I scratch my head trying to identify why American Jewry's criticism of Israel is so difficult for me. I live in Israel and see the societal and political ills up close, so the reason is not because of a loss of my innocence or the destruction of a vision of utopia that I harbor for the Jewish State.
I recently read an article telling of a society where most cases of reported sexual abuse and harrassmnet never go before a judge because there is a culture of tolerance for such male behavior. It elicited an analogical awareness:
In the face of a woman's being violated by a man there is the tendency -- and even the desire -- to try to find the woman somewhat responsible for the act (a flirtatious personality, the way she dresses, she allowed herself to be alone with him, we know what happens in fraternity houses and she should have known better than to go to the party, she grew up in an abusive home so is attracted to violent men, it wasn't rape because they were on a date, she's a spurned woman making accusations out of revenge....). By finding her at all culpable we try to bring order to the chaos/randomness of the violent act so we can reduce anxiety about our own chances for being victimized, and it helps us to deny the extant evil of the perpetrator. Additionally, it allows for those persons who do not agree with certain expressions of femininity to be critical of that womanliness. And, it also causes a reduction of sympathy for the victim. In a way we do it regarding cancer, too -- lung cancer -- was he a smoker? does cancer run in the family? (as if it reduces the horror of the cancer or the tragedy of it because it could be predicted).
To even raise the issue of the female's behavior is to diminish the act of the perpetrator.
Settlements, roadblocks, separation walls, blockades, Operation Cast Lead, intransigence toward a Two State Solution, right wing coalition forces....these are accusations and explanations used (by Israel's detractors and others) for Israel somehow deserving to be victim to ideologies that do not condone Israel's existence and deserving to be victim to cultures that justify the perpetration of barbarism as legitimate means of protest.
Though American Jews who argue for 'honest debate over Israel' do not agree with these ideologies and cultures, they do use the same terminology as Israel's true enemies and by doing so it reduces the perpetrators' evil and points an accusing finger at the victim.
I understand legitimate difference of opinion regarding Israel's approach to its national security, I need not validate those whose very arguments abet and vindicate -- even unintentionally -- the pernicious enemies of Israel.
