The Price of Liberty

Many libertarians delight in bashing the State of Israel for its many sins (in their eyes). Not just, but especially, self-named “left libertarians.” (Who seem to want to find more in common with certain regressivist (“progressives”) than with fellow lovers of liberty.) On the other hand, many other libertarians delight in proclaiming their love for Israel, and at least some religious libertarians see the State of Israel as a fulfillment of prophesy and especially loved by God.

As one religiously-observant Hebrew once quipped, “I’m not sure how long we can endure being God’s chosen people. It’s like wearing a target bulls-eye.”

The war with Hamas, invasion of Gaza, and now a seeming two-front or three-front war just increases the debate and further separates the various sides. As does the Woke betrayal of Zionism.

We here at TPOL do not fall into either of these camps. We do NOT consider the State of Israel to be a fulfillment of God’s prophesies in the Bible, nor any longer to be a physical nation which is “chosen of God.” At the same time, we DO see the State of Israel as an alternative in the Middle East, and far FAR preferable, to anything Muslims – especially the Arabs – and most especially the so-called “Palestinians” have as far as a society that can promote, encourage and protect liberty. At least not as long as the vast majority of Arabs are Muslim, tribal, and exhibit an insane hatred of Jews and the West. And behave like their (version of) God: cruel, vindictive, and more.

Even so, we consider Israel to be – like all human, compulsory government-controlled lands and people – to be wrong. Their actions – even if motivated by a need for self-defense – are often evil: cruel and unthinking and based on vengeance. but as authoritarian as the Israeli regime is, I see it as very much preferable – for people of ALL faiths and ALL ethnicities and backgrounds – to any current Arab regime.

Still, Israel in 2020 is no bastion of liberty, and nowhere close to a libertarian society, much less a minarchist government. Like all mandatory governments, the Israeli government does many evil things.

One of those areas of evil actions was reported several years back, featured in Freedom Net Daily. It still should rankle lovers of liberty:

Israel: Regime Orders Evangelical GOD TV Off Air (from NDTV [India]) “Israel’s media watchdog said Sunday that it had withdrawn the broadcast licence from US-based evangelical network GOD TV, accusing it of seeking to target Jews with Christian content. International Christian network’s GOD TV launched its Shelanu (Hebrew for ‘ours’) channel at the end of April [2020] on Israeli cable provider Hot, describing it as catering to Christians. But the channel provoked an immediate outcry in Israel, with then-communications minister David Amsalem accusing it of being a ‘missionary channel’ seeking to convert Jews to Christianity. … Israel enjoys vigorous support from evangelical movements in the United States but keeps a lid on missionary work in the Holy Land. While Israeli law only expressly forbids the giving of money or gifts to encourage conversions to another religion, missionary activities in general are closely monitored by the authorities and are offensive to many Israelis.”

Israel is NOT a monoreligious state, but it certainly has an oddity in the 21st Century. A state religion – Judaism – which has direct ties with, and some control over, the “secular” government of the State of Israel. (Even more so, if officially so, than Utah!) While far from a theocracy (a government in which priests rule), there is no First Amendment in Israeli basic law, protecting freedom of speech and religion in the way that Americans have.

And in this matter, the Israelis of 2020 very closely resemble those of AD 30-40, which will be discussed in detail in the second part of this commentary.

Israel today is an integral part of the post-WW2 international order built and maintained by the FedGov, even while it is frequently at odds with various administrations in DC and not a “formal” ally in many ways. And despite its oddities. Traits that make it in many ways at odds with American values (or at least those claimed to be “American”.) At the same time, its existence has been a constant flashpoint, for more than half a century.

Israelis – or at least most of their politicians and military leaders – understand both the value of the special relationship with DC and how far they can push. As they also understand that the wrong moves – or stupidity on one or both sides – can suddenly end that. Just as happened in the First Century AD.

But no one who is a lover of liberty should ever see Israel, and the Israeli “questions” as one dimensional. Whether they are haters of Israel (for whatever reasons – and there are many) or supporters. In our work of promoting, protecting, and expanding liberty, the Israelis can be valuable allies AND dangerous enemies.

Unlike their bitter and dogmatic enemies, the Islamic world, the Ummah. Whether those Muslims are Arab or Iranian or Pakistani. Whether they are Sunni or Shia or something else. Whether they are Islamists or “moderates.” Free speech? Freedom of assembly? Rights of the accused? Please.

Don’t misunderstand – a Muslim can be a lover of liberty also. But such Muslims are few and far between. As societies and cultures and nations, Islamic people are bitter and vengeful enemies not just of Jews but of liberty. (A subject for another time.)

The more we understand Israel and its history, the better we can deal with both the benefits and the threats that Israel of 2020 presents to liberty. And there are both.

See part 2.