On the country's 10th birthday, Israel's ambassador to Washington touched on issues that remain on the political agenda half a century later: His government's territorial ambitions, the refugee problem and Israel's expectations of the American Jewish community. Mike Wallace, the legendary host of 60 minutes who passed away on Saturday, interviewed in 1958 Israel's ambassador to the United States, Abba Eban. It's an interesting viewing: Eban was the original Mr. Hasbara, unmatched in his mastery of languages and ability to relate to audiences around the world. Many of his talking points, readers may notice, are repeated by Israeli spokespeople to…

I wrote a piece in Haaretz yesterday entitled "The downside of unbridled support for Israel" (see below) disputing the claims that "Israel firster" is an antisemitic term, to which journalist Eli Lake commented in a tweet that it "has nothing to do with Israelis. They should stay out of it." Well, first of all, I am also American, so his argument has no legs. But second and more importantly, as an Israeli citizen who lives here, of course I have a say in how this country is talked about and leveraged in American foreign policy. Hell, if Israel and the US…

Jerusalem Post's deputy editor wants Jews to put Israel before the interests of their own country, while Daily Beast's Eli Lake demands that Israelis stay out of the debate on Israel There is a heated debate going on in the US regarding the application of the term "Israeli Firster," meaning a person who puts Israel's interest before those of his own country. Some people argue that the term itself is anti-Semitic; the Israeli right, on the other hand, explicitly expects Jews to be loyal to Israel first and foremost, even if it means confronting their own society. Caroline B. Glick,…

As part of its bid to counter Republican attacks on its "pro-Israel" record, the Obama Administration has publicized its first campaign video directly addressing its treatment of Israel entitled: "America and Israel: An Unbreakable Bond." The fact that the Obama Administration feels it must recruit the Prime Minister, Defense Minister and Israeli Ambassador -- all of whom are responsible for the continued policy of discrimination, occupation, inequality and deceitful rhetoric that directly contradict stated American positions -- to vouch for him is nauseating and infuriating. Why do they need this video anyway? After all, most American Jews - even those…