Even before it was declared a state, Jews that resided in Palestine were subject to criticism. After it was declared a state, Israel became the object of criticism from many individuals and organizations and began facing frequent attacks by terrorists
Nonetheless, Israel has not only survived for 71 years, it has created forces to defend itself and has made significant progress in the fields of technology, medicine, water preservation, agriculture and energy alternatives, sharing its achievements with the entire world.
Despite these achievements a large number of individuals, organizations and entire countries continue to call for Israel’s destruction. Here’s my version of the list of individuals and organizations that are critical of the Jewish state and often even call for Israel’s demise. I hope other members of the community can benefit from my research.
Individual Critics of Israel
1. Jeremy Corbyn is the leader of England’s Labour Party. He has honored and is friendly with the Palestinian terrorists Hamas and Hezbollah. He has caused anxiety among Great Britain’s Jews, 40% of whom have considered leaving that country.
2. U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minnesota) is a Somali-American and outspoken critic of Israel. She also blames AIPAC for bribing congressmen to act favorably toward Israel.
3. Alexandrea Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) admits that she is uninformed about Israel yet has declared that Israel “massacred” Palestinians at the Gaza border. Supports Ilhan Omar’s position on the Arab/Israel conflict.
4. Keith Ellison (attorney general of Minnesota and former U.S. Representative) was the first Muslim to be elected to Congress. He had a relationship with vicious anti-Semite Louis Farrakhan. He is critical of Israel and supports the BDS movement.
5. Louis Farrakhan (leader of Nation of Islam movement) is a notorious anti-Semite and anti-Israel.
6. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-California) opposed Nikki Haley’s defense of Israel’s actions against hostile Palestinians in the United Nations and called for an investigation of incidents at the Gaza/Israeli border.
7. Jewish columnist Tom Freidman writes for The New York Times, is a three-time Pulitzer Prize winner and attended Israel’s Hebrew University. His two children were born in Israel. Nonetheless, he has a consistent record of criticizing Israel and AIPAC. In a recent column he declared his love of both Palestinians and Israelis. On July 14 he appeared on CNN and warned that Israel may become a “Jewish Banana Republic” (a politically unstable country).
8. Democratic senator and presidential candidate Bernie Sanders of Vermont spent time on a kibbutz in Israel in 1964. He has been both a supporter and critic of Israel. He is one of the first to object to Israel’s defensive action as “overreaction.” He has met with Palestinian leader Hanan Ashwari and his support for Israel appears to be waning as he takes up the cause of the Palestinians.
9. U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Michigan) is the first Palestinian-American to be elected to Congress. She admits not being informed about the Israel/Palestinian conflict, yet she supports the BDS movement and is hostile to Jews and Israel.
10. Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, another candidate for the Democratic nomination for president, has been a supporter of Israel’s right to defend itself. She now claims that Israel is treating Palestinians badly and overreacts to “peaceful” Palestinian demonstrations. She joined Sanders in condemning Israel for planning to annex part of the West Bank before details were published. The two have been joined by other Democratic presidential candidates on that issue. Recently she endorsed efforts by IfNotNow (see below) to end Israel’s occupation and stealing of Palestinian land.
Organizations, movements critical of Israel
1. BDS — This is a Palestinian-led movement that calls for a boycott, divestment and sanctions against Israel. It proclaims that Israel is an apartheid state, Israeli Palestinian Arabs do not have equal rights, wants an end to the occupation of the “occupied territories” (West Bank, East Jerusalem, the Gaza Strip and the Golan Heights) and the right of return for Palestinians. Some feel that BDS wants to delegitimize Israel’s existence and that it is anti-Semitic. Many states have passed resolutions against BDS. Germany recently joined opposition to this movement. The ACLU has protected the BDS movement under freedom of speech guarantees of the first amendment.
2. Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) represents the 3.5 million American Arabs that reside in the USA. It is now subject to investigation for its ties to Hamas and Hezbollah, two terrorist groups that are sworn enemies of Israel.
3. IfNotNow (INN) is an organization of young Jews which opposes the “occupation” over Palestinians in the West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza.
4. Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP) also opposes the “occupation” over Palestinians in the West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza. JVP calls for the end of U.S. aid to Israel, accuses Israel of apartheid policies and promotes the BDS movement.
5. Muslim American Society (MAS) attracts speakers who justify armed resistance against Israel and delve into anti-Semitic prevarications. These supplications are often couched in religious language, such as the notion that the eradication of the State of Israel is a religious duty incumbent upon all Muslims.
6. Students for Justice in Palestine has some 75 chapters at American Universities. They have annual “Apartheid Week.” Chapters at some universities organize events that feature speakers that describe Israel as an “ethnocentric racist society” and Zionism as “inherently undemocratic”.
