The Lobby. The Big Picture

Israel has an obligation to protect the innocent lives of its civilians -- while simultaneously striving to recognize the need to respect human rights of the Palestinians. This requires a level of pragmatism that is too subtle for maximalist critics to countenance.

For instance, the Lobby advocates for a two-state solution on recognized and defensible borders. This is for the sake of both sides in the conflict, recognizing that an unsustainable peace is a poor substitute for a constant low-intensity war.

In contrast, the anti-Israel activists rarely, if ever, present an alternative solution which respects the security and well-being of both people.

Indeed, the “one-state solution” is becoming increasingly bantered about among those far-left circles. This would be a united Palestine from the river to the sea, in which Jews became a minority in the country.

This approach doesn’t take into account historical precedent or security realities. Think about Yugoslavia, Rwanda, Lebanon, etc. The USA and Canada are wonderful examples of what is possible when you’ve got the rule of law, a strong central government and an overwhelming ethic of mutual tolerance for all ethnic groups. The model breaks down in most other neighborhoods on this planet – even in those parts of the Middle East far from Israel where Jews have long since “disappeared”.

But I digress.

A-Israel activists have been successful in their Orwellian attempt at turning the tables on Israel and her supporters. The Israel lobby is painted as a nefarious, back-door dealing, monolithic yet amorphous entity. Meanwhile, anti-Israel activists starkly contrast themselves as the defenders of human rights, free speech and all that is virtuous.

It’s a crock.

This is Part 4 in a six-part series of essays in The Propagandist confronting critics of the Israel Lobby. Daniel Schloss is a contributing writer and former Israel lobby insider.

• Read the previous essay, The Lobby, Part 3. A Little Context
• Read the next essay in the series, The Lobby, Part 5. Convenient Lies