Here's a letter to the editor I have in this week's Detroit Jewish News (JN) in response to the magazine's cover from two weeks ago (see right).
Jewish News Cover Undermines Israeli Pursuit Of Peace
Let's hope I've finally gotten the writing bug -- also check out this piece I have up on Mondoweiss on why one rightwing Israel group wants to pretend Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas forgot to show up to Israeli-Palestinian peace talks.I found the JN cover story "Next Generation" (Sept. 9, page 12) to be unnecessarily provocative. Twenty young Detroiters sitting on an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) tank does not send the right message to our community.
I agree with the cover story's premise with regard to the significance of deepening our young leaders' connection to Israel; and Israel's security is, of course, vital. Yet the image of youths smiling on an IDF tank is not so friendly to our Arab and Muslim neighbors who come across the JN at local newsstands.
The magazine cover suggests that we as a community are cavalier about Israel's military might: the photograph cheapens the incredibly difficult work of the IDF, makes light of the security challenges facing Israel and disrespectfully flaunts Israeli power. Does this reflect well on the "most moral army in the world"?
Plus, this tank photo didn't seem like a great fit with the article's content. The cover story was about a young leadership mission's visits to Israeli community organizations and cultural sites. This snapshot belongs in a scrapbook and isn't a cover story image. It mustn't be the way that we who strive for peace present our community to the world.
Jonathan Guyer, program associate Middle East Task Force/ New America Foundation, Washington. Mr. Guyer is a member of the Jewish Academy of Metropolitan Detroit Class of 2004
