Using the fight against antisemitism as a pretext for an assault on higher ed, immigrants and the Constitution is neither pro-Israel nor good for the Jewish people.
I completely agree. Isn't using Jews as tools to advance an unrelated agenda itself a manifestation of antisemitism? The Trump administration is conveying a message that it doesn't see Jews as human beings, merely useful objects.
Also, by its actions, the Trump administration may be exacerbating antisemitism and endangering Jews by engendering resentment against us. Even as it aggressively seeks to eliminate efforts to remedy still-existing unlawful discrimination against other minorities, it pressures universities to give special preference to ensuring the safety of Jewish students. While university administrations and law enforcement can take action against (but cannot completely prevent) overt acts of antisemitism, they can't force others to like Jews, to feel empathy toward Jews, or to socialize with Jews.
Jeremy Ben-Ami’s latest substack post at https://jeremybenami.substack.com/p/defining-pro-israel-in-2025 speaks towards the end very eloquently about the issue of higher education. He says: “On the left, harsh criticism of the right-wing Israeli government and its policies at times bleeds into anti-Zionism and even into antisemitism in ugly ways, though the exact line where that happens is exceedingly difficult to define.”
In my view, where anti-Zionism (oppostion to the ideology) bleeds into antisemitism is when it involves anti-ZionISTism. I write about anti-ZionISTism and anti-Palestinianism here: https://michaelalandover.substack.com/p/anti-zionistism.
Why is it necessary for any Jew to be pro-Israel? The ancestors of lots of Jews came to America long before 1948, many in the 1800s or even before. I have zero allegiance to the countries of my ancestors, who arrived in the 1700s and 1800s. Why should Jews be any different? They are Americans.
Free speech is a separate issue. Lots of us who supported Donald Trump -- and voted for him three times -- are appalled by his attacks on free speech. Are they enough to turn away from him? Possibly so.
Lastly, Benjamin Netanyahu has done more than any other person to increase insidious anti-Semitism globally. The sooner he is tried by the International Criminal Court for his many crimes, and incarcerated, the better.
Supporters of Netanyahu's war on civilians - and it seems, on just about every country within striking range - are causing antisemitism, not fighting it. Israel's worldwide esteem has never been lower. Those people aren't Israel's friends, they are its enemies!
Thanks for this. I read this. VERY briefly-skimmed your new 25+ page pamphlet and will get back with fuller response.
I'm not sure your three options are exactly the way to put it. "Unquestioning support;" "total opposition" or the third way which J Street claims. Firstly while organizations such as AIPAC are not generally in the business of criticizing the Government of Israel; nor do they offer "unquestioning support for every action and policy of the sitting government." Likewise ADL, AJC, Conference of President.
On the other hand; they are quite a few actions taken by J Street (and quite a few candidates J Street has supported) which are hard to understand coming from an ostensible pro-Israel organization. (But you've already heard those "critiques" before)
1 "Some Jewish Americans – and organizations representing them – still hold to the notion that the only way to support Israel is with unquestioning support for every action and policy of the sitting government."
2 "There are also some Jewish Americans – anti-, non- or post-Zionists – who don’t support the idea of a state that is the national homeland of the Jewish people."
3 However, the majority in the middle of Jewish America holds moderate pro-Israel, pro-peace and pro-democracy views"
I completely agree. Isn't using Jews as tools to advance an unrelated agenda itself a manifestation of antisemitism? The Trump administration is conveying a message that it doesn't see Jews as human beings, merely useful objects.
Also, by its actions, the Trump administration may be exacerbating antisemitism and endangering Jews by engendering resentment against us. Even as it aggressively seeks to eliminate efforts to remedy still-existing unlawful discrimination against other minorities, it pressures universities to give special preference to ensuring the safety of Jewish students. While university administrations and law enforcement can take action against (but cannot completely prevent) overt acts of antisemitism, they can't force others to like Jews, to feel empathy toward Jews, or to socialize with Jews.
Jeremy Ben-Ami’s latest substack post at https://jeremybenami.substack.com/p/defining-pro-israel-in-2025 speaks towards the end very eloquently about the issue of higher education. He says: “On the left, harsh criticism of the right-wing Israeli government and its policies at times bleeds into anti-Zionism and even into antisemitism in ugly ways, though the exact line where that happens is exceedingly difficult to define.”
In my view, where anti-Zionism (oppostion to the ideology) bleeds into antisemitism is when it involves anti-ZionISTism. I write about anti-ZionISTism and anti-Palestinianism here: https://michaelalandover.substack.com/p/anti-zionistism.
Another thoughtful article by Jeremy.
Why is it necessary for any Jew to be pro-Israel? The ancestors of lots of Jews came to America long before 1948, many in the 1800s or even before. I have zero allegiance to the countries of my ancestors, who arrived in the 1700s and 1800s. Why should Jews be any different? They are Americans.
See https://naegeleblog.wordpress.com/2023/10/31/americas-jews-are-americans/ ("America’s Jews Are Americans")
Free speech is a separate issue. Lots of us who supported Donald Trump -- and voted for him three times -- are appalled by his attacks on free speech. Are they enough to turn away from him? Possibly so.
See https://naegeleblog.wordpress.com/2025/03/11/is-the-trump-presidency-where-free-speech-goes-to-die/ ("Is The Trump Presidency Where Free Speech Goes To Die?")
Lastly, Benjamin Netanyahu has done more than any other person to increase insidious anti-Semitism globally. The sooner he is tried by the International Criminal Court for his many crimes, and incarcerated, the better.
Supporters of Netanyahu's war on civilians - and it seems, on just about every country within striking range - are causing antisemitism, not fighting it. Israel's worldwide esteem has never been lower. Those people aren't Israel's friends, they are its enemies!
Thanks for this. I read this. VERY briefly-skimmed your new 25+ page pamphlet and will get back with fuller response.
I'm not sure your three options are exactly the way to put it. "Unquestioning support;" "total opposition" or the third way which J Street claims. Firstly while organizations such as AIPAC are not generally in the business of criticizing the Government of Israel; nor do they offer "unquestioning support for every action and policy of the sitting government." Likewise ADL, AJC, Conference of President.
On the other hand; they are quite a few actions taken by J Street (and quite a few candidates J Street has supported) which are hard to understand coming from an ostensible pro-Israel organization. (But you've already heard those "critiques" before)
1 "Some Jewish Americans – and organizations representing them – still hold to the notion that the only way to support Israel is with unquestioning support for every action and policy of the sitting government."
2 "There are also some Jewish Americans – anti-, non- or post-Zionists – who don’t support the idea of a state that is the national homeland of the Jewish people."
3 However, the majority in the middle of Jewish America holds moderate pro-Israel, pro-peace and pro-democracy views"
Re Immigrants, campuses and civil rights - I offered my views a few days ago here "CONCERNS over Deporting a Green Card Holder for His Views" (and "Concerns Over Deportations and Campus Funding Cancellations..." https://open.substack.com/pub/michaellewisonline/p/concerns-over-deporting-a-green-card
Enjoy your summit!