One of the refrains from Chris Matthews and other establishment types who want to softly criticize the occupation is that criticism of Israel inside Israel is far more vigorous than it is in our discourse. And yes this is true. But so what; it’s a nonsensical argument. I thought we were sovereign? Since when do we need permission from the Pope to criticize the Catholics, or the French to criticize France, or from any Israeli to criticize Israel?

That being said, all those who need permission to boycott Israel from mainstream Israelis now get it from the novelist and poet Yitzhak Laor in Haaretz, who explains that his society is now so profoundly right wing and off the rails (just what we’ve been telling you, and David Remnick too) that only real international pressure will save it. Laor mentions boycott and sanctions, and implies that the boycott should be aimed at Israel, not just the settlements. He speaks of the ’67 lines, as if the Arab Peace Initiative can somehow be revived: