The lack of nuance in the arguments set forth by both Don Casler ("The Case Against the Israel Lobby," Feb 7.) and Adam Schneider ("Preserving the U.S.-Israeli Alliance," Feb. 9) about the United States' relationship with Israel sparked conversations that quickly became trapped in a polarized debate. Such conversations do not take into account the personal stories and histories involved in the conflict and fail to recognize the value of maintaining a strong alliance between the United States and Israel while still advancing Palestinian statehood. Casler ignores the real causes of terrorism in the United States and fails to distinguish between particular Israeli policies and the U.S.-Israel alliance as a whole when he falsely asserts that the close alliance between Israel and the United States is the source of the United States' terrorism problem. Numerous security experts, American officials and others have noted that radical terrorist groups and authoritarian governments have exploited the festering wound of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to obtain recruits and money. Among those who recognize the importance of combining a strong alliance with a push for the two-state solution is President Barack Obama, who has called resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict "a vital national security interest for the United States." However, we cannot pretend that Israel and the United States do not face real security threats motivated by other issues. The specter of terrorism will not disappear with a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Labeling those who voice support for continued and stronger cooperation between Israel and the United States for security and moral reasons as the "Israel lobby" denies the diversity of views held by those who favor the U.S.-Israel alliance. Casler's use of the phrase the "Israel Lobby" a label that is simply too vague and impersonal to be useful groups together diverse opinions and organizations that advocate for a strong relationship between the United States and Israel into a single category. It denies the existence of organizations, including those on our campus, that are staunchly in favor of the U.S.-Israel alliance for reasons similar to those pointed to by Schneider. These groups advocate for a two-state solution to the conflict, Palestinian statehood and respect for human rights. Rhetoric that refers to the "Israel Lobby" prevents us from engaging with each other as fellow students, rather than as manifestations of political forces. On our campus, I see students like me trying to form their views amid the hailstorm of nasty criticism by all sides that too often diverts the discussion elsewhere. Grouping students together based on their stance on one aspect of the conflict without acknowledging the complexities of their views only contributes to the negative atmosphere. It is exactly this desire for neat labels that has narrowed the realm of what can be discussed. It is the fear of being called "anti-Israel" that deters many people from entering discussions on these topics. Pro-Israel ought not be defined narrowly to align with one political position, regardless of whether the people narrowing the definition come from those criticizing American support for Israel or from those who wish to strengthen it.
As Schneider discusses, maintaining strong relations between the U.S. and Israel is important for both moral and security reasons, this alliance cannot mean that the U.S. ignores the occupation of the West Bank and Gaza. It is imperative that the case be explicitly made for a democratic Israel alongside a democratic Palestine. We cannot simply list the good things Israel does without reference to the ways in which occupation harms American security, Israeli security and Palestinian human rights. Schneider is right to point out Israel's many successes in the realm of democratic rights, but we must view these successes as achievements to be protected and expanded rather than as excuses. The failure to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict threatens Israel's democratic achievements. Addressing the two-state solution as a secondary issue is not sufficient and often results in no real action being taken as pro-Israel advocates rest on their laurels.
We ought not divide our community with generalizations about each other's politics. Being pro-Israel and supportive of a strong U.S.-Israel alliance is not incompatible with promoting Palestinian statehood. This is a false polarization of our discourse.
