A-vital Blog: Freedom of expression?

In the midst of the tough public debate on what Israel's reaction to the attacks from Gaza should be, Oded Tira (who previously served as Head of Israel's industrialists' Association) published in Ha'aretz (14.2.08) a paid, quarter page length ad attacking one of Israel's most prominent writers and intellectuals - Amos Oz.

The reason for Tira's fury: Amoz Oz dared to express his opinion (obviously opposed to Tira's point of view) about the course of action to be taken in Gaza.

Since when, writes our good industrialist, can Oz make any such pronouncements - who "gave him the authority, him and his writer friends, to advise the people of Israel on strategic matters"?

Perhaps the simplest answer to give Oded Tira - who does not fail to use his army rank, should be: "who exactly gave you the authority to judge Amos Oz?" - Which, of course, only illustrates how problematic such statements can be.

In a democracy such as Israel - a democracy I am proud of - every one has the basic right to express his or her opinion, and the public has the right to hear or read a diversity of views before forming an opinion.

In addition to the arrogance manifested in refusing a writer the right to express his views on a matter which has heavy moral implications, Oded Tira demonstrates the sad reality we live in - one in which, it is presumed that only the military has the right answers, only the military has a right to think, express and influence the political process in this country.

This, according to him, is the prerogative of "Strategists". Perhaps Tira could give us some examples on how successful these strategists have been in the past 60 years in bringing about peace.

Rather than preaching to those whose intellectuals baggage and moral authority is well established, I suggest that Mr. Tira begin by listening to other voices, to other alternative courses.

After all, any military action entails human loss and it is our children who may pay with their lives. Therefore it is perfectly legitimate to remind us that such actions will neither offer a solution to the Kassam rockets, nor bring about quieter times.

Oops! I am now risking to be reprimanded by our Mr. Tira who will not fail to remind me that I am no strategist either.

Strategist or not, I must state, based on my knowledge and past experience, that in the end cease-fires have been achieved only through political means.

One last thing, Mr. Tira:

Terming these writers as "galutim" (behaving like in the galut) is utter chutzpah, it is vulgar demagoguery, and reminds all of us of days when we heard that one cannot voice criticism because what will the goim or our enemies say?

So my advice to Tira is this: stick to what you know best, and stop publishing ads that deal with one issue you obviously don't know much about - democracy.