J-Street’s usage of the term “beyond the pale” to describe their outrage over an ambassador nominee who supports Jews living in their ancient homeland of Judea and Samaria, is an interesting one. Yisrael Medad explains why…..
“I am deeply honored and humbled by the confidence placed in me by President-elect Trump to represent the United States as its Ambassador to Israel,” David Friedman, 57, said in the statement. “I intend to work tirelessly to strengthen the unbreakable bond between our two countries and advance the cause of peace within the region, and look forward to doing this from the U.S. embassy in Israel’s eternal capital, Jerusalem.”
J Street is Beyond the Pale
Here:
“J Street…said in a statement that it was “vehemently opposed to the nomination.”
“As someone who has been a leading American friend of the settlement movement, who lacks any diplomatic or policy credentials,” it said, “Friedman should be beyond the pale.””
Beyond the pale? Have they any idea of the historical resonance of that?
Hint:
“The Pale of Settlement ְַָֹּּּּֿ́́ was a western region of Imperial Russia with varying borders that existed from 1791 to 1917, in which permanent residency by Jews was allowed and beyond which Jewish permanent residency was generally prohibited. However, Jews were excluded from residency in a number of cities within the Pale…”
Of course, they do get credit points for an oblique reference to the term “settlement” but those points are a minus.
“Settlement” was in the Galut, the Diaspora and we had no control. The authorities did.
