“Dear American Jews: if you love Israel, criticize it”—Gideon Levy
Another powerful article by Gideon Levy in Ha'aretz, making a point which needs to keep being reiterated—that criticism of Israel is not "anti—Israel".
If Israel is dear to you - and that is true of most of you - then be honest enough to criticize it as it deserves. Think about your personal friends. What would they value more: your blind, automatic support, or criticism born of love when it is warranted?
Your beloved Israel is addicted. It is addicted to occupation and aggression, and someone has to wean it from these addictions. Like any other junkie, it is incapable of helping itself. Thus the job falls to you ...
You, dear brothers and sisters, have enormous political power. Sometimes, I think it is too enormous: One day, it will blow up in your faces. But it is possible to use this power for something more than a despicable witch-hunt after every congressman who dares to criticize Israel.
You have the power to influence your government to change Israel's behavior. And a government that does so will not be a government hostile to Israel.
Visit Ha'aretz to read the article in full.