JERUSALEM — My recent column on George Floyd brought a number of sharp and lengthy responses.
Some of them went on at length about the improvement in Blacks’ conditions since the mid-1960s. Some of them denied that racism was at the heart of the underclass Black condition. One made a point that demonstrations were largely about one cop, and assigned some responsibility to the socialism of Whites and quarrels within the Black leadership. Several expressed support for Donald Trump, without pointing at his problems. Some claim that George Floyd was guilty, but stop short of saying that he deserved death. There were also comments about Israelis’ racism, as if Israelis’ views about Palestinians equaled anything in the US.
All told, the comments pointed to the politics involved in assigning responsibilities among the many participants, those claiming leadership, and commentators.
The mess dealing with the many days of demonstration and considerable violence points to the politics that now surround what has developed over the course of several hundred years in the United States, and its reverberations elsewhere. It points partly to the globalization of American power, norms, and styles, as well as the migration of minorities to many countries..
Now another photographed killing in Atlanta may provide another spurt of violence and protest.
The length and weight of protests by Whites as well as Blacks may spur yet another step toward equality in treatment, along with the lowering of Confederate statues. We’ll see.
And likewise the quarrels here about the promise or threat of extending Israeli sovereignty to parts of the West Bank where there are settlements, Israeli law, flags, and loyalties, but a lack of the recognized extension of formal Israeli boundaries.
The argument has gone on for decades, and is now heating up with a focus on Bibi’s promise to start doing something by July 1.
He’s had years of power and has made countless promises, but has so far stood on the easy side of a vague line between pronouncement and action.
And now he has hidden the map of what in the West Bank he may intend to become officially Israel.
So the arguments are unlimited by the detail of what Bibi intends.
If, indeed, he really intends to do something.
Polls show a small majority in favor of extending Israeli sovereignty, but are limited by not indicating just what is meant by an extension.
Or what will happen with the Arabs included in the areas to be annexed.
There is also strong opposition from Palestinians, Jordanians, and other Arab governments. As well as from official Americans who seem to worry that the part of the Great Deal about a Palestinian State is being lost in Israeli quarrels.
Several European countries seem to be threatening severe sanctions, if Israel goes ahead with unilateral actions.
As well as opposition from numerous settlers who object to what they think is the map, and its complicating their road connections to what is now Israel. Or who object to what they imagine will be the exclusion of substantial territory from nationalization.
There are those who continue to express the view that God gave it all to us, but many see a difference between religious doctrine and contemporary political geography.
We’re also speculating about Bibi’s intentions of keeping the government together, or taking advantage of the situation and Likud’s favorable position in recent polls to call an election and improve his position to claim freedom from his judicial process.
And about the possibility of halting the process, short of anything, when it’s already produced some actions by Palestinians as well as firing up the desires of Likudniks and other religious and right of center Israelis.
When we are not quarreling about George Floyd or Israeli sovereignty, there is also a sharp uptick in Coronavirus to fuel our passions.
It began in the schools, and especially an upscale Jerusalem high school, and has moved outward. Prompted by a full opening of classes, and a general uptick in Israelis’ failure to observe Health Ministry rules about congregating and wearing masks.
Now there is a peculiar combination of decisions, ranging from a continued closure of the railroad that has produced great traffic jams and pathetic pictures of people waiting for intercity buses that pass them by already full, along with permission for weddings with up to 250 guests. Where there’ll be lot of close mingling, most likely without masks.
We hear about lots of research about Coronavirus, but the media does not deal with the qualities of the research.
The Education Ministry has responded by closing schools where teachers and/or students have become ill, and sending their pupils home for more distant learning.
The Health Ministry continues to worry about an expansion of a second wave, far beyond anything felt in the previous high rates of infection. The Finance Ministry is leading the push for keeping things open for the sake of the economy. Individual quarrels about the compensation of various bodies and what should be open or remain closed, as well as some odd instances of police imposing fines on small businesses for not complying with complex procedures.
In each of these cases–George Floyd, Israeli sovereignty, and our increase in infections–we see the weight of politics fueling arguments and decisions.
We’re reminded about intellectual imperfections among the professionals, and the role of political dispute to fill in the gaps.
It all leaves us wondering about the details, especially those that wander far from our own perspectives.
Is it really necessary to authorize weddings with 250 guests while the railroad remains closed? What truly is the weight of racism now in the United States and elsewhere? What will come of the various industries–from airlines to hotels and tour buses–without international travel? What will Bibi decide about extending Israeli sovereignty in the absence of a strong US endorsement and all the other opponents?
Politics will continue, with some having to decide, and others having to implement what the politicians decide.
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Ira Sharkansky is professor emeritus of political science at Hebrew University. He may be contacted via ira.sharkansky@sdjewishworld.com