One of those signs that is sure to send a chill through the Israel lobby.
A couple of days ago Roger Cohen did an anguished Op-Ed for the New York Times about the American Jewish community’s intolerance of criticism of Israel, even as Israeli leadership is destroying “the Zionist dream.” The column brought an outpouring of comments, about 238 so far.
And what is remarkable about the comments is that, while there is a lot of the inevitable defense of anything Israel does, the best letters are from Jews and non-Jews who are sharply critical of Israel and want a more open discussion. And if you rank the letters as readers did, by # of recommendations, the top ten letters are all critical, with the exception of one that is neutral. The #1 letter far and away is one that calls Israel a “fascist state” for Palestinians, and says that Israel is dragging the U.S. down, and the second letter is from a man who complains that he can’t talk about Israel in front of his Jewish friends. And a couple of other letters express strong Palestinian solidarity or strike as I do at racist constructions of Jewish identity.
It raises the questions: If these are the Times’s readers, why aren’t they better represented in the Times’ coverage and opinion columns, and for that matter in the liberal press generally, and in Congress? How can the Washington Post justify its virtually-all-neoconservative Op-Ed page when intelligent Americans maintain these views? Where are the non-Zionists, Palestinian solidarity folks and realists in our discourse?
Here’s a quick sample (the rankings in parens):
(1) Jon Raney, Bellingham Washington, 671 readers:
The treatment of Palestinians by the Israeli state is shameful. The attempt of Jewish and other organizations to stifle any public discussion of this treatment and its implications for the Israeli state are more shameful,and the knee-jerk support of what has become a fascist state, at least for those of its citizens or occupied people, is most shameful of all.
Furthermore, as Mr. Cohen points out, if the policies which the Israelis and their supporters are attempting to defend by preventing any rational public discussion of their legal and moral nature are allowed to continue Israel will cease to be a Jewish state as it has already ceased to be a real democracy. So if we in America can’t summon the courage to stop supporting the unlawful occupation and annexation of Palestinian land for moral or legal reasons, we should certainly do so for reasons of realpolitic. If the Israelis don’t see that a two-state solution SOON is in their best interests they can hardly be regarded as rational, let alone reliable, allies. I don’t see any reason we in America should allow the Israelis to drag us down with them, and if we do we’ll have no one but ourselves to blame.
(2) Ruskin, Buffalo, 498 readers:
…I cannot do anything but lament that my friendship with two people I admire tremendously, for their careers and what went into them, can survive only as long as I – a gentile – never bring up the subject of what is going on in the nation to which they are devoted. I hate that.
(3) SE, Washington DC (evidently Sara Ehrman), 469 readers
I’m an old lady who grew up in the Labor Zionist movement and have been a member of the Board of Americans For Peace Now since its inception. I am alarmed by the weakening of democracy and pluralism in Israel and consider this a greater threat to the security of the Democratic State of Israel than any threat coming from beyond its borders. Speaking of borders, where are the borders?
(5) Jack D, Shanghai, 429 readers:
The extremists will destroy Israel from within before the Muslims can do it from the outside.
(7) Mike in Asia, 400 readers
Being called a false, self-hating Jew is starting to sound like an honor.
In Hebrew school I was taught that “never again” meant taking a serious, critical look at intolerance and bigotry. But I was always afraid to bring up Palestine around older members of my family. Decades later, one of them smiled when Abu Ghrahib torture was brought up.
Jews are one of the most assimilated, well-to-do demographic groups in the USA. But if you read the Jewish press, they’re going out of their way to feel victimized and persecuted.
(8) Abe Louise Young, of Texas, recommended by 399 readers:
Ten years ago, I visited Israel on a free tour for American Jewish students called Birthright Israel. The Rabbi who led the trip made abhorrent jokes: “The only good way to look at an Arab is through the sights of a rifle.” I tried to organize discussions of peace and nonviolence in relation to the Mideast conflicts with the other students on the trip, and was threatened with being returned to America on the first flight out, and charged for the airfare. In his rage at being challenged, the Rabbi said, “You are not a real Jew.” This trip was intended to build warm feelings for Israel in the hearts of American Jewry, but alienated me deeply. My passionate support for Palestinian statehood has only strengthened.
and this person is further down, but interesting:
pvolkov, Vermont, 94 readers:
I can only state that more real anti-semitism is being encouraged by the behavior of many official Jewish organizations in trying to suppress the real concerns of caring Jews and their friends, than what those of us who critize Israel are being accused of.
