Israeli Consul General Has Story to Tell
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| Israeli Consul General Nadav Tamir |
"There is a large story that is not told, especially for us, since we've been in this conflict for so long. For so many people, Israel is only seen through the lens of conflict," said Tamir during a two-day visit to the Berkshires on Wednesday. "I'm working to expose other aspects."
Tamir, who has served as Israel's liaison to the region since early 2007, works with local officials and other community leaders in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont to forge connections between Americans and Israelis. Through collaborations with businesses, educational institutions and lawmakers, Tamir wants to be a voice for his people in the United States.
"Israel often seems like a very militaristic and religious country but people who have visited there see a very different picture," said Tamir at a press luncheon at The Berkshire Eagle.
According to Tamir, not only is Israel the victim of various misconceptions, but it also fails to receive positive publicity for its progressive and human rights accomplishments. Tamir also said liberals are especially hard to convince when it comes to promoting Israel as more than a war zone.
"There is a perception problem of Israelis among liberals; it seems Israel is connected to the right in this country. One of the challenges for me is to to tell the liberal story of Israel," said Tamir. "I love this challenge, though, because I think we have a good story to tell."
Saying Israel's good deeds were "underexposed," Tamir explained that Israel has the second highest number o companies on NASDAQ in the world, has accepted more refugees from Darfur than any other country and is a world leader in arts and culture and environmental sustainability.
Tamir said that although many Americans believe Israel is a deeply religious country, only approximately 20 percent of the population is religious.
Optimism for Future
With President Bush on a tour of the Middle East this week, Tamir said he is tentatively optimistic about a peace treaty between Israel and the Palestinians in the coming years.
<L2>"There are many challenges and many opportunities at the same time. On the downside, there are new asymmetric threats, including non-state actors. But on the other hand, there's a feeling, for the first time in Israel's history, we are on the same side of the divide with our neighbors and we're trying to move forward with a two-state agreement. It's tough but we're absolutely dedicated to overcoming those obstacles.
"We can't say we're optimistic but we don't want pessimism to be a self-fulfilling prophecy. We're hopeful," he continued.
Noting that the November 2007 peace conference in Annapolis, Md., was widely regarded as a ceremonial agreement, Tamir said it was a step in the right direction.
"Ceremonies convey a sense of urgency and it sends the message that Israel is here to stay," he said.
Accompanied by state Rep. Denis E. Guyer, D-Dalton, Tamir made his first official trip to the Berkshires this week, making stops at Hancock Shaker Village, the Crane & Co. currency mill and Jewish Federation of the Berkshires. On Wednesday, he also met with Berkshire Community College President Paul Raverta and Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts President Mary K. Grant to discuss future cross-cultural and educational opportunities. Calling new England "a very special part of the country," Tamir said he planned on making more trips to the area.
"The idea is not only for America to support us but also to understand us and our culture. If we get more people to Israel, I could retire because you'd all be ambassadors," Tamir said.
