“ It’s analytically wrong because the Jews murdered in the Holocaust had diverse opinions about Jewish statehood. Many were anti-Zionists…”
First, Beinart offers zero proof that “many” Jews were anti-Zionist. That position, to the extent it was relevant at all, pertained to a small sliver of Communist Jews, or a tiny number of privilege…
“ It’s analytically wrong because the Jews murdered in the Holocaust had diverse opinions about Jewish statehood. Many were anti-Zionists…”
First, Beinart offers zero proof that “many” Jews were anti-Zionist. That position, to the extent it was relevant at all, pertained to a small sliver of Communist Jews, or a tiny number of privileged Western Jews who were concerned about undermining their social position. The notion that these were “many” is wrong. That Beinart would cite this without acknowledging that the reasoning of these anti-Zionists Jews was fatally undermined by the Holocaust tells you what you need to know about Beinart.
Most Ashkenazi Jews lived in the Pale. And most were not politically active, no matter how many bundists you think there were (at their height there were maybe 40,000 Bundists, out of how many millions of Jews in the Pale?). Other Leftists were not automatically anti-Zionist. Indeed, many settled in Israel & started kibbutzim. WRT the Haredim - anti Zionist in theory, quite happy to live in Israel & be supported by the state in practice. Not a strong reed upon which to base an argument.
In any case my point about their rationale for anti Zionism, whatever it may have been, being superseded by the Shoah stands. I doubt many Jews on trains East were fervent anti Zionists.
“ It’s analytically wrong because the Jews murdered in the Holocaust had diverse opinions about Jewish statehood. Many were anti-Zionists…”
First, Beinart offers zero proof that “many” Jews were anti-Zionist. That position, to the extent it was relevant at all, pertained to a small sliver of Communist Jews, or a tiny number of privileged Western Jews who were concerned about undermining their social position. The notion that these were “many” is wrong. That Beinart would cite this without acknowledging that the reasoning of these anti-Zionists Jews was fatally undermined by the Holocaust tells you what you need to know about Beinart.
in addition to bundists and other leftists, who were quite numerous, i was thinking of people we would now call haredim.
How numerous, Peter? Let's see some facts and figures.
Most Ashkenazi Jews lived in the Pale. And most were not politically active, no matter how many bundists you think there were (at their height there were maybe 40,000 Bundists, out of how many millions of Jews in the Pale?). Other Leftists were not automatically anti-Zionist. Indeed, many settled in Israel & started kibbutzim. WRT the Haredim - anti Zionist in theory, quite happy to live in Israel & be supported by the state in practice. Not a strong reed upon which to base an argument.
In any case my point about their rationale for anti Zionism, whatever it may have been, being superseded by the Shoah stands. I doubt many Jews on trains East were fervent anti Zionists.