INTERVIEW WITH ELIE WIESEL
Charles Smolover

Philadelphia Jewish Voice, PA
Oct 28 2007

Elie Wiesel is a Romanian-born French-Jewish novelist, political
activist, Nobel Laureate, Holocaust survivor and outspoken advocate
for justice. He is the author of over 40 books, the best known of
which is Night, a memoir that describes his experiences during the
Holocaust. He is attending the AIPAC Summit in Philadelphia at the
end of October and spoke recently with the Philadelphia Jewish Voice.

PJV: You will be in Philadelphia next week for the AIPAC Summit and
you are no doubt aware of The Israel Lobby, the critical book about
AIPAC by Walt and Mearsheimer. Setting aside the many factual errors
in the book, is it possible that there is a kernel of truth to their
argument, that AIPAC’s power hinders United States politicians from
offering legitimate criticisms of Israeli policies?

I have not read the book, but I have read about it and read some
excepts. The people who have criticized it are responsible people and
I have confidence in their judgment. Nevertheless, I cannot really
comment having not read it myself. As to the general question you
ask, as to AIPAC itself, I think AIPAC is a useful, important and
vocal organization. I think the Jewish community needs it and I think
Israel needs it. Does it mean that because of AIPAC some statesmen
or politicians feel threatened? I don’t believe that. We live in
a democracy. Nobody is afraid to speak up. This is not Stalinist
Russia. AIPAC is good be cause it mobilizes all those Jews who
love the Jewish state and the Jewish people, but I don’t think it
represents a threat to those who disagree with the policies of the
Israeli government.

PJV: The subject of the Armenian Genocide has been in the news. The
U.S. Congress has been debating whether to officially recognize the
events in question as genocide, and the Turks, to no one’s surprise,
are not pleased. Some in the Jewish community are reluctant to touch
this issue for fear of damaging Turkey’s relationship with Israel.

What is your take on this issue?

I have been fighting for the right of the Armenian people to remember
for years and years. How could I, who has fought all my life for Jewish
remembrance, tell the Armenians they have no right to remember? But
I understand the administration’s view. Fortunately, as a private
citizen I don’t have to worry about Turkey’s response. But I do
feel that had there been the word "genocide" in those days, what
happened to the Armenians would have been called genocide. Everyone
agrees there was mass murder, but the word came later. I believe the
Armenians are the victims and, as a Jew, I should be on their side.

PJV: If the Armenians have a right to remember, don’t the Turks have
an obligation to take some responsibility?

No one is asking for the Turks to take responsibility. All the
Armenians want is the right to remember. Seven generations separate
us from the events that happened in World War I and nobody in his
right mind would say that today’s Turks are responsible for what
happened. The Armenians don’t want reparations, they don’t even want
an apology. They want the right to remember. The Turks would gain a
lot if they simply acknowledged the reality of what happened. I have
spoke with Turkish leaders at the highest level and their attitude
about this issue is totally irrational except for one thing which I do
understand. They don’t want to be compared to Hitler. But of course,
nobody does.

PJV: Is anti-Semitism on the rise in Europe?

I am not sure I would characterize the situation in Europe in terms
of whether there is a rise in anti-Semitism there. Europe clearly
has an anti-Semitic past and there are clearly anti-Semites in Europe
today. The question is whether they are part of a growing movement. I
don’t think they are. But there is a trend, a trend of being
anti-Israel, which you also see in American in certain circles. This
anti-Israel feeling, when taken to an extreme, becomes anti-Semitic.

PJV: What about in France? And what is the impact of the election of
Nicolas Sarkozy?

This anti-Israel trend is certainly true in France. But I have a
feeling that Sarkozy and his government will take steps to contain it,
to mute it.

PJV: Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will soon convene yet
another U.S.- sponsored conference to address the Israeli-Palestinian
conflict. Absent some fundamental change in the status quo, do you
expect this conference to have a different result than the many that
have preceded it?

You now how dangerous prophesy is. As a French poet once said, the
future isn’t what it used to be. But I can tell you that the current
situation in the Middle East cannot go on indefinitely. People are
tired. I organized the first meeting between Mahmoud Abbas and Ehud
Olmert. They fell into each other’s arms. It was quite moving. They
sat around the table, they ate breakfast and they discussed a range
of issues – scientific cooperation, economics, education. Everything
looked great. Three weeks later, Hamas and Hezbollah ignite new
violence and the process ground to a halt. But we cannot stop trying
to make peace. We cannot stop. Are we justified in feeling more hopeful
about these new talks? I don’t know. There is no telling how terrorism
can effect the situation. That is the evil power of terror.

PJV: Much has been written lately about Israel entering a so called
post-Zionist period that is marked by some disturbing trends,
including a rise in draft dodging, increased tension between secular
and religious Israelis and a growing disparity between the wealthiest
and poorest levels of Israeli society. As a frequent visitor to Israel,
what is your sense of the zeitgeist?

I go to Israel at least three or four times a year. I hear about these
trends and it is depressing. But I believe it is a passing phase and
that Israel’s citizenry has the resources to overcome it.

PJV: One last little question: What is the single greatest challenge
facing the Jewish people today?

Years ago when I was a journalist, David Ben-Gurion asked me to go
to America and meet with various leaders and explore the question
of who is a Jew. That was a big concern of his. Today I think the
challenge is understanding what it means to be a Jew in today’s
world. Of course, various communities of Jews have answers. Zionists
will say that being a Jew is about making aliyah. Orthodox Jews may
tell you it’s about performing mitzvot. But I think we need a deeper
understanding, especially today when we are threatened around the
world by the rise of fanaticism. It would like to see a high level
conference of intellectuals, thinkers, moralists and philosophers
convened to address this question.

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