The very insightful Asaf Romirowsky touches on, but does not really dig into, a question that has always perplexed me: Why do Israelis often seem so much more dovish on the defense—the survival—of their country than do American Israel supporters?
Commenting on a propaganda-filled exhibit at U-Penn, Asaf writes:
Moreover, the exhibit and its people illustrate the very core of the problem between the two major Jewish centers in the world today: America and Israel.
In a nutshell, that problem is the sheer lack of understanding when it comes to the obstacles and challenges that American Jews face when they are looking to make a case for Israel.
I’m not sure that Asaf is correct is characterizing these beliefs as belonging to a “fringe.” Israel is a democracy; if the people wanted a more robust defense, they would probably have it.