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24 / 07 / 2004
Avishai Margalit, professor of philosophy at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem: "There is no doubt that Israel is experiencing a very serious moral crisis"
The Forum's "141 Questions" (77): "Are ethics a basic part of national identity?" According to Avishai Margalit, philosophy professor at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (Israel), the answer to this question is, without a doubt, yes. Although he went on to remind the audience that, unfortunately, nationalism has a tribal element that is extremely problematic and it does not contribute, precisely, towards emphasizing the ethical character of national identity
Avishai Margalit, philosophy professor at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (Israel), today pointed out on the Haima Stage that "it is an ethical obligation to remember the past so that we can build nations, but it is obvious that looking at the future is more important that the past". During his talk, Margalit distinguished between morality, how human beings deal with other people through being human beings and ethics, how we treat those we are closest to, family, friends, fellow citizens. According to Margalit, "the nation that does not have one of its basic pillars founded in ethics should not be called a good nation".
Margalit has reflected on memory, nationhood and future. "Nations are based on memory, like the rest of human relationships, but there is no doubt that the future is more important. Because of the conflict with the Palestinians, Margalit has recognized that "Israel is experiencing a very serious moral crisis, there is no doubt about it. I believe that we are doing unspeakable things from a moral point of view ".
Nevertheless, professor Margalit - one of the founders of the pacifist NGO "Peace Now" and the human rights organization "Betselem" - expressed his deep regret that several interventions of the public have reflected a tendency in which, in its opinion, Europe presently suffers from and that he himself calls "the crucifixion of Israel". Margalit raised the question why the Jews must demonstrate morally, more than anyone else and why Israeli politics are at the top of the international agenda and why no one speaks as much, for example, about the genocide that is taking place right now in Sudan.
In response to a question from the audience, the philosophy professor at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem attempted to denounce the traditional stereotype of Jews and their supposed economic superiority to others. "Jewish money that moves the world to suit their interests is a malignant fantasy. The subject of Jewish money is a fantasy and I must remind you that many families, including mine, were destroyed because of this fantasy and these prejudices against Jewish culture".
In his opinion, the constitution of a Palestinian State, from the 1948 borders, would contribute towards solving the conflict in the Middle East: "Most of the Israeli and Palestinian citizens would want a solution like this, but their political leaders don't".
The participation of Avishai Margalit has come as part of the Dialogue "The Ethical Wealth of Nations. Values and Social Development" that is being held at the Forum on 24 and 25 July. This dialogue raises the question that the development of a society does not depend solely on economic, social and political viability but that there must be a certain ethical wealth, a series of fundamental values cultivated by citizens.
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