[schluffinplan]

The whole thing is quite sad because this issue is being pushed to squash student activism and bring about a new era of McCarthyism. As someone who regularly attends a Conservative Jewish synagogue (which ironically is one of the more liberal sects), I have yet to talk to any Jews who support the bill.

Antisemitism is a serious issue that has been building ever since Donald Trump refused to condemn White Supremacists (whom he intentionally politically courts similarly to Modi with the RSS). However, criticism related to Israel and the blind unconditional support of some (and I must emphasize that is a minority) Jewish people in America have for Israel is the most legitimate grievance that people have towards American Jews. I don't like seeing the reports of five-figure body counts in Gaza any more than the activists this bill is trying to silence.

There is a strong cultural and political disconnect right now between Israeli and American Jews which has been driving a strong rift. Jews in Israel tend to skew more Orthodox and hold more extreme right-wing political views than in America where there is a strong culture of Liberalism and Progressivism. Beyond that, I can say from personal experience there is a certain Israeli bravado and a condescension towards American Jews which drives me berserk (some Ultra-Orthodox Israelis have made statements denying the Jewishness of Conservative and Reform Jews for instance). Yet I have to take all the anger and micro-aggressions of the disgruntled leftists for actions in which I had no input and actively go against my wishes for how Israel would conduct itself.

This bill won't change those people's minds nor will it do anything to change the minds of right-wing antisemites (like Nick Fuentes) who would gladly see new death camps get created in America. If anything it serves to fuel the classic antisemitic tropes which have once again taken hold in mainstream culture.