Impressions from Jerusalem

Inevitably, the first question every American visitor asks Israelis is: “What about the occupied territories?” The answers, in that highly political and vocal country, cut across party lines.

A young raftan (dairy worker) in a kibbutz in the Gall explains over his breakfast: “The most important thing is peace with the Arabs. We must give back the territories.” His friend, sharing the meal, disagrees: “We need peace, yes. But what about security? We must keep Golan and East Jerusalem. We can’t go back to farming under Syrian guns.” The two young kibbutz workers belong to Mapam, a Marxist-Zionist organization noted for its emphasis on both the kibbutz as vanguard of Israeli society ...