The past few years have been filled with person after person proclaiming how risky it is to take a stand against “the Israel Lobby” or just plain against Israel. Jimmy Carter proclaims it even as he sells his latest book, goes on his latest talk show tour, and gives his latest interview. Stephen Walt and John Mearsheimer have most famously parlayed their pretend-fear of being silenced into a book, a lecture tour, and now separate magazine jobs where they get to—that’s right—bash Israel some more, and talk about how now it’s finally “safe” to do so without risking their careers. Because they oh-so-bravely spoke out against the feared Lobby, and survived.
In the meantime, we have the true career-ending move, and it’s not speaking out against Israel. It’s speaking out in support of Israel. In Norway, for instance, politicians are receiving death threats for supporting Israel.
Toje is a staunch advocate of Siv Jensen, chairwoman of the main opposition Progress Party, who has recently come under fire for her pro-Israel stance. Following her appearance at a pro-Israel rally in Oslo on January 8, Jensen began receiving death threats, and is now under 24-hour security supervision.
“I have never experienced this kind of hatred in Norway,” said Toje, who was present at the demonstration. “There were people throwing stones at and spitting on rally-goers. Afterward, people carrying Israeli flags were randomly attacked in the streets.”
In Sweden, a Muslim mob attacked pro-Israeli demonstrators, who started their demonstration with a song known as “Hinei ma tov”—a song about brotherhood. The police removed the pro-Israel demonstrators, who had a permit—and left the Muslims, who did not, but who did throw eggs, rocks, and fireworks at the pro-Israeli crowd.
Funny, how the people who whine the most about the scary Israel lobby never seem to have to surround themselves with 24-hour police protection—but those who stand up for Israel, well, they’re in danger all over the world.