[Jim Noble]

That was a long time ago, though, and a large percentage of American Jews today don't have that same commitment to Israel. They are much more assimilated, and all that really remains is a majority commitment to liberal Democratic politics.

I think the Jewish Obama voters to whom you refer ARE committed to Israel - but it is an imaginary Israel, an Israel of the mind. The imaginary Israel has an imaginary "right to exist" granted by an imaginary "international community" and is protected by imaginary international "laws". These Jews are always rattling on about "Resolution 181", "Resolution 242", AS IF these entirely meaningless pieces of paper, scripted by an unsavory assembly of Chinamen, Hottentots, and barbarians have some sort of protective value for Israel.

In their imagination, Israel is a rechtsstaat, leading the way to a bright, new internationalist future.

The real, actually existing Israel, unfortunately, is a machtstaat, which exists only as long as it can produce Galil rifles and men who are willing to go into battle to kill her enemies. This real Israel is anathema to the internationalist American Jewish Obama voters, and, it now appears, they may be willing to see the real Israel destroyed because it does not measure up to their fantasies.

[xJones]

...AS IF these entirely meaningless pieces of paper, scripted by an unsavory assembly of Chinamen, Hottentots, and barbarians have some sort of protective value for Israel.

That is a classic, beautiful description of the U.N. then and now.:)

The real, actually existing Israel, unfortunately, is a machtstaat, which exists only as long as it can produce Galil rifles and men who are willing to go into battle to kill her enemies.

Yes, Israel has been forced to become a power state; it's either that or pack up and go find a better neighborhood.

This real Israel is anathema to the internationalist American Jewish Obama voters, and, it now appears, they may be willing to see the real Israel destroyed because it does not measure up to their fantasies.

I'm sensing that also. There is always the strong liberal Jewish need to support the 'oppressed' underdogs, even if the underdog Palestinians have only one function and that's to bedevil Israel.

It is strange, but Israel's strongest supporters have long been American Christians. And then American Jews have accused American Christians of supporting Israel in hopes of bringing about Armageddon and the second coming.:) You can't win for losing in these arguments, and it always appears hopeless.