In conversation with Jeffrey Goldberg, Shmuel Rosner is asked the question 'Do American Jews have a role to play in bringing about a just and equitable solution to the Middle East crisis?'. He replies:
I'd like American Jews to be bothered. I want them coming for visits, I want them caring, I want them lobbying. And no - I do not want them to be criticizing Israel in public and trying to pressure Israel on matters of policy and trying to "save Israel from itself" and all that condescending crap. Not because I think Israel doesn't deserve criticism, or doesn't make mistakes, but because there are more than enough people criticizing Israel already and because making policy is for people who will eventually pay the price for it - and because Israel is a "responsible adult". And with all due respect for those thinking that they know better - I think they don't.
This is not a viable standpoint. Because there is so much criticism of Israel - and so much of it of a demonizing and (by intention) delegitimizing kind - Jews outside Israel who support its existence and hope for it to flourish have their work cut out: they need to respond to unjust, or one-sided, or unfairly selective, criticism of that country; and they need to point to the way in which such criticism is often unbalanced by any criticism of Israel's avowed enemies in the region or else only 'balanced' by excuse-making on that score; and they need to point out the strengths and virtues of the Israeli polity. But it is not possible to do any of these things and be a persuasive or credible voice whilst remaining silent about matters where Israel is properly open to criticism. (This, incidentally, is not an Israel-specific matter: you do not do favours to any institution or entity that you support by shutting up about its deficiencies.) The occupation and the settlements have been a disaster for Israel. When it violates human rights, that is what it does, and if you pretend otherwise or are 'discreet' on the subject, how can you say with any moral authority that the Palestinian movements or surrounding Arab countries should look to their own human rights record?
Furthermore, Rosner's claim that 'making policy is for people who will eventually pay the price for it' is in this context - what American Jews should and should not say about Israel - a nonsense. Taken seriously, it would forbid criticism of any other place by the people of this place: of Zimbabwe by Kenyans, of Russia by Belgians, of America by anyone but Americans (now that would reduce the volume of global chat, my goodness), and of Italy by the inhabitants of far-off New Zealand. If you're human, you've a right to speak, and that includes the right to criticize.
If what Lily Galili says here is even half-way true, criticism, moral criticism, of Israel from diaspora Jews is very much to the point. (Rosner link via Clive.)