Remember your values

All of us have been rightly shaken by what has happened on college campuses and by the way that some in progressive circles who we have faithfully supported have embraced a false and hateful narrative about Israel, Israelis and, by extension, Jews in general.

Many of us have been experiencing a kind of trauma out of which we felt abandoned; and many, in attempt to recover a sense of security, are even turning to embrace the political right, even if they had traditionally opposed it in the past because it didn’t represent their values. Because of the heightened importance of this single and – yes – very important issue, they are putting aside other concerns. But we must not let our fears cloud our judgments. No American administration is going to abandon Israel and take the side of Hamas. Our military advisors wouldn’t support that. Our high-tech leaders wouldn’t support that. Our law enforcement agencies wouldn’t support that. Those who actually do the work of maintaining America’s power and leadership in the world will not support that. They know the true value of Israel to the US.

I have faith that by the time of the election, most Jewish voters concerned about Israel’s security and success in its war against Hamas will remember that their values, overall, are those of the Democratic Party. The Biden/Harris administration have been “rock solid” in backing Israel in this war – and those are the words of Israel’s PM Netanyahu, President Herzog and numerous top Israeli military leaders; not just mine.

The vast majority of American Jews – young and old – want to see a resolution to this conflict that brings peace to the region and provides a future for the Palestinians because it is in Israel’s long term security interests.

David Wasser

Cranston, R.I.