The Constitution of the United States of America, Article III, Section 3
Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying war against them, or in adhering to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort. No person shall be convicted of treason unless on the testimony of two witnesses to the same overt act, or on confession in open court.
I fall squarely on the Palestinian side in regards to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. I am for full statehood and recognition of the Palestinian rights, whether a one state fully democratic, meaning not specifically Jewish, state, or a two state solution that gives Palestinians reasonable control over their homeland and future. Unfortunately, the United States Government doesn't, and really has never, agreed with my position. I don't like it but it's a fact. Israel is our staunchest ally in the region and we have turned a blind eye to a lot of their war crimes. But they are still our ally, whether I like it or not. They are not now making nor have they ever made war or intended to make war on the United States of America.
As someone who has been accused of, on numerous occasions, by people across the political spectrum, and in fact advocated for at some points, treason, I am especially aware of accusations of treason. Supporting the interests of allied countries, even if said interests are in conflict with US interests. Not pursuing US interests to the fullest extent, or at all, is not levying war against or providing aid and comfort to enemies.
There are laws in the US that allow for the prosecution of government employees who aid foreign governments in the course of acting as an agent of the US government.* One could perhaps argue that Bush could be guilty of this, but to throw around accusations of treason is totally unwarranted.
Moreover, the idea that Jews in the state department or other departments which deal with issues around Israel are somehow immediately suspect as pro-Israel is antisemetic. Yes, if you have some proof that specific individuals involved are both Jews and work for the interests of Israel then present it. But, to simply say something like "the jews in the state dept", is irresponsible and antisemitic. The majority of Jews that I know personally are against the current Israeli actions in Gaza, and to think that if they held a post in the State Department that would somehow verify the conspiracy of Jews, the anti-Semitic trope upon which these accusations of treason rest, is totally absurd.
I have written this diary for two reasons. The first being that I loathe the misuse of the term treason. The second being that antisemitism is a political path which has been gone down more times than can be counted, or recorded, in history, and it is a bad path, a wrong path. Jews, as a group, are not responsible for the actions of Israel, the Israeli government and those who support it are responsible.
*Let me note that both my phrasing and legal understanding is lacking in this statement. I.E. I could have said it better and linked to said law.