Book Review: Being Jewish After the Destruction of Gaza by Peter Beinart

Peter Beinart is well credentialed to write on Israeli - Palestinian issues. In the early 2000s he was regarded as one of America's prominent advocates for the State of Israel.

He proudly embraced his Jewish faith and developed an elite profile in his career as a journalist leading to his current position as Professor of Journalism and Political Science at the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism, City University of New York.

His latest book, 'Being Jewish after the Destruction of Gaza' reveals how far he has moved from blindly supporting Zionism. His central thesis is a shift from Jewish supremacy to the recognition and acceptance of Palestinians as equals. He argues, "the first people created, according to the Torah, are not Jews." "All human beings are created in the image of God, and that precedes the Jewish story."

Beinart acknowledges he had joined the prevailing narrative of Israel - 'dehumanising' ordinary people, Palestinians, with actions that he and other Jews would never tolerate. He testifies to his 'liberation' and longs for the same experience for his fellow countrymen.

His cry in separating the State of Israel's adoption of militaristic Zionism from the morality of Judaism will contribute to the beginnings of conversations between Jews and Palestinians and the creation of a new narrative. Jews hearing and understanding the devasting experience of Palestinians living under militant Zionism will move to a point of their acceptance, where they are valued and respected as equals, leading to a cessation of hostilities.

Beinart challenges his Jewish countrymen - "How many Palestinians would Israel have to kill in Gaza before you urged the US to stop sending weapons? How many Palestinian prisoners would Israel have to torture and sexually abuse with impunity before you acknowledged the right of international courts to put Israeli leaders on trial? How long must West Bank Palestinians live under military law, before you stop calling Israel a democracy?"His emphasis on the Jewish tradition that holds all human beings are created in the image of God, a principle that, in his view, is profoundly desecrated by Israel's actions in Gaza, and its long-standing oppression of Palestinians. His call is for a Jewish identity that doesn't rely on the long established cloak of victimhood or Jewish supremacy.

In fact, the unconditional veneration of the State of Israel can become a form of idolatry, where the state supersedes core Jewish values and is not subject to the same moral standards it applies to other nations.

While Beinart focuses on Israel, he casts the shadow wider. Israel is not alone. Israel's stance is prevalent in the mindset of many nations -"the destruction of Gaza is a symbol of our age."

The author argues for a single state solution in the belief it will lead to peace.

"Provide equality and the violence will cease." He points to South Africa emerging from apartheid and the establishment of peace in Northern Island in1998. Beinart places the weight of responsibility for a peace process with Israel.

Other writers identify an important area missing in the book that always needs to be recognised.

Mosab Hassan Yousef, the son of Sheikh Hassan Yousef, one of the seven founders of Hamas testifies to the central mission of Hamas. Mosab was being groomed for leadership of the organisation but rejected their violence. His warning to the world is that Hamas is part of the radical Islamic movement against Israel and the West. It is responsible for the attacks by Al-Qaeda of 9/11, 1998 embassy bombing in Kenya and Tanzania, 2000 USSS Cole bombing in Yemen, to name just a few. He argues that Israel is simply the 'canary in the coalmine.' Militant Islam is growing in Africa, the Middle East, Southern and Central Asia, and Southeastern Asia, expanding its mission to a global caliphate.

Hamas' fight against Israel 'the colonist', 'the occupier' is also part of its global offensive together with other radical Islamic states against the West. And Israel has conveniently used the Gaza War to quietly intensify its dehumanisation of Palestinians and expansion into the West Bank.

Beinart's book is helpful in providing an alternative to the prevailing Israeli narrative, a return to a more spiritual, moral position that rests on the foundations of equality. A welcome contribution to understanding the complexity of the conflict.