By Donald H. Harrison
SAN DIEGO — If we Jews would like to show our appreciation to those countries that sided with Israel on Thursday, Nov. 29, in the United Nations General Assembly vote on extending non-member state status to Palestine, we can do so by adjusting our travel plans.
When you are planning a vacation, consider going to the countries that have shown themselves to be real friends to the Jewish people. There were only nine of them who said “no” to the Palestinian propaganda move.
They are: Canada, Czech Republic, Israel, United States, Panama, The Marshall Islands, Palau, Nauru, and Micronesia.
The U.S. and Canada are natural destinations for North American Jews. If we’re not visiting Israel, how nice it is to spend our money at home. In Europe, Prague in the Czech Republic is a city with a long Jewish history. In Central America, there is a vibrant Jewish community in Panama City, Panama, that is well worth visiting.
I’ve never been to the Marshall Islands, Palau, Nauru or Micronesia, so I can’t say much about their Jewish communities. However, it seems to me after this vote, they certainly are worth looking into as travel destinations.
Lest anyone think I am calling for the boycott of other countries, I am not. In international politics, we must all understand that the world is divided into three camps: friends, potential friends, and adversaries. It is pretty clear that most of the Arab nations place themselves within the realm of adversaries. But other countries, especially the 41 that abstained on this issue, should be considered as potential or possibly even actual friends. So let’s not write them off.
They can be secondary stops on trip to Canada, Czech Republic, Israel, United States, Panama, The Marshall Islands, Palau, Nauru, and Micronesia!
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Harrison is editor of San Diego Jewish World. He may be contacted at donald.harrison@sdjewishworld.com
The number one country for Jews to consider, when wishing to travel abroad, should always be ISRAEL.