Israel, the Jews, and a sense of 'we'

In general, I'm fairly clueless about politics. But I'm fascinated by the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. More specifically, I'm interested in how Jews around the world navigate common assumptions that they 'must' support Israel. The three-way Jewish virtual round-table conversation found here goes a long way to qualify that picture. Some key excerpts:

"[Carlo Strenger:] Let me begin with a basic belief of mine: any criticism of Israel that does not actually incite racism and antisemitism is legitimate. Many supporters of Israel automatically play the card of antisemitism to muzzle criticism. This is intellectually and morally wrong and it is dangerous. It empties the charge of antisemitism of serious content, and creates deep animosity not only towards Israel, but also towards Jews in general.
[...]
[Brian Klug:] As you say, Steven, the situation in Israel-Palestine is not 'a private business for Jews or Israelis'. Nonetheless, there is private business to transact; for Israelis and Jews need to think their identities apart. Which brings me, Carlo, to your remark that I am 'involved in this as a Jew'. You are right. But what does this mean? Steven, you refer to 'the tribal loyalties into which many [Jews] were born'. But I was born into something much larger - more generous and humane - than tribal loyalties. It's called Judaism (or Jewishness). Speaking out about Israel is not a way of 'breaking free' (in your phrase) of this identity; it is a way of reclaiming it.
[...]
[Steven Rose:] To invoke Holocaust memories in defence of one of the most heavily armed and militarised nuclear states in the world, supported as it is by the imperial might of the US, is a rhetorical device past its sell-by date.
[...]
But to expose Israeli racism and oppression is not to condone repressive Arab regimes, nor terrorist attacks on civilians, nor to suggest that Israel is the 'moral low point of the world'.
[...]
[Brian Klug:] You mention 'pride' in Israel's achievements. I feel neither pride nor shame about the state's doings, for Israel is not my country and I am not its citizen. If it is to have a future, Israel must shed the burden of Jewish fears and hopes that led to its creation. It must see itself as belonging to the Israeli - not the Jewish - people. In other words, it is time to move on, to cut the cord that ties Jewish and Israeli identities together. Insisting Israel be its own state and not ours: this might be the most constructive thing that we - Jews on 'the outside' - can do.
[...]
[Steven Rose:] Unlike either of you, I do not think that Jews outside Israel have a special status in 'solving' the problems of the Middle East. However, by dissociating themselves from Israeli actions and policy, as IJV have done, and by insisting that such actions are 'not in my name', they can help weaken Israeli and Zionist claims to speak for 'all Jews', and form an effective counter to the powerful Israel lobby both in Europe and the US.

So I end by echoing - and extending - Brian's words. To survive, he says, Israel must cut the cord that ties Jewish and Israeli identities together. I would add that the cord that binds Israel to Europe also needs cutting, and Israelis must find their place, not as settlers in Euro-America's last colonial outpost, but as good neighbours in a culturally rich and diverse Middle East." (emphases mine)

(HT: Fuad Rahmat)

Looks like Christians aren't the only ones trying to disentangle a 'we' from patriotic identification with a particular nation-state...

Peace.