Israel: A liberal's dilemma

I am angry. I am angry that Ariel Sharon and his Likud government have made it impossible for me to support Israel. As an American liberal and supporter of Israel for over 33 years (my support ended with the re-election of Ariel Sharon), how in good conscious can I continue to support the following?:

1. The fact that Israel is engaged in undemocratic and unjust practices, amounting to apartheid and fascism. How can I support that?

2. Israel fully supports the Bush regime, and the PNAC neocon cabal behind them (and visa-versa). Many of PNAC's principals, have in fact worked for the Likud government. PNAC's published goals include world domination, wars, the subjugation of the Middle East, and control over its oil resources. How can I support that?

3. Israel, thorough its numerous friends and allies in AIPAC, PNAC, JINSA, and the media, have incredible proportional influence on the political workings of our government, up to, and including, supporting candidates (both Republican and Democrat), friendly to their goals. They also use these organizations to support the fascist Bush regime, to the detriment of the American nation and its people. At this very moment, they are working to seek ways to keep the Bush regime in office, so they can maintain status quo. As it is illegal, according to our Constitution, to allow an outside nation to influence the workings of our government is such a manner, ...how can I support that?

4. It is apparent Israel does not support the concept of a Palestinian state, perhaps leading to Middle East peace. Their leading government ministers have publicly stated this, and have shown their non-commitment to the peace process by illegally claiming more Palestinian territory, and building walls, rather than seeking peace. How can I support that?

5. Israel has been condemned by numerous U.N. resolutions over the years, and has ignored virtually all U.N. and U.S. attempts to mediate peace. How can I support that?

It is a dilemma. Israel's government has befriended and embraced people I consider to be enemies of my country (the Bush regime). Would Israel's supporters here, kindly tell me how I can reconcile this dilemma, and how you are doing it with your continued support of Israel, right, or wrong? Please explain how you can consider yourself a liberal, and a Democrat, when you support those are that are diligently working to keep Bush in office, and drag this nation into more wars and fascism.

I need to know.

NOTE: MODS, am not sure where this should be, but feel free to move if needed. Thanks.

Yes.Yes.Yes.Yes.Yes. I too support Israel but not its government or the abomination of the vision that is purported to be raison d'etre. There is Hope. There can be justice. There must be security. Without struggle there can be no progress. And judging by the amount of struggle there is going to be a hell of a lot of progress. Thank you for you words and your hopeless optimism(I mean this as a good thing).

Please post all topics dealing with Israel/Palestinian issues in the Israeli/Palestinian Forum.

Thank you
AnnabelLee
DU Moderator

Why did the Israeli people elect Sharon?