Israel’s proposed law to declare it the nation state of the Jewish people has dropped the mask from an ethnocracy, and the American media are at last reflecting Palestinian criticisms of the country

On a 2013 visit, possible Def Sec’y nominee Ashton Carter lauded the Israel-US bond and called Israeli army dogs “the fun part” of military life. Israel used dogs to quell Palestinian stone-throwers in protests against the occupation. Shades of Birmingham.

Omar Barghouti and Shlomo Sand both argue that Israel’s discrimination against its Palestinian citizens is toxic and offensive — long before it even considered the latest legislation, to declare the country the nation state of the Jewish people.

A Thanksgiving cartoon from Katie Miranda.

Detroit Lions running back Reggie Bush posted a photo of Palestinian photo-journalist Hamde Abu Rahma on his Instagram page 2 days ago. Abu Rahma’s sign reading “The Palestinian people know what mean to be shot while unarmed because of your ethnicity #Ferguson #Justice.” Predictably Abe Foxman issued a press release telling Bush he should “stick to football” among other things.

Rightwing Texas Senator Ted Cruz is trying to raise money from Sheldon Adelson, Mort Zuckerman, Michael Steinhardt, and other big pro-Israel Jewish donors in New York. You thought he was the Tea Party? Guess again.

Peter Beinart says the left ignores nationalism in supporting a one state solution. Rebecca Vilkomerson says it is one state, and we have to imagine a future of coexistence and equal rights. A highlight of the Open Hillel conference in October.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren takes her first foreign trip, to Israel, and meets with Benjamin Netanyahu even as he is working to undermine US negotiations with Iran. The road to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue runs through Jerusalem.

As Dima Khalidi of Palestine Solidarity Legal Support made clear at a forum in DC last week, Palestinian activism in the US is on the ascent; and efforts to suppress it go against the American commitment to the First Amendment and will only hurt Israel in the end.

The New York Times says the Israel cabinet’s decision to make Israel “the nation state of the Jewish people” is “heartbreaking.” The emotion would be more appropriate to an American jurisdiction; and Israel has been violating principles of equality for more than 60 years.