Rogel Alpher is a columnist for Haaretz. He is about as far to the left as you can imagine. In fact, he is so far to the left, I believe his official address should be registered in Khan Younis or maybe even Benghazi. In his latest abomination article he writes that he is not proud of his country. He includes the name of his country as Israel but the Israel he describes doesn’t exist on this planet. His article, his presence in this country, is an outrage and vicious slander so easily proven wrong. In fact, just yesterday, Israel showed Alpher’s words to be lies. That easy. That fast. That often.
Alpher encourages us to “face facts,” which he writes amounts to “there won’t be a Palestinian state, and Israel will no longer be the state of the Jews.” Now, amazingly enough, I agree with the first half of his sentence. There never was, and most likely never will be an independent state of Palestine. Despite numerous attempts, each possibility is shot down, quite literally, by renewed violence and intransigence by the Palestinians. As Abba Eban once said, “The Arabs never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity.”
Right about the first part of his statement, Alpher immediately ends his short-lived streak of truth with the second part. As is typical of many journalists, he fills the article with about 8-10 paragraphs of fluff till he gets to what he is likely to consider the “meat” of his argument.
He refers to Israel as a “violent, bloody, binational non-democracy.” Well, wow. Despite common sense probably telling him that he’s already written more than anyone would want to read, he rushes to explain the title, why he isn’t proud of Israel. He, it seems, knows “the reality,” unlike millions of Israelis who know his reality is tainted by his agenda. Alpher says we have an apartheid state (we don’t); that the two-state solution is dead (it was never viable, so of course it is dead) and that “everything is bad here.”
So let me start with these easily refutable lies.
Apartheid? Here’s what Alpher doesn’t want you to know about: there are nearly a dozen Arab members of our parliament who were elected, primarily, by Arab Israeli voters. Arab Israelis have full rights – to vote, to enjoy one of the best educational systems in the Middle East, to use a national health system that is far above anything found in any Arab country and rivals that of any developed nation.
Arab Israelis, as a minority, are offered tremendous subsidies to attend major universities. There are Arab doctors, nurses and patients in our hospitals. There are Arab lawyers and judges in our courts. And, in our educational system, there are Arab students, teachers, and professors. Even in our army, there are Arab commanders and officers. Walk down any street in nearly any city in Israel, and you’ll see Arabs shopping, working. Apartheid? No, not in the real world Rogel refuses to see.
Everything is bad here?
What is so bad here? Alpher doesn’t bother to back up his nonsense with facts. We are to believe him simply because he has ordained it so. If Israel is so bad, why was it recognized as the eleventh happiest country in the world – above ALL Arab countries and even above the United States? Bad here? We have some of the best universities in the world, some of the most beautiful beaches, the highest standard of living in the Middle East, and one of the highest life expectancy rates in the world.
Alpher “forgot” to mention things like what happened yesterday – when dozens of emergency rescue teams rushed to save (predominantly Arab) victims of a building collapse in Tel Aviv. He forgot to mention how thousands of people attended the wedding of a young woman they’d never met, because her father was murdered days before and she asked everyone to come as her personal way of coping with the grief and promising to look forward. He didn’t mention how Israel is often the first nation to send relief in times of tragedy, earthquakes, tsunamis, and floods. He didn’t mention the kindness found here, hundreds of organizations working to ensure the highest quality of life possible in a nation that has been fighting for its existence for every minute since it was founded.
What else did Alpher forget to tell you about Israel, this land he isn’t proud of? Better health care for Jews and Arabs than they have anywhere else in the Middle East? Not mentioned by Alpher. Freedom of movement despite ongoing terror attacks for Arabs? Not relevant. Repeated Israeli offers to meet for negotiations? Not relevant. Many efforts to reach a peace agreement, including several unilateral agreements that gave Palestinians large sections of land in exchange for nothing? Not part of Alpher’s reality. Freedom of worship – another thing that exists only in Israel as compared to the rest of the Middle East.
Alpher insists he is right and knows more than all the rest of us. Some would call him a prophet; most would call him an egoist. He asks “why are you mad at me instead of being angry at the reality?”
I’d like to answer that and then make my offer.
We are angry, Rogel, because you lie, you slander, you abuse the privilege of having the opportunity to grab the attention of others. We are angry because you see Israel through glasses painted with rage because ultimately, it really bothers you that we have created an amazing country, a good country, a solid and kind country. Israel is an incredible place of beauty, compassion, and even economic opportunity. But not for you Rogel, and I get that. It’s hard to live in a country were people are really happy, when you want to be miserable, so here’s my offer.
Pack your bags, Rogel, and I’ll drive you to the airport. Fly, Rogel. Fly away. Go to a land where you’ll be appreciated, loved. Happy.
Go to Sweden…oh, but don’t tell them you are Jewish or Israeli.
Go to France…oh, wait, bad idea.
How about Brussels? No, probably not.
Well, Rogel, how about Dubai, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Gaza, or Egypt? Maybe you’ll like Cuba or Nepal. Have you ever thought of moving to Siberia or China, Rogel? Well, whatever. I’m sure if Israel is so bad, you’ll find great relief at leaving and we here in this horrible heaven we’ve created, will continue suffering each day in the endless sunshine, the golden sunsets, the blooming deserts and the crystal clean seas.
Have a nice life, Rogel and maybe apply to the New York Times or Al Jazeera. I’m sure they’re always looking for journalists who are so adept at creating whatever facts they need to support their reality.
