”American Jews and Israel: A Faltering Relationship” with Rabbi Lynn Gottlieb and Allan Brownfeld

Rabbi Lynn Gottlieb, an organizer with Jewish Voice for Peace, described Jewish Zionism as a failing ideology for many younger American Jews who reject Israel’s oppressive occupation policies and bellicose actions toward Iran, as well as the relationship between U.S. and Israeli militarism. But how will this impact their future as activists in electoral politics? Will they remain mostly captive to the Democratic Party, voicing opposition while accepting candidates captured and mentored by AIPAC?

Allan C. Brownfeld, American Council for Judaism, discussed the growing disillusionment of American Jews, and some Israelis, with the Jewish state and Zionism. Young American Jews who champion civil rights at home, including the right to vote, freedom of movement, due process and equality, realize that Israel is denying those same basic rights to Palestinians. Peter Beinart, Seth Rogen, Marc Maron and other Jewish Americans who are urging Israel to dismantle its apartheid policies face bitter attacks from the Israel lobby and Jewish Establishment organizations, charging they’ve “crossed a line.” Brownfeld offered some suggestions about how progressive Jewish voters can influence both the Democratic and Republican parties.

This conversation is from the 9/10/2020 IsraelLobbyCon EXTRA! webinar series.

Video at https://youtu.be/yZiRppZfAHk