Anti-Semitism, Bannon and Breitbart

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Anti-Semitism, Bannon and Breitbart

Does unencumbered support of Israel trump everything else? 

I received two pieces of correspondence in the last few days regarding anti-Semitism, Steve Bannon and Breitbart News.

The first was an letter from the president of the Zionist Organization of America (ZOA), forwarded by a friend, which recoiled at anti-Semitism claims against Steve Bannon, calling them “painful” and describing Bannon as a defender of Israel.”
http://zoa.org/2016/11/10342353-zoa-criticizes-adl-for-falsely-alleging-trump-advisor-bannon-is-anti-semitic/

To which I responded to my friend:

"I’m curious as to where you’re at on this. In my mind, it’s yet another example of what’s wrong with the right-wing Israel lobby. Unencumbered support of Israel, right or wrong, trumps (sorry) everything. I have no idea what the ZOA is, but this is appalling.”

And then this defense of Bannon by Alan Dershowitz http://www.breitbart.com/jerusalem/2016/11/15/alan-dershowitz-steve-bannon-smears-not-legitimate-call-somebody-anti-semite-disagree-policies/
posted by a Facebook “friend” who commented in his post:

"What is disconcerting is the many people who repeat this false accusation only because it is anti Trump and there is some emotional grudge they feel because their candidate lost. During a stay in Israel, Breitbart and Larry Solov conceived of the idea of founding Breitbart News Network, with 'the aim of starting a site that would be unapologetically pro-freedom and pro-Israel. We were sick of the anti- Israel bias of the mainstream media and J-Street.'”

To which I responded:

"So, let me get this straight – the idea that being “unapologetically pro-freedom and pro-Israel” (which I take to actually mean: support Israeli governmental policies without question, not like the  “biased, anti-Israel” Jews at J Street, or me, for that matter) is the reason Breitbart and Bannon should be given passes for their misogyny, racism, general bigotry and promulgation of conspiracy theories and fabrications? OK. Thanks for clarifying that.”

Support of Israel within the American Jewish community has become increasingly contentious as Israeli government policies move ever more right and many American Jews remain steadfastly left. 

And, J Street’s anti-israeli bias? Here’s their mission statement: 

"J Street is the political home for pro-Israel, pro-peace Americans who want Israel to be secure, democratic and the national home of the Jewish people.

Working in American politics and the Jewish community, we advocate for policies that advance shared US and Israeli interests as well as Jewish and democratic values, leading to a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict."

As Jews, should we defend people like Bannon only because they profess unencumbered support of Israel and forget about everything else they stand for? Should we be content being labeled “anti-Israel” or “Israel-haters,” as the ZOA president suggests, if we don’t support Israel without question or criticism?

Was I correct? Is this appalling?