Israeli writer: The Gaza war created a moral gap between American Jews and Israel

The Israeli writer Daniel Sokatch stated that the current moment is a critical reckoning for many American Jews whose institutions have become morally implicated in the mass killings in Gaza. He questioned the options available to them, as they refuse to defend what happened in Gaza but at the same time do not want to abandon Israel.

He added in an article for Haaretz that Israel has always been at the center of the identity of many liberal American Jews, who have recently felt horror at the extreme and hardline nationalist shift within Israel.

The writer - who is the CEO of the New Israel Fund and author of the book "Can We Talk About Israel? A Guide for the Curious, Confused, and Conflicted" - reminded readers of a poll conducted by the Washington Post earlier, which confirmed that 61% of American Jews say that Israel has committed war crimes in Gaza, and 4 out of 10 - a staggering figure, the writer notes - say that Israel is guilty of committing genocide against the Palestinians.

Sokatch continued that liberal American Jews are shocked that many Israelis, and many of their institutions, are willing to justify the catastrophic destruction of Gaza and the mass killings that occurred there.

According to a survey conducted by the Akkord Center at the Hebrew University - the writer explains - two-thirds of Israelis (64%) believe that there are no innocents in Gaza.

The writer states that this is more than just a political divide; it is a "moral gap."

He emphasizes that this issue is not limited to American Jews; even with a ceasefire in Gaza, Israel is losing international support, as several of its longtime allies have recognized a Palestinian state, and more than half of American adults say they hold a negative view of Israel.

Sokatch spoke about the polarization within Israeli society, stating that "old tribal affiliations" should not be the sole determinant of Israeli identity, but rather new affiliations should be created for a tribe that prioritizes human rights, compassion, and the sanctity of life, regardless of race, religion, or nationality.

The writer urged the necessity of criticizing Israeli institutions for their moral failures, clarifying that this does not mean betrayal or a desire for punishment, but rather a desire to help those institutions find a way out. He continued, "Support for the Israeli government should not be so unconditional."

He affirmed that unbalanced positions are losing their power not only among American Jews but also within the Democratic Party, the political home of the vast majority of Jews.

He stressed that criticism is necessary "because we cannot remain silent in the face of policies that result in the deaths of tens of thousands in Gaza, destroy Israel's international standing, and put Jews around the world at risk."

He stated that if Jews do not act to correct the situation, they are allowing for collapse, adding, "If we act, we affirm that American Jews can love Israel without losing our souls, and that true love requires courage, clarity, and conscience."