If you have been reading my stuff you know that I am a firm supporter of Israel (as in their Right to Exist) and the Israeli people... but it is much the way I feel about my own country. I love what our country's - America and Israel - have stood for but am deeply suspicious of The Powers That Be.
Too many non-Jewish Israeli supporters and the Diaspora do not know what is going on in Israel right now. Israel is becoming (really has become) a Latin American style "democracy". A dozen or so immensely wealthy and powerful families are in complete control of the government - and its policies and military. The money coming from the Diaspora, fundamentalist Christians (this group provides huge financial and political support to the Israeli government... especially when Likud is in power), and U.S. Government Foreign Aid into Israel is going to further this small group's power and control, and has not (IMHO) helped The People... in fact, given the demonstrations in Israel of the feelings in the Israeli Street I think the temptation to pick fights and engage in military operations for the purposes of distracting the surge in dissatisfaction is very, very tempting.
To say that this set of circumstances is problematic, particularly at a time when Iran is so close to becoming a Nuclear Power, cannot be said forcefully enough. Yet ANY CRITICISM of Israel's government is met with a swift and brutal counter from those controlled by The Israeli aristocracy - Witness Ron Paul's treatment in the American Media.
This is dangerous stuff with some very troubling potential unintended consequences. The flavor of anti-semitism that I smell on some of the Occupy Wall Street folks is one of these. Its threat to the unique relationship between the U.S. and Israel cannot be dealt with in the same manner as other out-breaks of anti-semitism - precisely because it is occurring in the one country that Israel needs most at her side.
To the people of Israel: The American People support you, your right to exist, and your commitment to democracy. I pray you are able to hold on to that commitment in these troubling times.
To my fellow Americans: We must support the people of our closest ally, Israel. We must not let that support be used by their 1% to enslave their 99%.