Communal Upheaval

A corresponding question is -- will American Jews who disagree with Israeli policies come to realize that this is more than a family squabble? It is a fundamental break between those who favor humanitarian values and sensible diplomacy, and those who favor the ways of war and ethno-religious discrimination. In truth, American Jews who support civil and human rights have no more in common with Israel and its culture then they do with xenophobic fanatics of the Republican right. They just have to accept that fact and, on the basis of that awareness, take a public stand. Part IV -- Conclusion It is probably accurate to describe current events as doing lasting damage to American Jewish organizations. It is not the case that "names can never hurt you," and there has been a lot of harsh name-calling within these groups. From the anti-Zionist perspective, this is all for the good. These organizations had long ago turned into fronts for Israel and have been hurting, not helping, American Jews. As to the future of the U.S.-Israeli relationship, it is hard to know if the storm that has blown up over the nuclear agreement with Iran has delivered a lasting blow. The Zionist lobby still has a lot of financial power and an increasingly firm alliance with the Republican right. And, who knows, we might some day see those barbarians back in the White House. On the other hand, that evolving alliance will continue to alienate more liberal Jews and Democratic politicians. The safest prediction to make is that while recent events might not spell the end of America's "special relationship" with Israel, they are surely a big step in the right direction.