Howard Davidson: Israel, Antisemitism, and the Fight for Truth
Howard Davidson And FB Profile
I wrote this just prior to the US Presidential election out of pure frustration from listening to the media and people who talk about the current position in Israel with such bias and lack of understanding of the truth.
Israel and the Jewish people face immense challenges today, requiring a fresh approach to public relations and combating antisemitism. The narrative surrounding Israel has been inexplicably distorted. Recently, Israel and the Jewish people have been labeled in ways that are deeply hurtful and entirely inaccurate. Israel has been branded as an apartheid state, terrorists, genocidal murderers, nazis and colonialists. These labels do not reflect the reality of Jewish identity or the situation in Israel. They are baseless accusations that ignore the truth and fail to capture what is genuinely happening.As usual, antisemitism is not being handled by Western governments in an even-handed way as other forms of religious abuse are. They say antisemitism is not acceptable yet they carry on accepting it.
If you look at the Jewish community as a whole they are law-abiding citizens and have totally integrated into whatever country they’ve settled in and have heavily contributed towards those societies,yet the authorities are really doing nothing tangible to curtail the vile use of these labels and the continuing antisemitic behavior. They are openly supporting Hamas and being complicit as the Palestinians have been. The campus leftists who call Israel colonialist a tiny country defending itself against multiple enemies that want to destroy it and its people are completely deluded, if they looked at history they would know who really wants to take over the world but they’re so brainwashed that their focus is taken away from who the real colonialist are . As well as widespread antisemitism I find it extremely difficult to understand why many Jewish eminent academics and politicians who had close family that suffered under the Nazis regime and were actually in concentration camps, are aggressively anti-Israel.This I find totally incredulous. I’m not at all a religious person but I understand the value and the importance of the Jewish homeland as well as it being something of a vibrant modern miracle this democratic country where it is located and considering how many times it’s been attacked is in itself is an incredible achievement. On my previous visits, I’ve seen with my own eyes how it has developed since the late fifties “my first visit” and how you generally see that all religions live in harmony as you witness on the weekends Jews going to synagogue and Muslims going to their Mosques and this is a normal peaceful sight in Jerusalem.
Those who perpetuate these harmful stereotypes are often in denial about their impact and know little or nothing about Israel or the Middle East in general, in my view it’s just a code that shows their true feelings towards Jewish people and their homeland without appearing racist witch is rather ironic, especially given that the Jewish community have historically suffered under such labels. Hamas and certain Palestinian factions may harbor genocidal intentions against Israel, yet the truth is that Israel has refrained from committing genocide against the Palestinians. Israel has simply taken action against their continual antagonistic terror attacks. Some antisemitic individuals believe their provocations will elicit defensive reactions from us, but why should we grant them that power? Engaging with these nonsensical claims only empowers those who spread them. Some lies are not worth defending because their authors care little for the truth. Some supporters who brandish the word genocide when describing Israel, do not know the meaning of the word and use it to invoke an emotional reaction as they realize that it’s something the Jews suffered and is like a red rag to Jewish people.There are no concentration camps or gas ovens being run by the Israelis in Gaza and there never was. The situation the Palestinians find themselves in is a choice they made by electing a terrorist government. The West should be able to understand that October 7th, 2023 might be a look into the future or a dummy run for countries other than Israel and that Israel is not the problem but the solution. We must also ask ourselves where and who is the antisemitism coming from.
Israel’s responses are no doubt justified in the face of the recent massacre, especially considering the chaos unleashed by constant previous attacks and the many times the Israelis have engaged in negotiations with the Palestinians only to receive further aggressive violence. It’s crucial for some of the general public involved in protests to reflect on the outcomes of the violence they’ve supported, what have the terrorists truly accomplished for their own people? Israel is the sole nation actively resisting a barbaric ideology that has threatened its existence since its founding. While we must correct misconceptions and address lies about Israel’s history and its struggles, we must also acknowledge that Israel would never instigate violence like that witnessed on October 7th. It’s totally absurd that Hamas has engaged in such terror and the moment Israel fights back the West sends a signal to Hamas that the more civilians you kill the more hostages you take, the more the West will call for a cease-fire and the more the west will fill the need to fund them.Totally insane. Now the ICC has issued arrest warrants for Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant. If in fifty years time you read this in a book you simply wouldn’t believe it, especially considering that the Hamas leader Ibrahim Al-Masri has been claimed as being killed during an air strike and was the only other member of Hamas in this warrant and he is a corpse. All the actions Israel has taken against its enemies are in self-defense and a preventive measure to assure this massacre that took place in October 2023 will not occur again. I’m sure that If anyone should be accused of staving the Palestinians living in Gaza it must be Hamas, over a long period spending all the aid money it’s received, on their war intentions and their terror activities, instead of infrastructure, education, and even air raid shelters as well as housing for their people. Israel has suffered missiles from Iran, missiles from Hezbollah, missiles from Hamas, and several other countries, and Israel is accused of starving the Palestinians. I suppose when America dropped two atomic bombs on Japan they followed up with food parcels. How a small country that has been subjected to so many attacks and wars in such a short time can end up like this is an indictment in itself.
One overlooked aspect of this conflict is Israel’s extraordinary efforts to provide aid, even to those who openly declare themselves its enemies. Despite being in a state of war, Israel has allowed shipments of food, medicine, and other humanitarian supplies into Gaza, including vaccinations against diseases like polio. It’s a known fact that Hamas steals the food and resells it to the Palestinians and they have also been smuggling arms in the aid shipments other countries at war have demonstrated such generosity toward their adversaries. Yet Hamas frequently hijacks these supplies, using them to sustain their terror campaigns rather than helping the Palestinian population. This creates the paradoxical situation where Israel’s humanitarian contributions indirectly sustain Hamas a reality often ignored by critics.
What justification did Hitler and the Nazis have for the murder of six million Jews? Was it the pursuit of an Aryan race, personal vendettas, or the unfounded belief that Jews were responsible for society’s problems? None of these reasons pertain to the current conflict in Gaza, nor do they justify the killings of innocent civilians and children in their homes as were carried out in October 2023. The Holocaust occurred long before the establishment of the State of Israel; those six million were slaughtered merely for their identity.
It is essential to recognize that cruelty and ignorance begin early, often in schools, where individuals may follow the herd without understanding the implications of their actions. It’s also a known fact that stupid people are the most dangerous people in large groups in society. Jews tend to discuss their heritage more openly than other religions. However, we all should consider ourselves Americans or British first, regardless of our religious beliefs possibly why we are regarded both as an ethnicity and a race.
I frequently hear scholars trying to pinpoint the root causes of antisemitism. The reality is that there need not be a logical explanation for it, hatred towards minorities has existed throughout history. Ask yourself: what justification did the Nazis require to exterminate six million Jews? They needed none.
Nazi Germany’s systematic genocide of the Jewish people during the Holocaust is a grim chapter in history. They not only targeted Jews but also persecuted and murdered millions of others during World War II.
Those who criticize us should understand that we do not owe anyone an apology for our existence, nor does Israel need to justify its actions to disingenuous nations that condemn its right to defend itself. For too long, intelligent Jewish leaders and academics have been left pondering why so many harbor animosity toward Israel and its people. We must accept that some individuals will never like us and be less sensitive to criticism, as this may mitigate some tension. It is vital to shed the victim mentality.
What concerns me most about contemporary Israel is the political division and protests that have exacerbated one of its longest and most challenging conflicts. Citizens must set aside their differences for the duration of this war, regardless of their personal beliefs. Division is precisely what our enemies wish to see,a sign of internal unrest. Those participating in these protests could inadvertently harm their nation. Soldiers on the front lines witnessing public dissent and distrust may find it demoralizing. Now is not the time for fragmentation; our enemies are watching closely.
If the solution is a two-state approach, we must ask: how many times have leaders attempted to negotiate with the Palestinians without success? Here’s a summary of the actual attempts that need to be acknowledged:
- In 1947, the UN proposed a two-state solution: one for Israel and another for the 22 Arab states. The Arab nations rejected the offer and invaded Israel with seven armies. They declared, “This will be a war of extermination.”
- From 1948 to 1957, Jordan occupied the West Bank, and Egypt occupied Gaza. They could have formed the 22nd Arab state but chose not to, as the Arab residents did not seek independence.
- After the 1967 war, Israel proposed to relinquish most of the territory won in exchange for peace guarantees. The Arab response was clear:
No peace with Israel
No negotiations with Israel
No recognition of Israel
- The Oslo Accords were intended as a path to peace, but for those called Palestinians, it became a means to establish terrorist cells and attack Israeli civilians. Arafat publicly declared, “The Oslo Agreement is a Trojan horse; we plan to eliminate Israel.”
- Following the failed negotiations with Israeli PM Barak, President Clinton expressed regret that Arafat missed the opportunity for peace.
- In 2000, during the Taba negotiations, Israel made unprecedented offers, yet the Palestinian response was to launch a brutal terror campaign against Israeli civilians.
- In 2009, the Israeli government, led by PM Olmert, presented a detailed peace plan to Abbas, who promised a reply but never returned to the negotiating table.
We must confront the truth that worldwide protests and anti-Israel sentiments have little to do with Palestinian statehood; they stem from a deep-seated hatred of Israel and the Jewish people as well as professional paid agitators.We will never achieve universal approval. People often amplify their anti-Israel rhetoric,knowing it stirs animosity.In this case,it’s better to be feared than loved. We must not adopt a victim mindset; instead, we should stand proudly with our brothers and sisters in Israel.
Israel is now under unprecedented threat,especially following the terror attack nearly a year ago as well as many previous rocket attacks and terror attacks going back decades.Yet, the response from the West and the new UK government has been to revoke certain export licenses to Israel,yielding to protesters who lack a fundamental understanding or really care about the region’s complexities.This approach only serves to embolden Iran and its regime.A similar response is evident from the Biden administration,which has shown a lack of support for Israel, evidenced by a prominent candidate’s past boycotts of Israeli leaders and calls for ceasefires whenever Israel is under attack.Also holding back shipments of certain weapons.It appears that Israel is fighting for the future security of their state and to rid the area of terror run countries and the Biden administration is hell bent on preserving them by virtue of their constant pressure on Israel to back off.
Biden seems to believe that Netanyahu should have done more to secure the release of the hostages.However, if the U.S. would of cut funding to Iran and had adopted a firmer stance against its regime, this conflict could potentially have been resolved by now.It appears that many in the Democratic party view the Middle East, Israel as a nuisance and are hesitant to engage in conflict with the IRGC,even seemingly supporting Hamas for the sake of a quiet life .They criticize both Israel and Hamas,attempting to play both sides,while inadvertently sending encouraging signals to Iran and its allies.I believe that Biden’s objective from the onset of this conflict has been regime change in Israel fortunately this has not been achieved.Whatever you think of Netanyahu he’s the best leader Israel has for these unsettled times. Even Israelis asked if they approved of him and those who didn’t could not come up with a better alternative.
Some argue that Netanyahu should have accepted a deal from Hamas, but it is crucial to understand that any deal acceptable to Hamas would require Israel to withdraw completely from Gaza and cease hostilities. This would effectively mean Israel’s surrender, granting Hamas a victory at the expense of Israel’s security, facilitated by the West.
Why didn’t Biden and Harris do more to secure the hostages’ release? The reality is that while they are campaigning for election, Israel is engaged in a multifaceted war, with Iran advancing its nuclear ambitions.America has the clout to deter Iran and could have sent a much tougher,clearer message to the regime,yet they chose not to.That’s not having your allies back.
Israel stands as the only nation fighting against this violent ideology. Those who dismiss the implications of this conflict should be warned that similar threats could soon manifest in their own communities.The casualty figures reported by certain media outlets often originate from Hamas,and many fail to recognize that Hamas operatives do not wear uniforms. Many countries that have been involved in wars since ww2 have not been able to give accurate figures of fatalities. It feels that Hamas backed by Iran have won the sympathy war,helped by the west.This conflict could carry on for a lot longer damaging Israel’s economy and killing its tourist industry .As well as needing a lot of assistance from the US.I hope whoever gets into power will provide the genuine support for the continuation of the State of Israel .I await the arrival of the new administration next year,headed up by Donald Trump with trepidation.Although it looks good so far on the surface I’m not at all convinced it will be beneficial to anyone other than he.We will see!
Ultimately, Israel must focus on its security and survival rather than seeking universal approval. Its actions are rooted in self-defense, and its existence is non-negotiable. As history has shown, hatred often persists without reason, but Israel’s unwavering resolve and contributions to the world remind us why its preservation is so important.
