Are critics of Israel muzzled? No, but ...

There has been a kafuffle around this recently, prompted by the creation in Britain of an organisation, Independent Jewish Voices, by Jews who feel that their views - especially their criticisms of Israel - are not represented by mainstream Jewish leaders. Some dissenting Jews claim that Israel-critical Jews are actively silenced by powers-that-be. These latter claims elicit derision from Israel defenders who note the apparent freedom with which critics of Israel voice their opinions throughout the democratic West in left-leaning publications and internet sites and at public demonstrations.

So what is the truth of the matter?

Let us see what we can say with confidence:

1) Mainstream Jewish organisations are indeed uncritically pro-Israel. Given their weight, they are likely to convey to non-Jewish outsiders the impression that extreme pro-Israel views are shared by virtually all Jews. Dissenting Jews are thus right to look for new ways to make their voices audible to a wider public.

2) Mainstream Jewish organisations, and indeed many ordinary Jews, are extremely sensitive to criticism of Israel and quick to label such criticism anti-Semitic. Pro-Israel Jews are entitled to negative views about Jews who criticise Israel, but Israel-critical Jews are right to condemn the formers' easy resort to the anti-Semitism card. The profligate firing of the anti-Semitism accusation against critics of all types is, as a debating style, illiberal, intimidating and debate-foreclosing.

3) It is difficult to find a platform for serious criticism of Israel in mainstream media outlets, though much more difficult in the United States than, say, in Britain. The mass media, including newspapers, television and the film industry, especially those located in the US, almost invariably fail to convey the Arab viewpoint in an historically informed or informative way. They are painfully careful in the way they criticise Israel. Israel only gets a 'bad press' when engaged in some sensational, reporter-observed act of violence. The state's claims to being a legitimately established, modern and democratic state are almost never questioned; notions that it is colonialist, apartheid-like or premised on ethnic cleansing almost never given a hearing. The criticism of Israel decried by Zionist media-watchers rarely goes beyond advising the Jewish state to be a bit more flexible, sensitive and far-sighted in dealing with its Arab adversary. Mainstream media critiques of Arab behaviour are more fulsome, unapologetic, more fully incorporated into routine language, and more likely to take a campaigning form.

4) There is a powerful pro-Israel lobby in the one Western country that matters most in influencing Middle Eastern events, namely the US. This lobby consists mainly of Orthodox Jews and rightwing Christians. Its views about Israel are well to the right of the majority of Jews in the US, and it has become increasingly openly aligned with Israel's militaristic right. This lobby, thanks to its financial clout, media influence and supposed (but overestimated) ability to influence Jewish voters, is able to intimidate American politicians into refraining from even the gentlest criticism of Israel. Only 'elder statesman' like Brent Snowcroft, Zbigniew Brzezinski and James Baker dare suggest that the US has a strategic interest in pressuring Israel to deal fairly with with the Palestinians.

5) Some straight muzzling of Israel's critics goes on too, once again especially in the US. This mainly takes the form of venues being denied, whether for talks or plays. Some intimidation goes on too - students being encouraged to report on Israel-critical lecturers, and the prosecution or refusal of visas to (Muslim) critics of Israel on tenuous grounds. Occasionally critics of Israel are subject to physical intimidation (I have experienced it personally in South Africa).


Still, I want to say this: in the democratic West speaking out against Israel is allowed and generally tolerated, and OTT claims about muzzling are no excuse for silence. We critics of Israel have much pro-Israel bias to contend with, and we Jewish critics of Israel need courage to face down community ostracism. But speak out we can, and must. There are Jews who, in the best spirit of Jewish universalism, care about the endless frustration and humiliation visited on Palestinians. Let the world know.