I’m a loud and proud Jewish American Zionist and a centrist—and I condemn settler violence and anti-Arab violence.

Being a Zionist does not mean blind loyalty. It means loving Israel while acknowledging its imperfections. It means confronting the parts of our society and our state that fall short of our highest ideals, because silence in the face of injustice is not patriotism—it is complicity.

Settler violence is one such imperfection. It does not represent who we are as a people, nor does it reflect what the overwhelming majority of Jews and Israelis believe.

Many of the same dynamics that fuel extremist settler attacks against Palestinians also overlap with broader anti-Arab violence inside Israel, including assaults, vandalism, and arson. Recognizing these connections is crucial: they are part of a larger pattern of ethnically and ideologically motivated harm that threatens the safety of all Arabs in Israel. Jewish extremism is real, and these latest incidents echo many of the same sentiments that Meir Kahane stood for. Kahane was condemned by both American Jews and Israelis for his remarks.

Calling out this violence is not anti-Israel; it is pro-Israel, because defending our values means defending them consistently.

As part of my work as a news writer with the Israel Daily News and as a freelance journalist, I cover a wide range of stories—from current events to politics and crime to culture and archaeology. In recent months, I’ve reported on numerous cases of anti-Arab crime. Covering these stories has reinforced a simple but important truth: having an informed opinion requires the willingness to recognize that there is wrongdoing on both sides. Yes, Israel constantly faces civilian terror attacks, but we should never harm anyone for revenge in return.

Jewish law is clear on this point. Harming another human being is forbidden, regardless of whether that person is Jewish.

Statistics on anti-Arab crime

Arabs make up roughly 21% of Israel’s population, and Israel remains the only country in the Middle........

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)