Parallel States: Israel and Ireland
Despite
obvious historical and cultural differences, Israel
and Ireland share striking similarities. 1
Both are small - each has a population of about five
million - yet significant nations. Israel is a narrow
sliver of desert on the Mediterranean, a Middle Eastern
country with negligible oil reserves. Ireland, an island
on the fringe of Europe, is a neutral nation which played
marginal roles in World War II and the Cold War. 2
Yet these nations have greater profiles than their larger
and more powerful neighbors, largely because they represent
homelands to vast Diaspora populations.3
More Jews live in America than Israel; more Irish live
in America than Ireland. American Jews and Irish were
significant supporters of the Zionist and Republican
movements that helped establish the modern independent
states.
Their recent emergence as sovereign states indicates
a shared legacy of oppression and occupation. Although
both the Jews and the Irish have cultures thousands
of years old, Israel and Ireland did not achieve full
independence until after the Second World War.4
Israel was recognized by the United Nations in 1948.
Though partitioned in 1922, Ireland was not officially
declared a republic until 1949, ending eight hundred
years of British influence.
Since their creation, Israel and Ireland have endured
decades of violence and terrorism.5
Both nations have labored to maintain democratic rights
while preserving security for their citizenry.
Both nations have dual identities. On one hand, both
Israel and Ireland were founded as Western-style parliamentary
democracies. Yet both are religious states. Israel is
the Jewish homeland. Ireland is a Catholic nation.6
The religious authorities - the Catholic bishops and
orthodox rabbis - believe citizens should accept their
views on marriage, divorce, abortion, censorship, and
civil customs. Secular forces, who view the religious
orthodoxies as tradition-bound and male dominated, champion
diversity and tolerance. Issues such as the role of
women and gay rights evoke similar debates in Israel
and Ireland as both nations struggle to reconcile their
political and religious traditions.
In recent years both nations have engaged in a peace
process to resolve long-standing conflicts in contested
areas.7
In both Northern Ireland and the West Bank, the populations
are split by religious, political, and cultural differences.
Recently the President of the United States, prompted
by the large number of Jews and Irish in America, played
a pivotal role in stimulating stalled peace talks. Negotiations
in both regions were difficult to conduct because Israeli
and Northern Irish politicians did not wish to recognize
leaders of terrorist organizations.
By first inviting Yasser Arafat and Gerry Adams to the
White House, Bill Clinton helped transform their public
images from terrorists to legitimate leaders so that
other democratic leaders could negotiate with them without
appearing to endorse violence.8
Despite ongoing tensions in both regions, Israel and
Ireland enjoy expanding tourism, particularly from millions
to American Jews and Irish who enjoy visiting homelands
that represent their heritage.9
|
