July 14, 2026 Editor, the News-Gazette: I am disheartened by Mike Lowry’s claim that to criticize the policies of Israel’s government is antisemitic. If anything, such commonly heard claims that conflate Judaism with Israel’s most inhumane actions only increase antisemitism on both the right and the left, and make Jews like myself less safe. The importance of separating the two cannot be understated. Many activists who support Palestinian rights are horrified by the atrocities of both Hamas and Israel, yet understand that neither mainstream Islam nor Judaism condones such depravity. Even among the majority of American Jews who believe in Israel’s right to exist, only 37% favor its current policies.
As Israeli holocaust scholar Omer Bartov, writes, while Zionism as a means of creating a haven for post- holocaust Jews had its place, the way it is has been interpreted by extremists is far from the intent stated in its founding Declaration of Independence. Count me among the millions of Jews who hope to see Israel return to its original vision of equality and democracy for all, and put a stop to the seemingly endless cycle of violence on both sides.
In the meantime, I ask that Mr. Lowry and others refrain from trying to “protect” us from antisemitism by supporting the horrific human rights abuses of a foreign government. ANNETTE GREEN Rockbridge County
