I believe that we, as Jews, need to have unequivocal support of Israel because it is the only safe haven for Jews in the world. While you can be critical of Israel if you disagree with the policies or decisions of her government or army, there has to be an equal if not harsher criticism of the enemy Israel is fighting.

I see constant scrutiny of Israel without regard to her enemies: the Palestinian Authority, Hamas and Hezbollah. Israel is surrounded by hostile states, terrorist groups on its borders and an unreceptive peace partner, the Palestinian Authority (PA). The PA is not only unwilling to negotiate or recognize Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state but, in fact, has called for the death of Jews and Israelis. Where is the criticism of the Palestinian Authority for offering Palestinians better jobs if they kill Jews? Where is the criticism of Hamas for using children as human shields? Where is the criticism of anyone but Israel?

I see more students criticizing Israel for every little move rather than supporting her or even celebrating her successes. It’s true that Israeli settlements are controversial, and I have no problem with people expressing their disapproval for them or any other Israeli policy. The problem I have with groups like J Street, for example, is that I believe that it exists only to criticize Israel.
During the Gaza War in 2008 and 2009 between Israel and Hamas, J Street said that it was unable to distinguish “who is right and who is wrong” as both parties could share the blame. It said that Hamas, a recognized terrorist group by the United States, and Israel were morally equal. J Street has said that both Israel and the Palestinian Authority are equally to blame for no peace. When students support such statements or don’t comment on them, it’s hurtful to Israel.

When thinking about who is responsible for no peace, I encourage students to think back to the United Nations partition plan of 1947 that Israel accepted and the Palestinians rejected. Or Israel giving up the Sinai Peninsula to Egypt for peace and offering the Golan Heights to Syria for the same. Or even former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak’s generous offer in the Camp David Summit in 2000. These are long forgotten acts of peace made by Israel.

I would like to encourage students to start voicing a favorable opinion of Israel as equally or even more than they voice their disapproval for her. We live in a world where Israel is constantly being scrutinized even though her morality is far superior to that of Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Palestinian Authority. I encourage students to learn more and spend as much time talking about the Palestinian Authority’s incitement of terror, as they do debating Israeli settlements. Israel needs us Jews to point out the flaws of her enemies, when barely anyone else in the world seems to talk about this.