While I doubt Israel is the sole cause of Muslim animosity towards the US, it is certainly a major factor. Even though this is a crazy fantasy on Mr. Roberts’ part, Israelis would assimilate into American society more easily than the millions of Mexicans and other 3rd world types pouring in. I can’t imagine they would be willing to work for those rock-bottom wages the fat cats who control the Republicrat party are willing to pay, though, so no deal is in the works. Too bad, I rather like the Israelis.

Surely Roberts is writing this with his tongue at least partly in his cheek. As concerned about runaway immigration as he is, he must be well aware of the pivotal role American Jewish organizations and politicians have played over the years in boosting mass immigration to the United States. Whether one attributes this to a reasonable Jewish desire to keep the United States open for Jews fleeing future persecutions or to the group survival strategies Kevin MacDonald believes in, importing millions more Jews into the United States is hardly likely to help the cause of immigration reform.

That said, I too would prefer Israelis to masses of third-world immigrants. What I would really prefer is that the Middle East become a place where Israel can live in safety. That, ultimately, is a task for Israelis. HRS

Whether or not Roberts is speaking with tongue in cheek, others of the same view are not. I was just talking this afternoon with a traditionalist politico for whom I have a lot of respect who, without having heard of the Roberts article, said to me flat-out: “We’ve got to bring the Israeli Jews here; saving Israel is not worth the expenditure of U.S. blood and treasure.” Now I obviously disagree with that for a variety of reasons. Yet, for those who believe that BUT FOR Israel we would have no problem with the Muslims, the idea of bringing all the Israelis here makes a kind of desperate sense.

What of the historical and religious justification for reviving Israel in the Holy Land? Surely it is that, as it is the land God gave to his people Israel, the Holy Land is the right place for Jews to have a nation-state of their own now they have the power to hold one. I say that even though, as a traditional Catholic Christian, I would be much happier if the revived Israel were truly faithful to orthodox Judaism, rather than the secular socialist state it actually is.

Despite the precedent of Stalin’s bogus “Jewish Autonomous Oblast” at Birobidzhan in the Soviet Far East, the idea of creating a state for the Jews in some empty quarter of the world has never been much of an option. As mass immigration is teaching Americans and Europeans, one cannot move large numbers of people anyplace without inconveniencing somebody. Israel is the right place for a Jewish state, despite the obvious discomfiture its establishment creates for some Arabs (saying that is not a blanket endorsement of every Israeli attempt to deal with the “Arab problem” the modern State of Israel’s establishment has created).

An Israeli evacuation now would accomplish three things, all bad: It would be the end of the dream of a Jewish homeland, just as it is becoming reality, and the revival of the Diaspora. If it were the result of anything less than military defeat and expulsion, it would be a tacit admission that the whole project was unworthy, a grievous blow to many observant Jews, to Zionists of all stripes and to Christians who believe in Israel’s right to exist. Finally, it would grant an undeserved victory to homicidally intransigent Arabs. It is certainly true that Israel’s existence is but one of a litany of Moslem terrorists’ grievances, but to disestablish Israel in the face of their pressure would be giving terrorism its greatest victory yet. It would whet Moslem terrorists’ appetites, not satisfy them.

One must also ask where Israel’s Jews would go. Craig Roberts suggests the United States (as one who wants a moratorium on all immigration to the United States for at least a decade, I am less inclined to be hospitable), but how welcome will they be in a country that hosts ever-increasing numbers of genuine anti-Semites, both Moslem and “Hispanic”? How welcome will they be in Western Europe, where all countries now show themselves incapable of either containing or assimilating growing Moslem immigration and cultural intrusion? The best thing for Israel, for the West, indeed for the world, is for Israel to stand fast. HRS

Israeli colonization of the US would be an enormous mistake and likely lead to, if not bloodshed, then increased anti-Semitism. Aside from the serious environmental and economic fallout from such a move, there are other concerns. As Steve Sailer writes in today’s Vdare.com:

“Still, importing 5.4 million Israeli Jews would contradict [Paul Craig] Roberts’ preference – expressed also by Podhoretz - for limited government. The high-IQ Ashkenazi Jews who dominate Israel, and who would soon play a major role in American institutions, have never been enthusiasts for free markets.”

The key phrase here is: “…who would soon play a major role in American institutions”. Is that really what we need?

Still, I find it hard to swallow the idea of any of the neocons rejecting the importation of 5.4 Israelis in North America. I mean, the neocons find the Israelis congenial enough to want to send American boys and girls to die for them, but they aren’t good enough to live next door to? Odd.