The 'strange' notion of why Americans ('s politicians) fear criticizing Israel

Coming from the Netherlands, I have found it strange how an entire nation or media (generalizing a bit for the sake of argument, it's of course not totally black and white), could be so afraid to be critical of Israel. The Dutch can be critical and at the same time seperate themselves personally as they know it's an understood thing that when you criticize, you do not necessarily dismiss the whole person but the behaviour.

Currently, the DailyKos and others are jumping on the bandwagon, fearing to criticize Israel's current campaign. To me, that is not even of benefit to Israel itself. Say what, you say? How can 'pandering' to someone or a country, really help that said entity? I fear it has the opposite effect. The more people put themselves into opposing camps, never honestly tackling an issue, that the object of anger, becomes not only those, who never critique, but the object of protection. In this case Israel. I feel that in all those years, of Israel being protected by the US' veto after veto at the UN, in the face of majority disagreement, that it has been a detriment to Israel itself. But that is for another time.

This is what Booman had to say;

It's not only Markos, but Kevin Drum, Josh Marshall and others that have explained their unwillingness to discuss the conflagration in Israel. The rationale varies, but the underlying problem is the same. The left wing in this country is generally critical of Israel's settlement policy and supportive of a negotiated settlement along the lines laid out by Bill Clinton in 2000. Yet, the vast majority of American Jews are Democratic voters and important as activists and fundraisers for the party.
There is no better way to splinter the left than to put the behavior of Israel front and center in the national debate. The Republicans will offer their uncritical support for anything Israel does, and the left will flounder about trying to appear fair and balanced. There will be no shortage of anti-Israel comments to cite emerging from the left blogosphere, even if only from the diaries of community sites and the comments. And, no matter what "big-name" bloggers try to do in the way of coordinating the message, there will be plenty of ammunition to bring to the Jewish community as evidence of ambivalence or distaste for Israel from the left.

Click on quote. That is why I am glad that my circle of bloggers are unafraid to speak out, regardless of each other's opinions. We respect each other and do not necessarily lean al the way to the left, or a bit out of center (sorry, can't say I know any right leaning blogger..yet!) The 'left' is a vast expanse and the opinions do not as much matter, as the attitude to allow differing viewpoints.. that attitude will help discourse, let's continue to fight for that.