in the world for criticizing their own wars so harshly and unmercilessly and then issuing such a scathingly critical report about the latest of those wars. They did the same thing during and after their first Lebanon war in the early 80's. This clearly and unmistakenly proves that no one is more anti-Semitic than the Israelis themselves, because to criticize Israel is, invariably and irrefutable, always symptomatic of a deep underlying anti-Semitism. Which, sadly, Israelis appear to possess and exhibit to a greater degree than anyone else in the world.

Seriously, though, sure, clearly, SOME of the criticism that was and continues to be leveled at Israel DOES stem from anti-Semitism--especially criticism that singles out Israel for crimes (which of course they sometimes are) that many other countries (including in some cases those of the critics themselves) also routinely (and often far more egregiously) commit, but which conveniently ignores the latter (e.g. Syria in Lebanon and against its own people, France in Algeria, Russia in Chechnya, the US in Vietnam and Iraq, etc.).

But that does not mean that criticism of Israel, per se, is in and of itself indicative of underlying anti-Semitism, or anti-Semitic motivations. Which, I think, this report, and the criticism leveled by Israelis against this war and their government both during and after the war, demonstrates. So can we please put to rest the notion that because some criticism of Israel IS anti-Semitic in nature, that all or even most criticism of it is therefore anti-Semitic in nature.

Of course, this point is really secondary to the point made by Glenn in this excellent post (and btw, what is the proper or accepted name for such things--post, diary, blog, article?), which is to illustrate how ludicrous and anti-democratic is the notion being propounded by leading neocons and their all too compliant followers that criticism of one's government and the wars it is waging as those wars are being waged is wrong and dangerous.

After all, the very country that these neocons claim to most passionately "support" itself clearly rejects this rediculous and offensive contention. What could can be more illustrative of the anti-Democratic tendencies of these neocons than for them to so openly and uncritically reject the very democratic principles that they so hypocritically claim to champion? These people are either delusional beyond belief, or else liars of the lowest order. In my opinion they're both, and the sooner we relegate them to the further political margins, the better for all.

On a personal note, many regulars here know that I'm Jewish and originally from Israel, and have many relatives there and have visited it many times over the years. And I've long noted a stark difference between Israelis, who wherever they are on the political spectrum (and it's surprisingly broad and has been for as long as it's existed) are almost all supportive of Israel's right to exist and defend itself properly (the meaning of "properly", of course, being subject to intense internal debate), and American Jews, who, if they cared about and were supportive of Israel, tended to be blind and right-wing in their support of it, fairly ignorant of the complex realities of Israel's situation and relationship with its neighbors and Palestinians, and more prone to being taken in by simplistic and often dishonest right-wing propaganda.

I tend to ascribe these tendencies among right-wing pro-Israel American Jews (most notably seen among neocons of course) to two basic historical factors (which I believe I've commented on here in the past). This is an oversimplification, but I'll try to explain it as well as I can.

One is the Jewish Holocaust of WWII, which instilled in American Jews (many of whom are the descendants or relatives of Holocaust victims and survivors) the understandable mantra of "Never Again", which many have interpreted to mean that Jews must therefore be as aggressive as possible against its actual, perceived and potential enemies, e.g. Arabs and Arab countries. Thus the blind and eager support of Israel's war and occupation policies.

The other is--and this is more of a stretch I'll admit--what I believe to be a certain feeling of jealosy of, shame at not having personally participated in, and wish to have been a part of, Israel's decades-long (if not always effective) military prowess and superiority, on the part of many if not most Jewish American neocons. Many of them came of age during and in the years following Israel's massive and swift victory in the '67 war, and I suspect wish to have been a part of it. And to them, the closest proxy is to blindly support Israel's most militaristic policies and actions no matter how wrong and destructive. They effectively want to be vicarious war heroes, in order to vindicate their manhood in their own febrile chickenhawk imaginations.

Israelis are once again rejecting their own war hawks and policies. I think it's time for us to reject our own as well--yet again (as we did after Vietnam), and listen to our own ACTUAL generals, and not these fake armchair chickenhawk neocon ones. It's what democracy is all about.

When do we get to be a true democracy, where people can freely speak out against our leaders, even at their support rallies, without being shouted at for being traitors?

Actually, FG, one of the unavoidable consequences of being in a democracy IS allowing others to shout at you for being a traitor. We should absolutely have the right to protest Bush, Cheney & Co. without being confined to so-called "free speech zones". But so must those who passionately disagree with us--even the most hateful among them.

Toleration of all opinions no matter how loathsome they may be to some people is part of what democracy is all about. Realization of and respect for this truth is one of the things that most starkly differentiates the left from much of the right at present.