The moral cost of Jewish leaders’ silence

Scores of governments worldwide, including many of Israel's traditional allies like France, the United Kingdom, and Canada, have condemned the humanitarian toll and loss of civilian life in Gaza. They are distancing themselves from Israel, which increases its isolation.

The support for Israel's military campaign in the US, Israel's closest and most important ally, has fallen to historic lows. Recent polls of disapproval have risen to 60 percent, marking a significant decline in American public backing.

Israel is now facing coordinated diplomatic pressure from the UN and alliances such as the Hague Group, which is actively pursuing legal measures against Israel's government for violating international law, and has become the subject of a genocide case at the International Court of Justice.

The scale of civilian casualties and destruction in Gaza has severely undermined Israel's peace agreements with its neighbors, especially Jordan and Egypt. Moreover, it will further radicalize extreme elements in the region, leading to cross-border attacks and wider internal violent outbreaks.

Whereas these righteous leaders need not publicly condemn Israel's criminality in Gaza day in and day out, they could exert tremendous pressure on Israel to immediately end its war crimes, not only to save the lives of countless Palestinians but also to minimize the dire consequences from which Israel and diaspora Jewry will inescapably suffer. Otherwise, they will live in shame for supporting a criminal Israeli government whose image is stained with Palestinian blood and wear this badge of disgrace for decades to come.

AIPAC's leaders should remember that in Italian poet Dante Alighieri's Inferno, those who had never taken a side in life were condemned to a never-ending torment in the vestibule of Hell, as "Their miserable lives have sunk so low that they must envy every other fate."

These Jewish leaders have committed a far greater sin. In the name of solidarity with Israel, they have and continue to actively shield Netanyahu and his criminal gang from committing crimes against humanity-the highest form of moral bankruptcy.

American Jews must pour into the streets by the hundreds of thousands and call for the end of all financial contributions to this corrupt organization that has forfeited its moral obligations and inflicted a greater harm on the Jews worldwide than the most ardent antisemite ever could.