Amos_NP1 Alon_NP1 (_( 1926-2009_MCMC )_) I_PPIS1 first_MD met_VVD Amos_NP1 Elon_NP1 in_II Germany_NP1 in_II the_AT 1990s_MC2 ._. 
We_PPIS2 were_VBDR participants_NN2 in_II one_MC1 of_IO a_AT1 series_NN of_IO meetings_NN2 generously_RR hosted_VVN by_II the_AT Bertelsmann_NP1 Foundation_NN1 ,_, where_CS Germans_NN2 ,_, Israelis_NN2 ,_, and_CC Jews_NN2 gathered_VVD to_TO exchange_VVI platitudes_NN2 ._. 
Most_DAT of_IO those_DD2 present_NN1 sought_VVD either_RR to_TO proselytize_VVI and_CC grandstand_NN1 (_( in_II the_AT case_NN1 of_IO Israelis_NN2 and_CC Jews_NN2 )_) or_CC else_RR to_TO avoid_VVI giving_VVG offense_NN1 (_( in_II the_AT case_NN1 of_IO the_AT Germans_NN2 )_) ._. 
Amos_NN2 ,_, uniquely_RR ,_, did_VDD neither_DD1 ._. 
There_RL ,_, as_CSA on_II every_AT1 occasion_NN1 when_CS I_PPIS1 heard_VVD him_PPHO1 speak_VVI ,_, he_PPHS1 succeeded_VVD in_II being_VBG both_RR outspoken_JJ and_CC yet_RR somehow_RR effortlessly_RR sensible_JJ --_NN1 he_PPHS1 dominated_VVD conversation_NN1 by_II force_NN1 of_IO reason_NN1 ._. 
He_PPHS1 had_VHD a_AT1 mordant_JJ wit_NN1 and_CC a_AT1 dismissive_JJ eye_NN1 ;_; he_PPHS1 was_VBDZ contemptuous_JJ of_IO fools_NN2 and_CC pedants_NN2 ;_; he_PPHS1 smiled_VVD only_RR rarely_RR but_CCB when_RRQ he_PPHS1 did_VDD so_RR it_PPH1 was_VBDZ real_JJ ._. 
He_PPHS1 made_VVD a_AT1 lasting_JJ impression_NN1 upon_II me_PPIO1 ._. 
The_AT German_JJ setting_NN1 was_VBDZ altogether_RR fitting_VVG ._. 
Amos_NN2 ,_, who_PNQS was_VBDZ born_VVN in_II Vienna_NP1 and_CC was_VBDZ the_AT author_NN1 of_IO an_AT1 influential_JJ biography_NN1 of_IO Theodor_NP1 Herzl_NP1 ,_, never_RR lost_VVD his_APPGE attachment_NN1 to_II German_JJ culture_NN1 and_CC history_NN1 ,_, a_AT1 subject_NN1 on_II which_DDQ he_PPHS1 wrote_VVD frequently_RR and_CC with_IW empathetic_JJ insight_NN1 ._. 
The_AT Pity_NN1 of_IO It_PPH1 All_DB ,_, his_APPGE 2002_MC study_NN1 of_IO the_AT Jewish_JJ presence_NN1 in_II Germany_NP1 from_II the_AT Enlightenment_NN1 to_II Hitler_NP1 ,_, displayed_VVD a_AT1 fine_JJ sensitivity_NN1 to_II the_AT tragedy_NN1 of_IO Germany_NP1 's_GE Jews_NN2 ._. 
For_RR21 good_RR22 and_CC ill_JJ they_PPHS2 remained_VVD profoundly_RR attached_VVN to_II their_APPGE cultural_JJ homeland_NN1 ,_, long_RR after_CS they_PPHS2 were_VBDR forced_VVN to_TO leave_VVI it_PPH1 for_IF Israel_NP1 or_CC America_NP1 or_CC elsewhere_RL :_: more_DAR than_CSN the_AT Jews_NN2 of_IO any_DD other_JJ European_JJ land_NN1 ,_, they_PPHS2 would_VM feel_VVI their_APPGE loss_NN1 ._. 
But_CCB it_PPH1 is_VBZ for_IF his_APPGE writings_NN2 on_II Zionism_NN1 and_CC Israel_NP1 ,_, and_CC his_APPGE lifelong_JJ engagement_NN1 with_IW the_AT country_NN1 and_CC its_APPGE dilemmas_NN2 ,_, that_CST Amos_NP1 Elon_NP1 will_VM be_VBI best_RRT remembered_VVN ._. 
In_II The_AT Israelis_NN2 :_: Founders_NN2 and_CC Sons_NN2 (_( 1971_MC )_) he_PPHS1 offered_VVD a_AT1 critical_JJ history_NN1 of_IO Zionism_NN1 ,_, its_APPGE practitioners_NN2 ,_, and_CC its_APPGE heirs_NN2 ;_; an_AT1 account_NN1 that_CST directly_RR confronts_VVZ the_AT shortcomings_NN2 of_IO the_AT Zionist_JJ project_NN1 and_CC its_APPGE outcome_NN1 ._. 
Today_RT such_DA critical_JJ accounts_NN2 are_VBR common_JJ currency_NN1 in_II debates_NN2 in_II Israel_NP1 ;_; in_II those_DD2 days_NNT2 they_PPHS2 were_VBDR rare_JJ indeed_RR ._. 
Amos_NP1 Elon_NP1 's_GE commitment_NN1 to_II Israel_NP1 ,_, the_AT country_NN1 where_CS he_PPHS1 lived_VVD and_CC worked_VVD for_IF most_DAT of_IO his_APPGE life_NN1 ,_, was_VBDZ never_RR in_II question_NN1 ._. 
But_II21 for_II22 just_RR this_DD1 reason_NN1 his_APPGE awkward_JJ stance_NN1 ,_, relentlessly_RR engaging_VVG with_IW the_AT country_NN1 's_GE failings_NN2 ,_, set_VVD him_PPHO1 apart_RL ._. 
His_APPGE courageous_JJ refusal_NN1 to_TO endorse_VVI the_AT cliches_NN2 with_IW which_DDQ Israel_NP1 's_GE defenders_NN2 parry_VV0 every_AT1 criticism_NN1 contrasts_VVZ not_XX only_RR with_IW the_AT defensiveness_NN1 of_IO contemporary_JJ left-wing_JJ Israeli_JJ commentators_NN2 but_CCB also_RR and_CC especially_RR with_IW the_AT pusillanimous_JJ apologetics_NN1 of_IO Israel_NP1 's_GE American_JJ claque_NN1 ._. 
Thus_RR Amos_NP1 ,_, unlike_II so_RG many_DA2 of_IO the_AT land-fixated_JJ commentators_NN2 among_II his_APPGE fellow_JJ countrymen_NN2 ,_, was_VBDZ one_MC1 of_IO the_AT first_MD to_TO recognize_VVI that_CST the_AT settlements_NN2 in_II the_AT territories_NN2 Israel_NP1 has_VHZ occupied_VVN since_II 1967_MC were_VBDR a_AT1 self-imposed_JJ catastrophe_NN1 :_: "_" The_AT settlements_NN2 &hellip;_... have_VH0 tied_VVN Israel_NP1 's_GE hands_NN2 in_II any_DD negotiation_NN1 to_TO achieve_VVI lasting_JJ peace_NN1 &hellip;_... 
._. They_PPHS2 have_VH0 only_RR made_VVN it_PPH1 less_RGR secure_JJ ._. "_" 
That_CST a_AT1 country_NN1 with_IW the_AT strongest_JJT military_JJ in_II its_APPGE region_NN1 ,_, and_CC with_IW an_AT1 unbroken_JJ string_NN1 of_IO armed_JJ victories_NN2 behind_II it_PPH1 ,_, should_VM be_VBI so_RG obsessed_JJ with_IW the_AT security_NN1 risks_NN2 of_IO relinquishing_VVG a_AT1 few_DA2 square_JJ miles_NNU2 of_IO land_NN1 may_VM seem_VVI odd_JJ indeed_RR ._. 
But_CCB it_PPH1 speaks_VVZ to_II the_AT changes_NN2 that_CST have_VH0 overtaken_VVN Elon_NP1 's_GE homeland_NN1 in_II recent_JJ decades_NNT2 ._. 
As_CSA he_PPHS1 foresaw_VVD in_II 2003_MC ,_, Israeli_JJ insistence_NN1 upon_II ruling_NN1 over_II an_AT1 Arab_JJ population_NN1 that_CST will_VM eventually_RR become_VVI a_AT1 majority_NN1 within_II the_AT country_NN1 's_GE borders_NN2 can_VM only_RR lead_VVI to_II a_AT1 single_JJ authoritarian_JJ state_NN1 encompassing_VVG two_MC mutually_RR hostile_JJ nations_NN2 :_: one_MC1 dominant_JJ ,_, the_AT other_JJ subservient_NN1 ._. 
With_IW what_DDQ outcome_NN1 ?_? 
"_" If_CS Israel_NP1 persists_VVZ in_II its_APPGE current_JJ settlement_NN1 policy_NN1 ,_, &hellip;_... the_AT end_NN1 result_NN1 is_VBZ more_RGR likely_JJ to_TO resemble_VVI Zimbabwe_NP1 than_CSN post-apartheid_JJ South_NP1 Africa_NP1 ._. "_" 
Many_DA2 have_VH0 since_RR come_VVN to_II this_DD1 depressing_JJ conclusion_NN1 ;_; I_PPIS1 believe_VV0 Amos_NP1 was_VBDZ the_AT first_MD to_TO make_VVI the_AT point_NN1 ._. 
Amos_NN2 wrote_VVD more_RRR in_II sorrow_NN1 than_CSN anger_NN1 ._. 
Many_DA2 years_NNT2 ago_RA ,_, when_CS few_DA2 nonspecialists_NN2 were_VBDR even_RR paying_VVG attention_NN1 ,_, he_PPHS1 wrote_VVD despairingly_RR of_IO "_" the_AT human_JJ energies_NN2 wasted_VVN for_IF more_DAR than_CSN a_AT1 generation_NN1 on_II short-sighted_JJ settlement_NN1 programs_NN2 &hellip;_... 
._. Think_VV0 of_IO what_DDQ might_VM have_VHI been_VBN achieved_VVN had_VHD the_AT billions_NNO2 poured_VVN into_II the_AT shifting_JJ sands_NN2 of_IO Sinai_NP1 ,_, the_AT Golan_JJ Heights_NN2 ,_, and_CC the_AT West_NP1 Bank_NP1 ,_, been_VBN spent_VVN on_II more_RGR useful_JJ causes_NN2 ._. "_" 
Such_DA misplaced_JJ efforts_NN2 he_PPHS1 attributed_VVD to_II what_DDQ he_PPHS1 called_VVD "_" the_AT astonishing_JJ mediocrity_NN1 of_IO Israeli_JJ politicians_NN2 ._. "_" 
That_DD1 was_VBDZ written_VVN in_II 2002_MC ._. 
The_AT incompetence_NN1 and_CC political_JJ cowardice_NN1 of_IO a_AT1 generation_NN1 of_IO Israeli_JJ Labor_NN1 statesmen_NN2 ,_, from_II the_AT sainted_JJ Golda_NP1 Meir_NP1 to_II the_AT egregious_JJ Shimon_NP1 Peres_NP1 ,_, were_VBDR already_RR manifest_VV0 ._. 
But_CCB there_EX was_VBDZ worse_JJR to_TO come_VVI :_: Amos_NP1 Elon_NP1 would_VM live_VVI to_TO see_VVI the_AT resurrection_NN1 of_IO Benjamin_NP1 Netanyahu_NP1 and_CC the_AT obscene_JJ elevation_NN1 to_II foreign_JJ minister_NN1 of_IO Avigdor_NP1 Lieberman_NP1 ,_, sad_JJ confirmation_NN1 of_IO his_APPGE assessment_NN1 ._. 
Amos_NP1 was_VBDZ perfectly_RR well_JJ aware_JJ that_CST the_AT present_JJ Middle_JJ Eastern_JJ imbroglio_NN1 was_VBDZ the_AT achievement_NN1 of_IO all_DB sides_NN2 ._. 
His_APPGE sympathy_NN1 for_IF the_AT "_" stateless_JJ ,_, dispossessed_VVD ,_, and_CC dispersed_JJ Palestinians_NN2 "_" did_VDD not_XX blind_VVI him_PPHO1 to_II the_AT ineptness_NN1 of_IO their_APPGE leaders_NN2 ._. 
He_PPHS1 had_VHD met_VVN enough_DD Arab_NN1 and_CC Palestinian_JJ politicians_NN2 to_TO know_VVI just_RR how_RGQ inadequate_JJ they_PPHS2 were_VBDR to_II the_AT tragedy_NN1 of_IO their_APPGE peoples_NN2 and_CC the_AT tasks_NN2 facing_VVG them_PPHO2 ._. 
In_II all_DB his_APPGE writings_NN2 ,_, notably_RR an_AT1 influential_JJ 1996_MC New_NP1 York_NP1 Review_NN1 essay_NN1 entitled_VVN "_" Israel_NP1 and_CC the_AT End_NN1 of_IO Zionism_NN1 ,_, "_" he_PPHS1 was_VBDZ distinctly_RR evenhanded_VVN in_II acknowledging_VVG the_AT errors_NN2 of_IO both_DB2 sides_NN2 ._. 
But_CCB the_AT historic_JJ mistakes_NN2 of_IO the_AT Palestinians_NN2 had_VHD come_VVN primarily_RR before_II 1948_MC ,_, whereas_CS Israel_NP1 was_VBDZ overwhelmingly_RR responsible_JJ for_IF the_AT disastrous_JJ missteps_NN2 that_CST followed_VVD its_APPGE great_JJ victory_NN1 in_II 1967_MC ._. 
Zionism_NN1 ,_, as_CSA Amos_NP1 came_VVD to_TO realize_VVI ,_, had_VHD outlived_VVN its_APPGE usefulness_NN1 ._. 
"_" As_II a_AT1 measure_NN1 of_IO &hellip;_... 'affirmative_JJ action_NN1 ,_, '_GE Zionism_NN1 was_VBDZ useful_JJ during_II the_AT formative_JJ years_NNT2 ._. 
Today_RT it_PPH1 has_VHZ become_VVN redundant_JJ ._. "_" 
What_DDQ had_VHD once_RR been_VBN the_AT nationalist_JJ ideology_NN1 of_IO a_AT1 stateless_JJ people_NN has_VHZ undergone_VVN a_AT1 tragic_JJ transition_NN1 ._. 
It_PPH1 has_VHZ ,_, for_IF a_AT1 growing_JJ number_NN1 of_IO Israelis_NN2 ,_, been_VBN corrupted_VVN into_II an_AT1 uncompromising_JJ ethno-religious_JJ real_JJ estate_NN1 pact_NN1 with_IW a_AT1 partisan_JJ God_NP1 ,_, a_AT1 pact_NN1 that_CST justifies_VVZ any_DD and_CC all_DB actions_NN2 against_II real_JJ or_CC imagined_JJ threats_NN2 ,_, critics_NN2 ,_, and_CC enemies_NN2 ._. 
The_AT Zionist_JJ project_NN1 ,_, a_AT1 doctrine_NN1 dating_VVG to_II the_AT state-building_JJ nationalisms_NN2 of_IO the_AT late_JJ nineteenth_MD century_NNT1 ,_, has_VHZ long_RR since_CS lost_VVN its_APPGE way_NN1 ._. 
It_PPH1 can_VM mean_VVI little_DA1 --_NN1 though_CS it_PPH1 can_VM do_VDI much_DA1 harm_NN1 --_NN1 in_II an_AT1 established_JJ democratic_JJ state_NN1 with_IW aspirations_NN2 to_II normality_NN1 ._. 
In_II any_DD case_NN1 it_PPH1 has_VHZ been_VBN hijacked_VVN by_II ultras_NN2 ._. 
Herzl_NP1 's_GE dream_NN1 of_IO a_AT1 "_" normal_JJ "_" Jewish_JJ country_NN1 has_VHZ become_VVN an_AT1 exclusivist_NN1 sectarian_JJ nightmare_NN1 ,_, a_AT1 development_NN1 that_CST Amos_NP1 illustrated_VVD by_II slightly_RR misquoting_VVG Keats_NP1 :_: "_" Fanatics_NN2 have_VH0 a_AT1 dream_NN1 by_II which_DDQ they_PPHS2 weave_VV0 a_AT1 paradise_NN1 for_IF a_AT1 sect_NN1 ._. "_" 
For_IF much_DA1 of_IO his_APPGE working_NN1 life_NN1 Amos_NP1 Elon_NP1 was_VBDZ a_AT1 journalist_NN1 ,_, employed_VVN by_II the_AT liberal_JJ daily_JJ Haaretz_NN1 ._. 
During_II the_AT 1950s_MC2 and_CC 1960s_MC2 he_PPHS1 worked_VVD frequently_RR as_II a_AT1 foreign_JJ correspondent_NN1 ranging_VVG from_II Communist_JJ Eastern_JJ Europe_NP1 to_II Washington_NP1 ,_, D.C._NP1 He_PPHS1 seems_VVZ to_TO have_VHI interviewed_VVN just_RR21 about_RR22 everyone_PN1 ,_, from_II John_NP1 F._NP1 Kennedy_NP1 (_( with_IW whom_PNQO he_PPHS1 attended_VVD wild_JJ parties_NN2 at_II the_AT height_NN1 of_IO the_AT Camelot_NP1 years_NNT2 )_) to_II Yasser_NP1 Arafat_NP1 ._. 
He_PPHS1 used_VMK to_TO tell_VVI a_AT1 revealing_JJ story_NN1 ._. 
In_II an_AT1 interview_NN1 he_PPHS1 conducted_VVD in_II the_AT early_JJ 1960s_MC2 in_II Washington_NP1 ,_, with_IW a_AT1 senior_JJ Israeli_JJ diplomat_NN1 who_PNQS was_VBDZ about_RPK to_TO leave_VVI his_APPGE post_NN1 and_CC return_VVI home_RL ,_, he_PPHS1 questioned_VVD his_APPGE fellow_JJ Israeli_NN1 closely_RR ._. 
"_" What_DDQ do_VD0 you_PPY think_VVI you_PPY achieved_VVN during_II your_APPGE posting_NN1 here_RL in_II the_AT US_NP1 ?_? "_" 
Elon_NP1 asked_VVD him_PPHO1 ._. 
"_" Oh_UH ,_, that_DD1 's_VBZ easy_JJ ,_, "_" the_AT diplomat_NN1 replied_VVD ._. 
"_" I_PPIS1 believe_VV0 I_PPIS1 have_VH0 succeeded_VVN in_II convincing_JJ Americans_NN2 that_CST anti-Zionism_NN1 is_VBZ anti-Semitism_NN1 ._. "_" 
Back_NN1 in_II those_DD2 years_NNT2 ,_, Amos_NP1 told_VVD me_PPIO1 ,_, he_PPHS1 found_VVD the_AT diplomat_NN1 's_GE assertion_NN1 simply_RR bizarre_JJ ;_; he_PPHS1 could_VM hardly_RR then_RT have_VHI imagined_VVN that_CST this_DD1 cynical_JJ political_JJ equation_NN1 would_VM become_VVI received_JJ opinion_NN1 among_II his_APPGE countrymen_NN2 and_CC their_APPGE supporters_NN2 ._. 
This_DD1 growing_JJ inability_NN1 --_NN1 in_II America_NP1 above_II all_DB ,_, but_CCB in_II Israel_NP1 too_RG --_JJ to_TO distinguish_VVI between_II Jews_NN2 and_CC Israel_NP1 ,_, Israel_NP1 and_CC Zionism_NN1 ,_, Zionism_NN1 and_CC fanatical_JJ theological_JJ exclusivism_NN1 ,_, helps_NN2 explain_VVI why_RRQ an_AT1 Israeli_NN1 like_II Amos_NP1 Elon_NP1 would_VM in_II his_APPGE later_JJR years_NNT2 find_VV0 himself_PPX1 living_VVG in_II Tuscany_NP1 (_( where_CS he_PPHS1 died_VVD on_II May_NPM1 25_MC )_) ._. 
Many_DA2 Israelis_NN2 ,_, especially_RR younger_JJR and_CC better-educated_JJR men_NN2 and_CC women_NN2 ,_, today_RT live_VV0 outside_II their_APPGE country_NN1 ,_, attracted_VVN by_II the_AT cosmopolitan_JJ cities_NN2 of_IO Europe_NP1 and_CC the_AT US_NP1 ._. 
A_AT1 few_DA2 of_IO them_PPHO2 have_VH0 chosen_VVN exile_NN1 rather_CS21 than_CS22 serve_VVI in_II an_AT1 army_NN1 of_IO occupation_NN1 ._. 
But_II21 for_II22 a_AT1 man_NN1 of_IO Elon_NP1 's_GE generation_NN1 ,_, already_RR adult_JJ when_CS his_APPGE country_NN1 came_VVD into_II being_NN1 and_CC utterly_RR committed_VVN to_II the_AT necessity_NN1 and_CC success_NN1 of_IO Zionism_NN1 ,_, the_AT decision_NN1 to_TO sell_VVI his_APPGE home_NN1 in_II Jerusalem_NP1 and_CC settle_VVI permanently_RR abroad_RL was_VBDZ far_RG more_RGR wrenching_JJ and_CC carries_VVZ profound_JJ implications_NN2 ._. 
A_AT1 moral_JJ exile_NN1 in_II his_APPGE own_DA land_NN1 ,_, Amos_NP1 --_NN1 the_AT consummate_JJ Israeli_NN1 in_II so_RG many_DA2 ways_NN2 --_NN1 was_VBDZ once_RR21 again_RR22 rootless_JJ ;_; or_CC at_II any_DD rate_NN1 rooted_VVN only_RR in_II his_APPGE defiant_JJ cosmopolitanism_NN1 ._. 
A_AT1 regrettable_JJ consequence_NN1 of_IO this_DD1 self-exile_NN1 of_IO one_MC1 of_IO their_APPGE country_NN1 's_GE greatest_JJT journalists_NN2 is_VBZ that_CST many_DA2 Israelis_NN2 today_RT are_VBR unfamiliar_JJ with_IW his_APPGE writings_NN2 ._. 
To_TO be_VBI sure_JJ ,_, his_APPGE books_NN2 are_VBR available_JJ in_II Hebrew_NN1 ._. 
And_CC his_APPGE frequent_JJ essays_NN2 in_II The_AT New_NP1 York_NP1 Review_NN1 and_CC elsewhere_RL were_VBDR read_VVN with_IW close_JJ attention_NN1 by_II his_APPGE admirers_NN2 ._. 
But_CCB the_AT audience_NN1 in_II Israel_NP1 for_IF Elon_NP1 's_GE sort_NN1 of_IO writing_NN1 has_VHZ steadily_RR declined_VVN over_II the_AT decades_NNT2 ._. 
This_DD1 in_II no_AT way_NN1 diminishes_VVZ the_AT significance_NN1 of_IO his_APPGE passing_NN1 ._. 
Quite_RR the_AT contrary_NN1 ._. 
The_AT fact_NN1 that_CST most_DAT Israelis_NN2 today_RT will_VM not_XX be_VBI mourning_VVG him_PPHO1 merely_RR illustrates_VVZ and_CC compounds_VVZ their_APPGE loss_NN1 --_NN1 and_CC ours_PPGE ._. 
