Some 10, maybe 15 years ago, extreme intimidation of critics of U.S.-Israel policy, including physical threats, was fairly routine.
It was meant to silence anyone who questioned U.S. support for Israeli expansionism and repression. And in large part, it worked.
But activists in particular, including many members of Jewish Voice for Peace, spoke up anyway and braved those attacks, inspiring others to do the same. And that also worked.
Today, students are organizing for Palestinian freedom on campuses everywhere. And polls show that Democrats, especially younger ones, now tend to support Palestinian rights more than Israel. In short, after years of enjoying passionate liberal support, Israel has become a far-right issue.
That’s a dramatic change. And it’s a change that Jewish Voice for Peace rightly deserves credit for helping to make happen.
You might be surprised to know that I think that sooner or later – I hope sooner – these changes may very well lead to a shift in U.S. policy.
After all, the Trump administration has crossed a number of seemingly uncrossable lines – most recently by declaring that Israeli settlements do not violate international law.
But the U.S. has always claimed to oppose settlements while providing massive diplomatic, military and financial support for their expansion. So the actual consequences of these policy changes are very small.
JVP has spent years building an effective grassroots base that can pressure the U.S. to abide by its own laws that bar the use of foreign aid to violate human rights. This is exactly the right strategy and one that I believe could have a real impact.
JVP was started by people just like you and me who believe in collective organizing and who support justice, democracy and freedom for all.
They need our help. Let's give it to them.