Public figures do not normally shy away from espousing their true opinions. But when it comes to the protests against the nation-state law or the passing of peace activist Uri Avneri, it seems members of the Left are not truly at peace with the symbols and slogans associated with their positions.
Ahead of the protests against the nation-state law, which were attended by members of Israel's non-Jewish minority, participants were asked to avoid waving the Palestinian flag. Many of the protesters are fervent supporters of the Palestinian national movement. So, why then were they asked to suppress this support and not raise the Palestinian flag? It's not like the law as it stands forbids it.
Zionist Union head Avi Gabbay and Opposition leader Tzipi Livni's absence at the event was also astonishing. Among those Gabbay and Livni represent one can find opinion leaders renowned for being passionate proponents of the Palestinian cause. Did these two fear their being seen huddling in the shadow of the Palestinian flags would harm their images and cause them political damage?
In another shameful event, Kan news anchor Geula Even Sa'ar was criticized for her report on Avneri's death, in which she noted that British Labour party leader Jeremy Corbyn and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, who eulogized the activist following his death, "have no problem to also eulogize terrorists." The wording of the report led to a wave of protests against Even Sa'ar, with some calling for her termination. Some of those calling for her termination cited her marriage to former Likud MK Gideon Sa'ar as further proof she needed to be booted.
Although I worked with Even Sa'ar in the past, I am not familiar with her political positions; we never talked politics. What then is the meaning of these protests over her news report? Was this fake news? Had she attempted to malign the memory of the deceased? Of course not. It is doubtful Avneri himself would have protested the report on his death. I certainly don't think he would have seen it as slander.
One must stand up and when necessary defend one's positions, whatever they may be, especially when they adhere to Corbyn and Abbas' positions. At a time like this, one must adopt the slogan of Avneri's newspaper HaOlam HaZeh: "Without fear or bias."
Proponents of minority ideological positions on both the Right and Left tend to be obstinate and even courageous when it comes to defending their views. In particular, they are willing to pay a price for their beliefs, whether that means going to jail or being ostracized by a society hostile to their beliefs.
In a recent article in Haaretz, the same newspaper that ran Avneri's articles, left-wing columnist Gideon Levy praised Corbyn. Levy's piece was published just as newspapers in Britain are in the midst of uncovering more and more proof of Corbyn's anti-Semitic past.
A person who insists on holding the ideological opinion of the minority cannot have their cake and eat it too. And they most certainly cannot be ashamed.
Forced to choose between the shame of Livni and Gabbay and the courage to voice a minority opinion, even if doing so means being isolated and condemned, I will always prefer courage.
