I have written a series of articles defending Israel against accusations of genocide, apartheid, colonialism, and collective punishment. I stand by every one of them. Israel has the right to defend itself against Hamas, Hezbollah, Islamic Jihad, and the Iranian regime that finances and arms them.

Links to my articles can be found at the end.

But there is one issue that Israel must end.

This is not because it defines Israel. It does not.

Nor is it because Palestinian violence in the West Bank has disappeared. It has not. Israelis continue to face shootings, stabbings, car-ramming attacks, and other acts of terrorism. The Israeli military has a responsibility to stop those attacks and protect Israeli lives.

But Israel also has a responsibility to uphold the rule of law when Israeli citizens commit crimes against Palestinians.

That responsibility cannot be ignored.

One of the greatest strengths of those of us who defend Israel is that we insist Israel is different. Israel is a democracy governed by laws. It is held to a higher standard because it holds itself to a higher standard.

Extremist settlers who assault Palestinians, destroy property, intimidate families, or vandalize villages are not defending Israel. They are damaging Israel’s security, its reputation, and its future.

Every attack becomes another recruiting poster for Hamas, another fundraising appeal for the DSA, another social media video viewed millions of times, and another obstacle for those of us trying to explain Israel’s........

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)