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by Rosa Brooks
Sunday, Sep. 03, 2006 at 11:00 AM
How can we have a real discussion about Mideast peace if speaking honestly about Israel is out of bounds?
Publish something sharply critical of Israeli government policies and you'll find out. If you're lucky, you'll merely discover that you've been uninvited to some dinner parties. If you're less lucky, you'll be the subject of an all-out attack by neoconservative pundits and accused of rabid anti-Semitism.
Rosa Brooks: Criticize Israel? You're an Anti-Semite!
How can we have a real discussion about Mideast peace if speaking honestly about Israel is out of bounds? September 1, 2006
EVER WONDER what it's like to be a pariah?
Publish something sharply critical of Israeli government policies and you'll find out. If you're lucky, you'll merely discover that you've been uninvited to some dinner parties. If you're less lucky, you'll be the subject of an all-out attack by neoconservative pundits and accused of rabid anti-Semitism.
This, at least, is what happened to Ken Roth. Roth — whose father fled Nazi Germany — is executive director of Human Rights Watch, America's largest and most respected human rights organization. (Disclosure: I have worked in the past as a paid consultant for the group.) In July, after the Israeli offensive in Lebanon began, Human Rights Watch did the same thing it has done in Iraq, Afghanistan, Chechnya, Bosnia, East Timor, Sierra Leone, Congo, Uganda and countless other conflict zones around the globe: It sent researchers to monitor the conflict and report on any abuses committed by either side.
It found plenty. On July 18, Human Rights Watch condemned Hezbollah rocket strikes on civilian areas within Israel, calling the strikes "serious violations of international humanitarian law and probable war crimes." So far, so good. You can't lose when you criticize a terrorist organization.
But Roth and Human Rights Watch didn't stop there. As the conflict's death toll spiraled — with most of the casualties Lebanese civilians — Human Rights Watch also criticized Israel for indiscriminate attacks on civilians. Roth noted that the Israeli military appeared to be "treating southern Lebanon as a free-fire zone," and he observed that the failure to take appropriate measures to distinguish between civilians and combatants constitutes a war crime.
The backlash was prompt. Roth and Human Rights Watch soon found themselves accused of unethical behavior, giving aid and comfort to terrorists and anti-Semitism. The conservative New York Sun attacked Roth (who is Jewish) for having a "clear pro-Hezbollah and anti-Israel bias" and accused him of engaging in "the de-legitimization of Judaism, the basis of much anti-Semitism." Neocon commentator David Horowitz called Roth a "reflexive Israel-basher … who, in his zest to pillory Israel at every turn, is little more than an ally of the barbarians." The New Republic piled on, as did Alan Dershowitz, who claimed Human Rights Watch "cooks the books" to make Israel look bad. And writing in the Jewish Exponent, Jonathan Rosenblum accused Roth of resorting to a "slur about primitive Jewish bloodlust."
Anyone familiar with Human Rights Watch — or with Roth — knows this to be lunacy. Human Rights Watch is nonpartisan — it doesn't "take sides" in conflicts. And the notion that Roth is anti-Semitic verges on the insane.
But what's most troubling about the vitriol directed at Roth and his organization isn't that it's savage, unfounded and fantastical. What's most troubling is that it's typical. Typical, that is, of what anyone rash enough to criticize Israel can expect to encounter. In the United States today, it just isn't possible to have a civil debate about Israel, because any serious criticism of its policies is instantly countered with charges of anti-Semitism. Think Israel's tactics against Hezbollah were too heavy-handed, or that Israel hasn't always been wholly fair to the Palestinians, or that the United States should reconsider its unquestioning financial and military support for Israel? Shhh: Don't voice those sentiments unless you want to be called an anti-Semite — and probably a terrorist sympathizer to boot.
How did adopting a reflexively pro-Israel stance come to be a mandatory aspect of American Jewish identity? Skepticism — a willingness to ask tough questions, a refusal to embrace dogma — has always been central to the Jewish intellectual tradition. Ironically, this tradition remains alive in Israel, where respected public figures routinely criticize the government in far harsher terms than those used by Human Rights Watch.
In a climate in which good-faith criticism of Israel is automatically denounced as anti-Semitic, everyone loses. Israeli policies are a major source of discord in the Islamic world, and anger at Israel usually spills over into anger at the U.S., Israel's biggest backer.
With resentment of Israeli policies fueling terrorism and instability both in the Middle East and around the globe, it's past time for Americans to have a serious national debate about how to bring a just peace to the Middle East. But if criticism of Israel is out of bounds, that debate can't occur — and we'll all pay the price.
Back to Human Rights Watch's critics. Why waste time denouncing imaginary anti-Semitism when there's no shortage of the real thing? From politically motivated arrests of Jews in Iran to assaults on Jewish children in Ukraine, there's plenty of genuine anti-Semitism out there — and Human Rights Watch is usually taking the lead in condemning it. So if you're bothered by anti-Semitism — if you're bothered by ideologies that insist that some human lives have less value than others — you could do a whole lot worse than send a check to Human Rights Watch.
rbrooks (at) latimescolumnists.com
www.latimes.com/news/opinion/sunday/la-oe-brooks1sep01,0,4657959.column?
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LATEST COMMENTS ABOUT THIS ARTICLE
Listed below are the 10 latest comments of 171 posted about this article.
These comments are anonymously submitted by the website visitors.
TITLE |
AUTHOR |
DATE |
Another enlightening article, keep up the good work |
Brad Sellars |
Sunday, Sep. 03, 2006 at 11:04 AM |
Role reversal |
Role reversal |
Tuesday, Sep. 05, 2006 at 2:02 PM |
Great article! Speaks volumes |
Tamir |
Thursday, Sep. 07, 2006 at 1:27 PM |
"Anti-Zionism, however tends to argue . . ." |
anti-Zionism |
Thursday, Sep. 07, 2006 at 2:35 PM |
What israel-the terror state really stands for |
What Israel stands for |
Thursday, Sep. 07, 2006 at 2:45 PM |
-basis of their political beliefs - |
Sheepdog |
Thursday, Sep. 07, 2006 at 7:09 PM |
"fired . . . for HAVING a pro-Israel viewpoint" |
remember capt. boycott |
Thursday, Sep. 07, 2006 at 7:34 PM |
1984/1948 |
Sheepdog |
Thursday, Sep. 07, 2006 at 7:49 PM |
another Zionist lie |
what Israel is all about |
Thursday, Sep. 07, 2006 at 7:54 PM |
Me too |
Sheepdog |
Thursday, Sep. 07, 2006 at 7:59 PM |
just one question |
was it the Palestinians? |
Thursday, Sep. 07, 2006 at 8:24 PM |
Its parallel |
and pertinent |
Thursday, Sep. 07, 2006 at 8:29 PM |
where Is the beef? |
Sheepdog |
Thursday, Sep. 07, 2006 at 8:35 PM |
well theres always |
Wikipedia |
Thursday, Sep. 07, 2006 at 8:48 PM |
theres always |
good ole wikipedia |
Thursday, Sep. 07, 2006 at 8:48 PM |
what? |
Sheepdog |
Friday, Sep. 08, 2006 at 4:43 AM |
that's what I wrote |
Sheepdog |
Friday, Sep. 08, 2006 at 6:49 AM |
"Why aren't people clamoring about the right of the Jewish refugees to return" |
begging the question |
Friday, Sep. 08, 2006 at 7:11 AM |
there is only the same point |
Sheepdog |
Friday, Sep. 08, 2006 at 7:12 AM |
yeah |
Sheepdog |
Friday, Sep. 08, 2006 at 7:21 AM |
mirror of response |
Unbelievable |
Friday, Sep. 08, 2006 at 7:29 AM |
"Hezbollah . . .invaded Israel, kidnapped and killed soldiers" |
more Zionist lies |
Friday, Sep. 08, 2006 at 8:04 AM |
a pinhole view |
Sheepdog |
Friday, Sep. 08, 2006 at 9:15 AM |
shucks |
Sheepdog |
Friday, Sep. 08, 2006 at 9:46 AM |
'Israel is always right' |
Sheepdog |
Friday, Sep. 08, 2006 at 9:55 AM |
More of Becky's drama queen lies |
TW |
Friday, Sep. 08, 2006 at 9:57 AM |
if Hamas had a modren military |
Sheepdog |
Friday, Sep. 08, 2006 at 10:15 AM |
Appalling insensitivity |
from a family man, yet |
Friday, Sep. 08, 2006 at 10:25 AM |
SchtarkerYid |
fired over thought and opinions |
Friday, Sep. 08, 2006 at 10:25 AM |
yes |
Sheepdog |
Friday, Sep. 08, 2006 at 11:22 AM |
\Speaking of Child molestors |
how do you feel about Nessie |
Friday, Sep. 08, 2006 at 11:43 AM |
sure, Smashy |
well, we now know who SY is |
Friday, Sep. 08, 2006 at 11:50 AM |
hfhreututy |
Sheepdog |
Friday, Sep. 08, 2006 at 12:06 PM |
Zionists dancing the Deflect-Deny-Distract Boogaloo again |
TW |
Friday, Sep. 08, 2006 at 12:10 PM |
direct hit |
the other Sheepdog |
Friday, Sep. 08, 2006 at 12:11 PM |
"covered under the guise of free speech?" |
"guise"!?! |
Friday, Sep. 08, 2006 at 2:46 PM |
guise of legality |
charismatic megafauna |
Friday, Sep. 08, 2006 at 2:55 PM |
The silent victims of 9-11 |
Shime on Ben Kosiba |
Tuesday, Sep. 12, 2006 at 12:12 PM |
Anti-Judaism |
William Kristol |
Wednesday, Sep. 13, 2006 at 10:02 AM |
Whats a little lying and manipulation between friends? |
Einstein and anti-Semitism |
Saturday, Sep. 23, 2006 at 4:16 AM |
huge post, fresca |
Well Worth the Read |
Sunday, Sep. 24, 2006 at 6:15 AM |
Why thank you, Hun-neeeee |
TW |
Tuesday, Sep. 26, 2006 at 10:30 AM |
'Why thank you, Hun-neeeee' |
yepster |
Tuesday, Sep. 26, 2006 at 10:51 AM |
Won't take the bait |
sweetheart.... |
Tuesday, Sep. 26, 2006 at 1:39 PM |
heh heh... |
'tisk |
Tuesday, Sep. 26, 2006 at 1:48 PM |
a burst of keystrokes |
Thanks for theconfirm, |
Tuesday, Sep. 26, 2006 at 2:12 PM |
on lunch tossing |
you brought it up first |
Tuesday, Sep. 26, 2006 at 2:23 PM |
And |
furthermore |
Tuesday, Sep. 26, 2006 at 2:29 PM |
a little obvious even for a zionist |
answer |
Tuesday, Sep. 26, 2006 at 3:49 PM |
no |
doesn't make sense |
Tuesday, Sep. 26, 2006 at 3:57 PM |
doesn't make sense. |
what? |
Tuesday, Sep. 26, 2006 at 4:03 PM |
I got a better idea, Punk |
TW |
Tuesday, Sep. 26, 2006 at 11:19 PM |
you like those porn sites huh? |
Whizz is ill, poor bastard |
Wednesday, Sep. 27, 2006 at 5:31 AM |
Except we hear that point of view all the time |
Thanks for the pro-israel spam |
Wednesday, Sep. 27, 2006 at 2:00 PM |
Smarter Yid |
That's hilarious, Yid the basket case strikes |
Wednesday, Sep. 27, 2006 at 4:32 PM |
SchtarkerYid |
No Toady, |
Thursday, Sep. 28, 2006 at 7:10 AM |
You are an irrelevant trolling idiot |
Schtarker-another zionazi fuckwit |
Thursday, Sep. 28, 2006 at 12:06 PM |
SchtarkerYid |
try to answer this time |
Thursday, Sep. 28, 2006 at 2:06 PM |
and predictable |
Pot calling kettle black-typical |
Thursday, Sep. 28, 2006 at 2:14 PM |
So predictable |
denial is not a river in Egypt |
Thursday, Sep. 28, 2006 at 2:23 PM |
I love spinach |
Matt |
Thursday, Sep. 28, 2006 at 3:21 PM |
off topic but the problem was with |
locally grown organic spinach |
Thursday, Sep. 28, 2006 at 3:29 PM |
impeccable |
hex |
Friday, Sep. 29, 2006 at 1:24 PM |
Can we trust anything this guy has to say? |
Leotard-looks like another right wing sleaze |
Friday, Sep. 29, 2006 at 1:51 PM |
So what? |
So what? |
Friday, Sep. 29, 2006 at 1:52 PM |
Great link |
Guide to recovering from right wing lunacy |
Friday, Sep. 29, 2006 at 2:01 PM |
hahaa |
hex |
Friday, Sep. 29, 2006 at 2:06 PM |
So you don't like Open publishing? |
Becky Johnson |
Sunday, Oct. 01, 2006 at 5:11 AM |
it's not going to happen |
hex |
Sunday, Oct. 01, 2006 at 6:13 AM |
Not Becky |
Not even a reasonable Facsimile |
Sunday, Oct. 01, 2006 at 6:28 AM |
actions speak louder than |
hex |
Sunday, Oct. 01, 2006 at 6:55 AM |
If you are looking for a zio-free site, try Sf imc or indybay |
response |
Sunday, Oct. 01, 2006 at 7:26 AM |
that's what I was waiting to hear :) |
hex |
Sunday, Oct. 01, 2006 at 8:07 AM |
Not just |
about Zionism |
Sunday, Oct. 01, 2006 at 8:26 AM |
I've never posted rated X pictures |
hex |
Sunday, Oct. 01, 2006 at 6:30 PM |
Robbins Mitchell -- eeeyyyeeewwwww!!!! |
TW |
Sunday, Oct. 01, 2006 at 8:28 PM |
The new anti-Semitism |
Victor davis hanson |
Monday, Oct. 02, 2006 at 2:26 AM |
The new anti semenism |
Roger |
Monday, Oct. 02, 2006 at 2:54 AM |
I know a dangerous weasel |
when I see one |
Monday, Oct. 02, 2006 at 3:04 AM |
a point |
Dwin |
Monday, Oct. 02, 2006 at 3:13 AM |
The UN doesn't produce "international law" |
its advisory |
Monday, Oct. 02, 2006 at 3:28 AM |
christ on a crackerbox |
whew. |
Monday, Oct. 02, 2006 at 3:39 AM |
Not a thought |
in his head |
Monday, Oct. 02, 2006 at 3:44 AM |
don't like reductionism? |
try it |
Monday, Oct. 02, 2006 at 4:21 AM |
Objection |
assumes facts not in evidence |
Monday, Oct. 02, 2006 at 4:29 AM |
Genocide denial |
is bad |
Monday, Oct. 02, 2006 at 4:36 AM |
This is why "we" love and adore Becky Johnson |
from a previous Becky post |
Monday, Oct. 02, 2006 at 7:20 AM |
funny |
al-CIAduh attacks |
Monday, Oct. 02, 2006 at 7:34 AM |
locate source |
Show me |
Monday, Oct. 02, 2006 at 7:40 AM |
Here is the source |
Becky Johnson |
Monday, Oct. 02, 2006 at 7:55 AM |
middleeastfacts is a Zionist propaganda site |
hex |
Monday, Oct. 02, 2006 at 8:20 AM |
It's NOT "Palestinian" land |
Becky Johnson |
Monday, Oct. 02, 2006 at 8:35 AM |
source ? |
this is a source? |
Monday, Oct. 02, 2006 at 2:16 PM |
Check out WRMEA, a REAL Fake |
Becky Johnson |
Monday, Oct. 02, 2006 at 2:45 PM |
your source |
don't Wait |
Monday, Oct. 02, 2006 at 2:58 PM |
the BEWARE list is a keeper folks :) |
hex |
Monday, Oct. 02, 2006 at 3:48 PM |
"Fake" sites with REAL information |
Becky Johnson |
Monday, Oct. 02, 2006 at 5:03 PM |
uppity the hill we go - into battle |
hex |
Monday, Oct. 02, 2006 at 5:23 PM |
Oh, now ***THIS*** is fascinating!! |
TW |
Monday, Oct. 02, 2006 at 7:01 PM |
yepper |
hex |
Tuesday, Oct. 03, 2006 at 1:33 AM |
Analogy is full of holes |
Becky Johnson |
Tuesday, Oct. 03, 2006 at 3:53 AM |
talking points |
hex |
Tuesday, Oct. 03, 2006 at 4:25 AM |
And from the |
Plaestinian Solidarity Conference handbook |
Tuesday, Oct. 03, 2006 at 7:46 AM |
well boo hoo too yuoo |
hex |
Tuesday, Oct. 03, 2006 at 8:11 AM |
why, because of the quotation marks? |
question |
Tuesday, Oct. 03, 2006 at 9:45 AM |
Quit ducking and dodging, Sloppy BJ |
TW |
Tuesday, Oct. 03, 2006 at 9:49 AM |
Do you know why... ? |
TW |
Tuesday, Oct. 03, 2006 at 10:06 AM |
Hey Hex: check out this Israeli PR screed |
TW |
Tuesday, Oct. 03, 2006 at 10:11 AM |
oh look - a cheap imitation |
hex |
Tuesday, Oct. 03, 2006 at 10:46 AM |
yeah TW I already have that |
hex |
Tuesday, Oct. 03, 2006 at 10:50 AM |
PR watch |
hex |
Tuesday, Oct. 03, 2006 at 11:42 AM |
You alleged *in this thread* Israel spends $11 nillion on PR |
hexi-gone |
Tuesday, Oct. 03, 2006 at 11:55 AM |
"nowhere near" screechs the troll |
hex |
Tuesday, Oct. 03, 2006 at 12:29 PM |
"10 point something million (almost 11 million) cited and linked" |
hexi-gone |
Tuesday, Oct. 03, 2006 at 12:57 PM |
Iran says Israel will 'vanish' |
hex |
Tuesday, Oct. 03, 2006 at 12:57 PM |
study harder then |
hex |
Tuesday, Oct. 03, 2006 at 12:58 PM |
I won't |
hexi-gone |
Tuesday, Oct. 03, 2006 at 1:17 PM |
The Lobby |
Matt |
Tuesday, Oct. 03, 2006 at 1:19 PM |
Interesting |
Wish I saw that debate |
Thursday, Oct. 05, 2006 at 7:40 PM |
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