Thank you as always. It'll be interesting to see who takes his place, especially given the talk that Gabbard has been excluded from a lot of decision-making.
I would suggest you read any Israeli newspaper - Times of Israel, Jerusalem Post, Yvnet -- they all criticize Israel, Bibi, etc. It's not anti-Semitic to criticize Israel, I do it often, but smearing it as some type of sinister foreign power that somehow is able to drive American foreign policy isn't rational, not to mention it is often just Jew hatred.
Internal critique is different from the external. I can call my brother a loser but I will bristle if someone outside the family does so. I will believe you if you can show me an instance of a critique of Israel made by a non-Israeli which was welcomed and accepted by Israelis without accusations of antisemitism.
You think all Israelis like Bibi? Half the country can’t stand him and believe he extended the Gaza War intentionally to gain political power. You can literally read a speech by Lapid to find comments echoing from MS now.
That seems beside the point though. Will you ever accept any criticism of Israel from a non-Israeli (again internal criticism does not count) as anything but anti-semitic? Is external criticism always meant to be bound by whatever internal criticism already exists given the obvious fact that people external to Israel do not depend on the Israeli government for their immediate security and can therefore have a qualitatively different perspective? It seems ridiculous on its face that criticism of a deadly-conflict between two parties should be bound by actors whose fate is directly tied to one side in the conflict.
Are you asking me if I accept any criticism of Israel from non-Israelis? Of course. I criticize Israel often. Andrew Fox does too. So does countless authors I admire. Israel has made countless mistakes and they deserve criticism just like we do. The idea that I label any criticism of Israel as anti-Semitic is not true. I have criticized Bibi quite often and think he’s made countless mistakes during his long tenure.
Totally agree. Here is my view of it. I have no objection to criticism, so long as that criticism is accurate. I don’t know any Israeli that is not at times critical of the government of Israel. I don’t know any supporter of Israel that is not sometimes critical of Israeli policies. Those criticisms come from a place of wanting to make Israel better, not to delegitimize it or effectuate is enemies information warfare to render Israel unable to meaningfully defend itself.
Thank you for this, Will. It is always good to hear your perspective. As a Bulwark+ community member for the last 6 years or however long it has been, I will say this--they miss your perspective over at The Bulwark, that is for sure! It has become a hothouse of anti-Israel rhetoric and I say that as someone who admires JVL as much as you do.
I plan to let my bulwark plus expire. The antizionist hatred and antisemitic conspiracy theories are too much for me.
And, honestly, at this point, I detest and fear the left more than I ever did Trump. So it’s just not interesting to read their articles. I wish they’d write about how the DSA has nearly finished consuming the D Party.
I did watch a recent Tim & Sarah episode where they both affirmed their support for Israel. Sarah, especially, expressed some emotional attachment to Israel’s founding and upward trajectory. That was nice, but it was presented in the context of the tired and ridiculous theory that “Rubio accidentally told the truth”, meaning that Israel dragged the US into Iran.
(This is from a Jewish lefty who admires your service, opinions, and writing) Sadly, I think there's more than a grain of truth to what Kent is saying -- not because of Jewish conspiracies, but because we have a weak minded President who is much too easily influenced by certain people -- particularly Putin and Netanyahu. It's just a coincidence that one of them is Jewish, but it does give significant ammunition.
1. Americans — especially Trump — are entirely responsible for the actions of the US government.
2. Just because Kent did one proper thing doesn't make him a decent person. He's a fool
3. What other country has anything like the support in people and dollars that Israel has in the US? AIPAC doesn't dole out millions for nothing. But that doesn't make Jews or Israelis responsible for Trump's behavior.
He's got that presidential look, that sheen, the tough as nails 1000 yard stare. 11 tours? A wonderful wife lost, two great children, and finally he will have street cred with AFirst people. Not a stretch to see that breakout move down the road. Just look at the current images being used in media when putting out the various stories about him.
Not to belittle your comment, but its like saying Trump lost in 2020 thus he's not going to have a chance again. Losing a race doesn't mean you'll lose later. There's a base that is looking for their savior, and have already decided it isn't Trump. So, they'll look for a strong man in the hopes for a 3.0. Kent has street creds now with those who feel that Trump abandoned them. As for going on Tucker, the useful stooge/tool of Putin, it's a starting point that could mushroom. Not saying it will, but it's possible.
Needed truth telling and perspective, thanks!
Thanks for the excellent analysis and perspective.
Missed your insightful commentary this past year--welcome back!
Thanks for putting this out there.
Regards from Kfar Yona Israel
Thank you as always. It'll be interesting to see who takes his place, especially given the talk that Gabbard has been excluded from a lot of decision-making.
Wondering what phrasing you prefer for those who want to distinguish between the national state of Israel and the ethnic group Jewish.
Is that at all even possible in your conception?
How could one even begin to criticize the nation state of Israel if it ever happens to do something wrong?
I would suggest you read any Israeli newspaper - Times of Israel, Jerusalem Post, Yvnet -- they all criticize Israel, Bibi, etc. It's not anti-Semitic to criticize Israel, I do it often, but smearing it as some type of sinister foreign power that somehow is able to drive American foreign policy isn't rational, not to mention it is often just Jew hatred.
Internal critique is different from the external. I can call my brother a loser but I will bristle if someone outside the family does so. I will believe you if you can show me an instance of a critique of Israel made by a non-Israeli which was welcomed and accepted by Israelis without accusations of antisemitism.
You think all Israelis like Bibi? Half the country can’t stand him and believe he extended the Gaza War intentionally to gain political power. You can literally read a speech by Lapid to find comments echoing from MS now.
>You think all Israelis like Bibi?
That seems beside the point though. Will you ever accept any criticism of Israel from a non-Israeli (again internal criticism does not count) as anything but anti-semitic? Is external criticism always meant to be bound by whatever internal criticism already exists given the obvious fact that people external to Israel do not depend on the Israeli government for their immediate security and can therefore have a qualitatively different perspective? It seems ridiculous on its face that criticism of a deadly-conflict between two parties should be bound by actors whose fate is directly tied to one side in the conflict.
Are you asking me if I accept any criticism of Israel from non-Israelis? Of course. I criticize Israel often. Andrew Fox does too. So does countless authors I admire. Israel has made countless mistakes and they deserve criticism just like we do. The idea that I label any criticism of Israel as anti-Semitic is not true. I have criticized Bibi quite often and think he’s made countless mistakes during his long tenure.
Totally agree. Here is my view of it. I have no objection to criticism, so long as that criticism is accurate. I don’t know any Israeli that is not at times critical of the government of Israel. I don’t know any supporter of Israel that is not sometimes critical of Israeli policies. Those criticisms come from a place of wanting to make Israel better, not to delegitimize it or effectuate is enemies information warfare to render Israel unable to meaningfully defend itself.
Thank you for this, Will. It is always good to hear your perspective. As a Bulwark+ community member for the last 6 years or however long it has been, I will say this--they miss your perspective over at The Bulwark, that is for sure! It has become a hothouse of anti-Israel rhetoric and I say that as someone who admires JVL as much as you do.
I plan to let my bulwark plus expire. The antizionist hatred and antisemitic conspiracy theories are too much for me.
And, honestly, at this point, I detest and fear the left more than I ever did Trump. So it’s just not interesting to read their articles. I wish they’d write about how the DSA has nearly finished consuming the D Party.
I did watch a recent Tim & Sarah episode where they both affirmed their support for Israel. Sarah, especially, expressed some emotional attachment to Israel’s founding and upward trajectory. That was nice, but it was presented in the context of the tired and ridiculous theory that “Rubio accidentally told the truth”, meaning that Israel dragged the US into Iran.
(This is from a Jewish lefty who admires your service, opinions, and writing) Sadly, I think there's more than a grain of truth to what Kent is saying -- not because of Jewish conspiracies, but because we have a weak minded President who is much too easily influenced by certain people -- particularly Putin and Netanyahu. It's just a coincidence that one of them is Jewish, but it does give significant ammunition.
Let’s see if he has a bank account in the Cayman Islands
Didn’t Rubio actually say that Israel dragged us into this war? I am sure I saw that clip multiple times. This is a deluded line of thinking.
1. Americans — especially Trump — are entirely responsible for the actions of the US government.
2. Just because Kent did one proper thing doesn't make him a decent person. He's a fool
3. What other country has anything like the support in people and dollars that Israel has in the US? AIPAC doesn't dole out millions for nothing. But that doesn't make Jews or Israelis responsible for Trump's behavior.
Maybe he looking for a money making hustle after now burning his bridges with Trump and the anti-Israel brigade is it.
He's got that presidential look, that sheen, the tough as nails 1000 yard stare. 11 tours? A wonderful wife lost, two great children, and finally he will have street cred with AFirst people. Not a stretch to see that breakout move down the road. Just look at the current images being used in media when putting out the various stories about him.
He already lost a congressional race and Trump just torched him. But who knows what lies ahead. He certainly has a future in the infotainment world.
Not to belittle your comment, but its like saying Trump lost in 2020 thus he's not going to have a chance again. Losing a race doesn't mean you'll lose later. There's a base that is looking for their savior, and have already decided it isn't Trump. So, they'll look for a strong man in the hopes for a 3.0. Kent has street creds now with those who feel that Trump abandoned them. As for going on Tucker, the useful stooge/tool of Putin, it's a starting point that could mushroom. Not saying it will, but it's possible.
Trump also won in 2016 and, IMHO, is sui generis, but I could be wrong. Should be fascinating/horrifying to watch it unfold.
I’ll just go with horrifying.
Decades or centuries of Jew blaming?!