Criticism is one thing; turning the world’s only Jewish state into a political punching bag is quite another

There are moments in public life when disagreement is understandable, even necessary. And then there are moments when disagreement mutates into something else entirely – something obsessive, disproportionate, and, frankly, puzzling.

My reflections on Zack Polanski fall squarely into the latter category.

I found myself thinking about this not in a vacuum, but in the midst of a world once again convulsed by conflict – Israel under pressure, confronting threats not only at its borders but far beyond them. In such moments, one expects nuance, seriousness, even empathy from political leaders. What one does not expect – at least not from a Jewish leader – is a relentless rhetorical barrage that seems to single out the world’s only Jewish state as a perpetual offender.

And yet, here we are.

Polanski, the Jewish leader of the Green Party of England and Wales, has positioned himself as one of Israel’s most consistent and vocal critics in British politics. Not just a critic – that would be fair game in any democracy – but something closer to a habitual antagonist. His calls to sever diplomatic ties, halt trade, and isolate Israel internationally go well beyond policy disagreement. They signal something deeper: a fixation that borders on turning Israel into a convenient political punching bag.

I confess: I struggle to wrap my head around it.

Let me be clear from the outset – Israel is a democracy. Criticism of its policies is not only legitimate; it is part of the lifeblood of democratic discourse. Israelis themselves argue fiercely about their government’s decisions. No one, least of all a political leader, is required to agree with everything Israel does.

But there is a difference – a profound one – between criticism and caricature.

When every major statement, every political opportunity, every moment of international tension becomes another occasion to denounce Israel in the harshest possible terms, something shifts. The critique ceases to be........

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)