Love Me, I’m A Liberal Zionist

Adapted from Phil Ochs, Love me I’m a Liberal

Oh, I cried at Sabra and Shatila,
The tears ran down my spine,
And I cried when Rabin was gunned down,
As though I’d lost a father of mine.

But I don’t sympathise with Zoabi,
Her antics just cross every line.
So love me, love me, love me, I’m a liberal.

I love Ray Hanania and J-Street,
Their message of peace speaks to me,
I curse Lieberman and Netanyahu,
For their counterproductivity.

But don’t talk to me ‚bout apartheid,
It’s so complicated, you see.
So love me, love me, love me, I’m a liberal.

I remember the spirit of Oslo,
My faith in the process restored.
I had hoped that the Palestinians,
Would renounce all that I had deplored.

But no, they crap on ‚bout „oppression“ –
It’s not about whose ox was gored!
So love me, love me, love me, I’m a liberal.

I cheered for Obama in Cairo,
I know that he’ll soon turn the tide;
His call for a two-state solution,
Just makes my eyes well up with pride.

He knows that we must change the discourse,
There’s just too much hate on both sides.
So love me, love me, love me, I’m a liberal.

The ideological settlers –
It seems nothing will give them pause.
I can’t understand how their minds work:
They need to read Grossman and Oz.

But until the Pallies find Gandhi,
You won’t find me joining their cause,
So love me, love me, love me, I’m a liberal.

These boycotts, divestments, and sanctions,
Do not help the cause of peace.
Can’t you see that the two warring factions
Need dialogue and not thought police.

By the way, did you know that Barghouti,
Goes to uni in Tel Aviv?
So love me, love me, love me, I’m a liberal.

There was a time I thought quite diff’rent,
I freely admit it, you see.
I bought a book by Lenni Brenner,
And once I defended Chomsky!

But now I’m much older and wiser,
And I hope, one day, you, too, will be-
So love me, love me, love me, I’m a liberal.