This is not the time to criticize Israel. And this is not what I am doing in this blog, at least not with regard to what is happening in Gaza. I pray that both sides may find peace, and that as few civilians as possible may be hurt on either side. Peace, and a two-state solution, is what I pray for every day. Sheyavo bim'heyra v'yameinu.
But the topic of this particular blog is on something which touches on the general situation in Israel. It is as follows: why do so many Jewish people emphatically deny the right of people in the Diaspora to disagree publicly with Israel's actions or policy?
The phrase which comes to mind is "You don't live there so how dare you criticize Israel." What nonsense! As if residence in a country were ever grounds for legitimate criticism of that country's behaviour. Yet so many passionate Zionists condemn those who disagree with Israel's policies. In my opinion this is unnecessary defensive and betrays the insecurity of the proponent of such an egregious idea.
Just think. If you live outside Russia do you have no right as a Russian to criticize that country? If you live outside Saudi Arabia do you have no right as a Muslim to criticize that country? But with Israel the argument goes it is different.
