Seeing as quoting the Bible seems to be all the rage these days, we should be as wise as serpents and as innocent as doves. We have stayed clear of people with such associations effectively enough in the past. Watching the obvious delight at Shamir's appearance on the scene, divorced from any critical analysis of his writing has made me uncomfortable. Watching otherwise thoughtful activists make excuses for him even though he has not addressed the charges in any satisfactory way has made me more uncomfortable. This acceptance of any old message from any apparent supporters of the Palestinians denigrates the real solidarity from those of us who are not Palestinian, yet have stood with the Palestinians for decades.
Integrity is our best weapon.
Associating ourselves with any elements that preach racism and intolerance undermines that stance, and undermines the Palestinian cause. If the rejection of these concepts and the refusal to critique people's messages on the basis of these concepts becomes the norm among us, then I'm afraid that the community will lose many of its supporters. It cannot afford to. To stay silent is to give consent. Our enemy's enemy is not our friend.