Rafi Wakim is former Israeli Defense Force specialist who spent 2 decades dedicating his life to the service of his people. He wants to set the record straight on what an “real Jew” is about and has agreed to sit down with me.

“How long were you active?” I asked.

“About 20 years. I loved what I did. I was technician who worked on tanks and other heavy machinery, but I ended up getting combat experience thanks to the Kuwaiti situation (Gulf conflict 1990), but once my wife had our second child I promised her I would get out for good.” he said.

Israelis have mandatory conscription for their citizens, ensuring that every man and woman get the proper training to defend the nation. Which is something pan-Africanist can learn from.

“I agree with Ben Gurion’s sentiments. If a people have their back up against the wall, then we must all pick up the pieces and defend ourselves.” he stated.

“How long has your lineage resided here?” I interrupted.

“My bubbie and zeide (Yiddish for grandmother and grandfather) may be of Swedish decent but both of my parents were born in Israel. My father is a Arab Jew, although he looks white since he’s Lebanese, and my mother is a German descended Jew.”

When asked if he would consider himself white Wakim said “ I consider myself Jewish first because I can here. My people are here we have a place of our own. I refuse to identify as ‘white’ even though I guess I’m ethnically Caucasian to a degree.”

As a Black man its hard to not identify and sympathize with Rafi. His people wanted a place of their own, a place where they couldn’t be harmed with impunity. And now they have it.

“Do you think its fair for the Palestinians to be moved off of their land?” I asked.

“When we got here much of the land was unoccupied. Large segments had been divided up by other Arab states who basically were forcing the Palestinian locals to sharecrop. The idea that they owned anything but a small fraction of the land is absurd. We (Israelis) actually bought a lot of the land from Palestinian elders who didn’t care about their own children’s inheritance so I understand their anger but I feel its misplaced.” He rebutted.

“We fairly purchased and built up the land. We consider this our home.”

“What about the Black Jews. We’ve seen and heard of bad treatment of the Ethiopian Jews who live there and American Hebrew Israelites who also visted the nation.” I questioned.

“Yes and there has been racism acted against the Beta’s (Ethiopian Jews) but they are still our people. At least we came for them when their own nation turned on them. Your people abandoned you in the United States. African-Americans have no ‘right to return’ in Africa or a place to return to. If your African brothers really cared about you all they would have made a place for you too. We at least have solved that problem for ourselves.” He stomped.

“Your people abandoned you in the United States. African-Americans have no ‘right to return’ in Africa or a place to return to. If your African brothers really cared about you all they would have made a place for you too. “

I couldn’t argue with him. He was right and the idea that the African continent has abandoned Black Americans and isn’t actively creating citizenship grantees or at the very least business alliances is very troubling, and slightly embarrassing.

“You go over there (occupied Palestine) and they will call you kaffir (one of many Arabic derogatory terms for Black people; a slave) and treat you just as bad as you’re treated in the US. Palestinians leave out their own racism against their Black brethren whenever they’re describing our (Israel) alleged wrongdoings. They’re very good for using social media to tell one side of the story.”

I completely agree.” I chimed in. “But a lot of the anti-Black propaganda broadcast around the world comes from Hollywood in the states, which is primarily Jewish owned and controlled. How are we supposed to get over that?” I indignantly asked.

“You have Atlanta. I got to go to the US for cross (collaborative) training. You’re not fooling us. You have your own cities but you don’t want to own your own film industry? Quit asking to be in something that wasn’t made for you akhi (Hebrew slang for ‘my brother’), I heard Falcon (actor Anthony Mackie) and other Black directors are building studios in the south of the country, maybe you all should support them instead of crying at OUR award shows.” He boasted.

Once again he got me there.

“What do you think is the biggest lie told about Israelis in the international media?” I asked.

“Easily the idea that Israel is more racist than the white Americans who enslaved Black people and refuse to pay them reparations is absurd. We at least try to do right by our Black citizens. We have social safety nets and housing accommodations just for the Beta Israelis, and we didn’t even harm them. They migrated because other African people discriminated against them and we took them in because we are all Shem’s children. I’m not saying we don’t have assholes who discriminate against them, but for the most part we love our Black family.”

“The idea that Israel is more racist than the white Americans who enslaved Black people and refuse to pay them reparations is absurd. We at least try to do right by our Black citizens.“

“If you could tell Black Jews worldwide one thing what would it be?” I finished.

“I would tell them to come home.” He said proudly. “Your people on the (African) continent may be fumbling the ball but we have a safe place for you, here where you belong. We are stronger together than spread apart.”

I couldn’t agree with him more.

–Terrence Dorner, B1Daily