Bloomberg's "Jewish State": bad idea for Israel, Palestine, and the Mideast

Reaction to Bloomberg's paper “Israel Palestine still can find way to divide into two states,” Tri-City Herald, January 9, 2014, page A-7.

Bloomberg needs to help us change the conversation.

In his guest editorial to "The Tri City Herald" he states: “It ought not to be a big deal for Palestinian leaders to acknowledge that Israel is Jewish State.”

What a disgusting idea.

Changing the conversation

Inciting racism and religious bigotry will not accomplish stability or peace. And make no mistake, declaring Israel a "Jewish State" institutionalizes both of the above.

There is (as if nobody has noticed), a difference between, say, a Jewish homeland and a Jewish State.

Israel is not a Jewish state now, nor will it ever be. Israel is a modern, secular state, with religious and non-religious people: liberal Jews, Orthodox Jews, Baha'i, atheists, Muslims, Christians and other, and yes, Palestinians.

A nation governed by one religion or race is not, and can never be, a free country: No purely Catholic, Protestant, Muslim, Hindu or Atheistic states for me, thanks.

By definition, a “Jewish State,” is one based on racism and religious bigotry. (The term "Jew" defines people of a particular ancestry and religious faith.) 

We should not expect those living in the Middle East to create a mini-American system, but until Palestinians and Jews can invent their own version of a “Land of the Free,” all treaties are but paths to oppression, political unrest and probably war --  not peace.

Bloomberg's opinion piece missed the mark this time: It is well past time to change the conversation.