As the Founding Fathers moved inextricably towards the independence of America in the late 18th century, they were conscious that the eyes of the world were upon them. John Winthrop said they were a city on a hill that would shine as an example to the world.
Israel has been spoken of throughout its history in a similarly lofty manner. We are the Chosen People, the People of the Book, our land flows with milk and honey, we are a light unto the nations, our cities rose from the desert. We have made barren soil bloom.
But now things are different. Where the state victories at war and peace were admired by the world, Israel has now descended into a focus for hate from virtually every country and every branch of life within them. By example and to their shame, England and Ireland, probably in the other order, are in the vanguard for spewing venom.
We have just visited the UK, where the government is in chaos. Polls tell us that the Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, is now officially the most unpopular prime minister in British history.
He awaits a bi-election result to see if someone slightly less unpopular, though not necessarily any more able than himself, is returned by the public, in which case he can step aside and hand over the reins of power to a country frequently described as ungovernable.
But despite their unpopularity and weak performance, the UK government continues unashamedly to do what they now do best: to express hatred for Israel whilst simultaneously failing to clamp down on antisemitism.
US President Donald Trump has verbally spoken out to try and help British Jews, as have President Isaac Herzog and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The British Foreign Minister, Yvette Cooper, despite knowing that Iran is ultimately responsible for the violence on the UK’s streets, has taken no steps to send the Iranian ambassador home or even call him to the Foreign Office for “a chat.” Nor has she kept up with her European neighbors by proscribing the IRGC.
Instead, Cooper bleats on about Israel’s treatment of the flotillas, or about settler behavior in the West Bank, or Ben-Gvir’s behavior in front of the media, on which I’ll expand in a moment.
Meanwhile, anti-Zionism, antisemitism, and anti-Israel bias continue to be found in every corner of life in Europe.
It was found in Eurovision, in the attempts to ban or destabilize Israel’s entry, while Iran was permitted to compete in the upcoming soccer World Cup, even while at war with the hosts, and a goalkeeper has been imprisoned in Tehran.
In the judicial life of England, three of the most prestigious lawyers, renowned for their intellect and integrity, have been reported to their regulators for – well, truth be told, after a lifetime in the job, I simply cannot understand what the allegation is.
Of course, the UK has not just been the scene of violent rhetoric, but of violence itself, with attacks and murders.
As we watched it unfold from the discomfort of a ring-side seat in North London recently, we found ourselves standing at the edge of the precipice of despair. In today’s British press, a former head of the United Synagogue has thrown in the towel and decided to leave Britain.
Even when I play chess online, my opponent cancels the game when he or she sees that my nationality has a Star of David. This morning’s opponent helpfully informed me that Israel is evil. I told him that he or she reads too many fairy tales.
To our relief, we are now back in the more relaxed atmosphere of Israeli life.
Israel must also be accountable to itself
Many say, “They can all go to hell; we do not need to be loved by them, and as we are not going to be, anything we say and do is fair play, is it not?”
No. What of the behavior of those who know or should know better? The lead comment in Sunday’s Jerusalem Post, Ben-Gvir is an embarrassment, was timely to this article; however, I come at it from a different approach. It could have read, Ben-Gvir is an embarrassment to himself as well as all of us.
My approach is this: Ben-Gvir cannot be so tone-deaf as to not recognize how crass and distasteful some of the things he does are, be it drinking champagne to celebrate what will be judicial hangings, or his other unsavory antics.
His answer will be, “I don’t care. I am not trying to appease our naysayers.” But my response to this is, “Where is your dignity and your pride?”
We expect ministers of state to weigh their actions carefully. “We don’t care” is not an answer. There is a code that accompanies being elected to office that must run up and down the government. It can be called collective responsibility, a term usually applied to something different.
If you do not know how to behave, you should not hold office – or someone must sack you, whatever your personal or party fall-out. This is part of the same code that Harry Truman espoused by having the sign on his desk in the Oval Office: “The Buck Stops Here.”
In a different time, UK politicians used to lead the way in governmental and ministerial behavior. When Argentina invaded the Falklands, a British sovereign territory, the defense minister, Sir John Knott, offered to step down and resign.
The war had not been his fault, and the UK had been victorious, but it had happened on his watch. He had to go. It was a matter of honor, and it must be followed. After the war, he did resign.
One of the consequences for Israel is not that of our natural enemies, but that our natural friends will reconsider their views on Israel. I know those who say their love for Israel is not unconditional, but it ends when Israel can no longer be counted on as a beacon of democracy.
We are now the city on a hill. Or in Jerusalem’s case, seven hills.
The eyes of the world are upon us. To Ben-Gvir and others, I say there is such a thing as the dignity of power. Where is yours?
Our government’s behavior is to be measured against the behavior of those with sincerity and integrity, honor and dignity.
The people of Israel have the right to expect our government to make us proud, not ashamed.
The writer is an author and a former judge and barrister in the United Kingdom.