Times Continues to Honor Israel's Harshest National Critics

"Amos Elon, Israeli Author, Dies at 82,"
B8 (Obituary), by Ethan Bronner

The Times continues to honor Israel’s harshest national critics with an obituary for Israeli essayist and author Amos Elon. The article is very similar to an August 2008 obituary for Abie Nathan, an eccentric peace activist but marginal figure in Israeli history.

Regarding Elon, Bronner writes he “examined his society’s flaws and myths.” In fact, Elon typically went far beyond that in his hyper-critique of his own country. He is quoted as saying that his country is a “disappointment.” He truly had nothing positive to say about Israel.

To get a real sense of the loathing Elon had for his homeland, one must read his sensationalist 2004 interview with Ha’aretz’s Ari Shavit in which he shares:

I think that Zionism has exhausted itself. Precisely because it accomplished its aims. If the Zionism of today isn't a success story, it's the fault of the Zionists. It's because of the religio-zation and Likudization of Zionism and because what was supposed to be a state-of-the-Jews has become a Jewish state.

In response, Shavit challenges him:

Or maybe you just can't identify with a state that isn't secular-European. I want to remind you that in your classic book, "The Israelis," there are no Sephardim or religious people or traditional people. The Israel you loved was the secular-European Israel. Its others didn't really interest you.

And there is the essence of a man profoundly disconnected with his country, who was always prepared to demean it. As Shavit notes, Elon “is known throughout the world but has become nearly anonymous here [in Israel].” Forgotten in Israel, The Times resurrects the man’s memory in order to further its own mission of heralding the failures of the Jewish State.

It's a match made in heaven.