On Friday, the FBI and Department of Homeland Security issued a public warning to Jewish and Israeli communities, stating there are “potential public safety concerns related to ongoing threats to Jewish and Israeli communities,” on the heels of the recent attacks in Washington, DC and Boulder, Colorado. What is disturbing in the language of the statement, is not just that it normalizes any “justification” of an attack, but that there is also no promise to stop these attacks before they happen. What’s found is only a message that if they do happen, it’s not the government’s fault. This wasn’t a pledge to protect Jewish Americans, or a firm standing with the community, but rather a kind of liability shield and a shift of blame for deadly attacks. The messaging is clear: if you are outwardly Jewish or pro-Israel and something happens, you were warned.

The FBI didn’t announce a wave of new policies directed to security deployments, surveillance operations, or preventative screening initiatives. It only urged Jewish communities to be “vigilant” and report suspicious behavior. In other words, they said “We won’t be there to stop the attack, but we’ll answer your 911 call after it happens.” This essentially tells the Jews, “It’s in your hands to stop it.” While on the surface it seems that the government is just not doing enough and we need........

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)