NEW YORK – Once a unifying cause for generations of American Jews, Israel is now bitterly dividing Jewish communities.
Jewish organizations are withdrawing invitations to Jewish speakers or performers considered too critical of Israel, in what opponents have denounced as an ideological litmus test meant to squelch debate. Some Jewish activists have formed watchdog groups to monitor programming for perceived anti-Israel bias.
American campuses have become ideological battle zones over Israeli policy in the Palestinian territories. The “Open Hillel” movement of Jewish students is challenging speaker guidelines developed by Hillel, the major Jewish campus group, which bars speakers who “delegitimize” or “demonize” Israel.
And in a vote testing the parameters of Jewish debate over Israel, the Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish Organizations has denied membership to J Street, a lobby group that describes itself as pro-Israel and pro-peace and has sometimes criticized the Israeli government