If this continues – and there’s little to indicate it won’t – Jews will have to make painful and difficult choices between their support for Israel and their preference for other policies of this administration. This choosing will play out during the 2010 congressional elections. The president is leaving them little room to maneuver.
Without a strong American Jewish voice in support of Israel, much is at risk. The solid coalition for Israel in Congress is in the process of weakening as Democrats continue to find the pressures from Rahm Emanuel and others difficult to resist.
If Jews go silent now and allow apathy, fear or political preference to prevent them from speaking up for Israel, the bullying will increase and the worst and most deadly outcomes will become real possibilities.