What The Israel Lobby has "Taught" Americans

I previously recommended reading Philip Weiss’s blog Mondoweiss. Here is an excerpt from his recent article about the “dual loyalty” of American Jews and Israel:

“Jewish prominence in American society, coupled with definitions of Jewish identity that tie us to Jerusalem, mean that these suspicions are going to arise whenever the U.S. makes policy choices, like the disastrous Iraq war decision, that appear to be in Israel's interest more than our own. ........As I've said again and again, the horror of the Iraq war ought to set off a soulsearching among Jews of conscience about the extent to which the now-routine business of rationalizing Israel's brutal policies toward the Palestinians has come to affect American choices in the Middle East.”

How could The Israel Lobby’s threats, intimidation and pressure to prevent any open discussion about the treatment of the Palestinians by the Government of Israel in violation of international human rights, United Nations Resolutions and the core values of Judaism have facilitated the approval of the plans to invade Iraq?

As The Israel Lobby used its vast resources to limit public access to the facts on the ground, here is what it “taught” the American public (either deliberately or subconsciously) over the last 40 years about what was happening in the West Bank and Gaza (the occupied territories) and Southern Lebanon.

There are a lot of Arabs/Muslims there. All Arabs/Muslims hate all Jewish Israelis (who, of course, are just like us in the United States, Judeo-Christians). These Arabs/Muslims want to destroy a democratic peace-loving State of Israel. The Arab/Muslim leaders of the Palestinians are despots and corrupt and leaders of a totalitarian entity. The Occupied territories are filled with Arab/Muslim terrorists - individuals who kill anyone associated with a democratic peace-loving country like Israel (or, actually, any government, even if it is a right-wing dictatorship, so long as it is supported by the United States).

Any time there is violence or the threat of violence against Israel, the solution is overwhelming military attacks (even if it by a preemptive strike). Such attacks are always justified because they are always in retaliation against Arab/Muslim individuals or groups that hate our freedoms. The deaths of a few women and children Arab/Muslim Palestinians are, unfortunately, simply collateral damage incurred while engaging in the fight against all Arab/Muslim militants (terrorists).

The lesson to be learned is that if you don’t get Arabs/Muslims where they are, you will have to fight them in the streets of your country. Be worried at all times. Be fearful at all times. Heightened security is the answer and the only way to bring about peace. Peace will come when these Arab/Muslim terrorists who hate us stop using violence against our democratic freedom-loving country. Take whatever action is necessary to keep these Arab/Muslims from hurting us. Keep them away from us. Build walls. Build roadblocks and checkpoints. Station troops among them. Destroy their governmental infrastructure. Undermine their economy. Bomb their power plant. Assassinate suspected terrorists. Destroy their homes. The only way to deal with these Arab/Muslim terrorists and the only language they understand is force.

I am not saying that the pressure of those in The Israel Lobby was the primary motivation for the invasion of Iraq nor am I am not saying that The Israel Lobby’s support of the invasion of Iraq was given because it was in the best interests of Israel (nor am I saying they are not true).

What I am saying is that the American public has “learned” from the extensive effort of the Israel Lobby that: the Arab/Muslims are terrorists; there is simply no justification for their violence; “we” are right and just, “they” are wrong and evil; and the only solution is to attack them with overwhelming military force.

Again from Philip Weiss:

“As I've said again and again, the horror of the Iraq war ought to set off a soulsearching among Jews of conscience about the extent to which the now-routine business of rationalizing Israel's brutal policies toward the Palestinians has come to affect American choices in the Middle East.”

What a tangled crusade we weave, when first we practice to deceive.

Thanks to The Israel Lobby, we – Jews, Americans, Israelis and Palestinians - are all a little less than what we might have been.

Soulsearching, anyone???