By THE STAFF OF THE JERUSALEM POST [An online petition] – Israel’s actions are deserving of reasoned, fact-based representation and criticism. This, it seems to us, is a reasonable expectation that is no longer being universally met.
In too many parts of the world at present, criticism of Israel has strayed wildly beyond the parameters of elementary fairness and reason. Specific aspects of last week’s interception [of a convoy headed toward Gaza] have been maliciously misrepresented. Dishonest accounts of what occurred have been widely circulated and afforded credible platforms.
Opinion-shapers long hostile to the very fact of Israel’s existence have exploited the incident to incite against Israel’s right to defend itself from those who would destroy it. And, most worryingly, some leaders and nations who have hitherto shown the capacity to distinguish between legitimate criticism of Israel and malevolent discrimination against Israel have abandoned such reason.
In some cases, previously just and open-minded leaderships have joined forces with those who have long battled against Israel in their rhetoric and actions. In other cases, previously fair-minded leaders have merely fallen silent. And of course, all that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.
In such an environment, robust and reasoned leadership from the United States – leadership that honestly assesses the climate in which Israel is operating, that pays sensible heed to the nature and scale of the threats it faces, and that acts to ensure Israel can safeguard itself against those threats – is central to our capacity to thrive here.
Israel’s existence has been threatened militarily over and over in its short modern lifespan. We publish this editorial now because we feel Israel’s existence is being threatened as seldom before on the second battlefield – in the arenas of media coverage, international law, politics and diplomacy.
We cannot in good conscience do nothing. And we invite you, amid what in some quarters is developing into anti-Israel hysteria, to add your voice to our call for the US to lead the way along the path of reason.
Continued at The Jerusalem Post | More Chronicle & Notices.
