On the Creeping Anti-Semitism Watch
Washington Post columnist and former Bush speechwriter Michael Gerson takes a hard look at The Israel Lobby and U.S. Foreign Policy by Harvard's Stephen Walt and University of Chicago's John Mearsheimer and finds creeping anti-semitism. According to Gerson, Walt and Mearsheimer argue that the
"Israeli government and pro-Israel groups" have shaped President Bush's "grand scheme for reordering the Middle East."
As a former Bush insider, Gerson doubts that the "Israel lobby" had much influence on Bush Administration policy. He does offer what I think is a very nice rejoinder to the assertion by Walt and Mearsheimer that
"the U.S. has a terrorism problem in good part because it is so closely allied with Israel"
Gerson retorts that statement is
the equivalent of arguing that Britain had a Nazi problem in the 1930s because it was so closely allied with Czechoslovakia.
Gerson goes on to ask why Americans and our country's policymakers tend to support Israel. To wit:
Perhaps many Americans actually prefer Israel's flawed democracy to the aging autocrats and corrupt monarchies of the region.
Yes.
Perhaps they root for a reliable ally that is surrounded by nations still committed to its destruction.
Yes.
Perhaps many Americans recall that the Jews, just six decades ago, lost one-third of their number to genocide and believe that this persecuted people deserves a secure home and sanctuary.
Yes.
Perhaps Americans understand that anti-Semitism was the greatest source of evil in the 20th century and is not dead in this one.
Communism was the greatest source of 20th century evil, but anti-semitism was a pretty close second.
Gerson ends:
Every generation has seen accusations that Jews have dual loyalties, promote war and secretly control political structures.
These academics may not follow their claims all the way to anti-Semitism. But this is the way it begins. This is the way it always begins.
True, all too sadly true.
Whole Post column here.
