The Trump administration is being accused of using the Justice Department to treat criticism of Israel as a crime, which is bad news for free speech and US critics of Israeli policy.

• The claim is that criticism of Israel is now officially treated as anti-Semitism by the US government.
• The Justice Department is accused of using tax dollars to pressure Americans into staying quiet about Israel.
• AIPAC is openly bragging about its influence while ordinary criticism gets labeled hate.
• No public case is being made for why Americans should back Israel — dissent is just being shut down.
• Civilian deaths in Gaza, including children, are framed as a topic Americans are no longer allowed to question.

Outlook: Expect more pushback over free speech as the Justice Department's stance collides with growing public criticism of Israel.