

I do not want to restate what was stated so many times about Obama. About his Middle East anti-Israel advisors. About his zero accomplishments that may qualify him for presidency - I do not consider community activism a relevant experience for president. What is new here that Walter Ruby joins a unique group of Obama endorsers: Farrakhan, Rev. Wright, and Hamas. Do I hear bin Laden and Carter? Walter Ruby is a Jewish liberal? A mozhet on prosto durak?