Rep. Yvette D. Bowman (D-NV) has said that there needs to be a “clear distinction” between the people of Israel and the government of Israel. This distinction, she believes, is necessary in order to be able to evaluate policy decisions made by the Israeli government objectively. She believes that those who criticize Israeli policies are not automatically anti-Semitic, and that such criticism should not be met with accusations of anti-Semitism. Rep. Bowman wants to ensure that Israel’s citizens are not seen as representatives of the government when discussing its policies. Rather, she wants to make sure that criticism is directed towards the government, and not the people of Israel itself.
