I received the following missive from my good friend and longtime reader of my blogs, Larry K. The sentiments included are not new and have been published elsewhere many times. Some of you are likely familiar with them as am I, although I don’t necessarily agree with all of them nor the overall tone of the piece.
Larry and I don’t agree on most issues, but we respect each other’s opinions. One issue we do agree on is the pervasive, overt, evil anti-Israel and antisemitism in the world today and what it portends.
“To the antisemites of the world:
You say we run the banks. You say we control Hollywood. You say we dominate the media. You say we have too much influence, too much power, too much pride. But you never ask how — or why. So, let me tell you.
We were banned from owning land, so we learned to live by our minds. We were blocked from trade guilds and professions, so we became merchants, scholars, doctors, and lawyers.
Our commitment to education didn’t come from privilege — it came from necessity. From exclusion. From survival. When we were barred from universities, we built our own yeshivot. The Torah became our moral anchor. The Talmud, our intellectual training ground. When we were mocked for being “bookish,” we made knowledge our defense. The insult became our armor.
In medieval Europe, Christians were forbidden by the Church to lend money with interest. But kings still needed loans, and someone had to do the collecting. So they turned to the Jews — already despised, already othered. We became moneylenders not by ambition, but by force. Then we were hated for it.
In America, we were shut out of “respectable” jobs. So we went west and helped invent Hollywood — not to brainwash, but to dream. To tell stories. To make magic.
When Ivy League schools capped Jewish admissions, we founded Brandeis. When hospitals wouldn’t hire Jewish doctors, we built Cedars-Sinai. When law firms closed their doors, we opened Skadden and Wachtell. We weren’t trying to dominate — we were just trying to live.
We were expelled from Spain. Massacred in Poland. Hanged in Iran. Lynched in Georgia. Bombed in Germany. And yet, we survived. We learned. We remembered.
In 1948, the world watched as nearly a million Jews were expelled or fled from Arab lands. Their homes, businesses, and synagogues were seized or burned. There were no refugee camps, no UN agencies, no worldwide calls for justice. No “right of return” for the Jews of Baghdad, Aleppo, or Tripoli.
You say we’re tribal. But we tried to integrate. We changed our names. Straightened our curls. Abandoned our faith. But every time we tried to disappear, you reminded us who we were. So, we turned inward. We leaned on each other. We built synagogues when your houses of worship were closed to us. We built hospitals when we weren’t welcomed in yours. We built advocacy groups to defend ourselves when no one else would.
And when no country would have us — we built our own.
Then Came October 7, 2023.
You say you hate Israel because of its policies. Because of land. Because of borders. But on October 7, 2023, Hamas didn’t target soldiers. They didn’t storm checkpoints or military outposts. They raped women. They beheaded babies. They burned families alive. They slaughtered civilians in their homes, bombed shelters, and slaughtered young people at a music festival. It was the worst massacre of Jews since the Holocaust. And as our dead lay unburied, the world didn’t mourn with us — it rallied against us.
College students held “Glory to the Martyrs” signs. Protesters waved swastikas in Sydney. “Gas the Jews” was graffitied in Berlin. Jewish students were barricaded inside libraries in New York. MIT students were blocked from class. At Harvard, they were told to remove their Stars of David for safety. All while our hostages were still bleeding in tunnels.
So, no — this isn’t about borders. You hated us before 1948. Before the State of Israel existed. Before a single border was drawn.
What you hate is that the Jew now has power. A flag. A standing army. A government. A home. You preferred us weak. Wandering. Apologizing. Dependent on your pity or permission to live.
Israel Is Not a Gift. It Is a Necessity.
We didn’t colonize the land — we returned to it. Jews have lived in Jerusalem, Hebron, Safed, and Tiberias for over 3,000 years. We prayed toward Zion for centuries. We spoke Hebrew while the world told us to forget.
We made the desert bloom. We drained swamps, planted forests, revived a lost language. We welcomed Holocaust survivors, Russian refuseniks, and Ethiopian Jews airlifted from famine.
We built a nation while surrounded by enemies, embargoed by the world, and haunted by the ashes of Auschwitz. Israel was not built because of the Holocaust. It was built because of 2,000 years of exile, genocide, and betrayal — and it is the only insurance policy against the next one.
Never Again is not a slogan. It’s the Iron Dome. It’s the F-35. It’s the 18-year-old girl in olive green standing guard so toddlers in Sderot can sleep.
Why the Double Standard?
When Russia invaded Ukraine, the world cried out. Blue and yellow flags adorned every profile. Weapons, refugee aid, solidarity — all rightly offered. But when Hamas burned Israeli children alive, we were told to “de-escalate.” When we defend our cities, we’re called monsters. When we bury our dead, you protest our grief. Why?
Peace Is Possible. We’ve Tried.
You say Jews are foreigners in the Middle East. But the UAE, Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan disagree. The Abraham Accords proved peace isn’t just possible — it’s real.
Israel sends aid to Syrian earthquake victims. Arab doctors and lawmakers serve in the Israeli Knesset.
We seek coexistence. You chant “From the river to the sea.” We chose life. You chant death.
So yes — Israel is strong now. Baruch Hashem. Because a powerless Jew is a dead Jew. And history taught us: no king, no pope, no president will save us.
We don’t want to dominate. We just want to live. Freely. Proudly. Unapologetically.
You don’t have to like us. You don’t have to agree with us. But never again will you decide whether we’re allowed to exist.“Conclusion
In my view the author’s tone may be excessively strident, but he is not wrong. Why do so many people hate Jews? I maintain it is because they are different; different God; different Sabbath; different language; different appearance; different customs; etc.
People tend to mistrust and hate “different.” There have always been misconceptions about Jews, often due to ignorance and superstition, especially in the past. One example to illustrate the point – in the late 1950s a Jewish friend was attending a college in the South. A friend asked her if she could touch her head to feel her horns.
Even today, many misconceptions and stereotypes have persisted. You are familiar with some of them. Jews are “cheap.” Jews are “loud.” Jews are “brash.” Jews are “pushy.” I wonder how many of these people have actually interacted with a Jew, except on a cursory basis? Not too many I would guess.
I have said this before, but it bears repeating. For over 250 years American Jews have been treated relatively well. Consequently, they have grown too comfortable and too complacent. Many of them have become ambivalent towards Israel. They are ignorant of history. Jewish history tells us we cannot assume this beneficial situation will last. For example, by the early 20th century Jews had been living peacefully and prosperously in Germany for some 500 years. They were an integral part of the country’s social, economic and cultural fabric. We all know what happened. Israel is the only country in which Jews can rely on being safe and secure prospectively.
Tag: Israel
WILL TRUMP’S MIDDLE EAST PEACE PLAN HOLD TOGETHER?
The following is based on multiple media reports supplemented by my opinion as indicated.
Phase One of Trump’s Middle East Plan (the “Plan”) the exchange of 20 surviving hostages and the remains of four deceased hostages being held by Hamas for some 1,900 Palestinian prisoners that had been held by Israel is just the first step of Trump’s 20-point Plan. (It is thought that there are 24 additional deceased hostages whose remains were not returned, and as reported by NBC NEWS it is unclear when they will be.)
This was widely hailed as a great success and rightly so. The man whose enemies have characterized him as “unstable,” “power-hungry,” and a “warmonger” managed to arrange a miraculous peace agreement that few thought was possible. The euphoric and poignant sight of hostages being greeted by members of the Knesset in Jerusalem and then being reunited with their families was something to see. Of course, Trump haters such as Joe Biden, Bernie Sanders and AOC could not manage to say anything positive. As I write this, they have remained silent. Other Dem politicians tempered their praise and/or did not mention Trump by name. Also silent are the protesters who had been claiming Israeli genocide.
So, how did Trump pull this off? How did he manage to accomplish in just nine months what a host of past presidents could not? (1) Through a plethora of past actions, he established his bona fides as a tough, decisive person who means what he says and says what he means. (2) He convinced Netanyahu that America was a staunch ally in its fight against Hamas and would support it unwaveringly. (3) He demonstrated to the various Arab heads of state that he could eliminate the threat of a nuclear Iran. Everyone knew Iran was within months of attaining nuclear capability, and regardless of politics everyone was terrified what the unstable mullahs would do with it. He gave Iran a deadline to dismantle its nuclear program. Unlike prior US presidents he followed through. When Iran failed to comply, he bombed the s**t out of its reactors, thus destroying its nuclear capability. This was done precisely and decisively remotely from the US. The Arab world took notice. It was awed and cowed by America’s power and its president’s willingness to employ it. (4) He assembled a consortium of 27 nations who wanted peace and were willing to support his efforts to attain it.
(5) Along the way the US succeeded in eliminating several key senior terrorists, again precisely and decisively. (6) It decimated Hezbollah and the Houthis and convinced Qatar to cut off its support to Hamas. (7) Hamas was now weakened and isolated; its allies had been neutralized; and it knew Israel was poised to “finish the job.” Essentially, that was how the “dealmaker” brokered the peace deal.
As I said, Trump has assembled a consortium of some 27 world leaders to support his Plan. It appears that they all want this chance of peace in the ME to succeed. Trump hailed the Plan as “not only the end of a war, [but] the end of an age of terror and death and the beginning of the age of faith and hope and of God. It’s the start of a grand concord of lasting harmony for Israel and all the nations of what will soon be a magnificent region.” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu affirmed that he is “committed to this peace [Plan]. Many other world leaders and US politicians expressed similar views. Even former President Barack Obama and former VP Kamala Harris managed to express tepid praise for the Plan and for Trump’s role in its success. However, Harris refused to mention Trump by name, citing “the president.”
In accordance with the first phase of Trump’s plan, Israeli forces have moved to an initial withdrawal line within Gaza (the “yellow line”). However, as miraculous as Phase One was, it was the easy part. Now comes the hard part, securing the agreement of all parties to the rest of the Plan and then maintaining the peace. As I delineated in my previous blog on this subject the Plan contains several contentious points, each of which is a potential dealbreaker, that need to be ironed out or else the Plan will fall apart. As the expression goes, “the devil is in the details.”
Hamas is moving quickly and decisively to fill the power vacuum that currently exists in Gaza. Some 300 miles of its vast tunnel system remain intact. They are purported to contain considerable amounts of weapons, food, and medical supplies that could easily support further fighting.
In addition, there have been multiple reports of Hamas soldiers indiscriminately and arbitrarily murdering persons of rival clans that they perceive as opponents. It claims that these clans collaborated with Israel, which is unlikely. This bloodletting is a danger to the Plan’s success. It is essential that the powers that be establish a central governing body in Gaza to stabilize and administer it. More on this later.
According to NBC News many Palestinians fear the resumption of Israel’s offensive in Gaza. They are cognizant of the fact that Netanyahu and other members of his right-wing government have said that the struggle isn’t over yet. Indeed, Netanyahu has maintained that Israel’s “campaign is not over” until Hamas’ fighting capacity has been totally destroyed. Recently, as Israeli planes carried out strikes in Lebanon, he asserted that “some of our enemies are trying to recover in order to attack us again.” Many people have interpreted those comments as a disquieting indication that the halt to the fighting in Gaza did not mean an end to the wider conflict in the region.
The NY Times correctly denoted that persuading Hamas to disarm will be difficult (an understatement in my view). Hamas has steadfastly refused to disarm, and many (including me) doubt that it will. Israel has estimated that there are as many as 18,000 Hamas fighters still at large and armed. Indeed, Hossam Badran, a member of Hamas’ political bureau, has declared that “the proposed weapons turnover is out of the question and not negotiable.” Conversely, Netanyahu has asserted that “if Hamas does not disarm there will be no further compromises,” and Trump has asserted that Hamas will disarm or “we will disarm them.”
According to the NY Post the Plan is unlikely to reduce the deep and bitter enmity between Israel and the Gazans. On the contrary the Post opines that it will exacerbate as the Israelis ascertain more details of the inhumane treatment of the hostages and as the Gazans return to their homes only to find a pile of rubble. The war has killed close to 70,000 people, according to Palestinian health officials, and most of the buildings in Gaza have been damaged or destroyed. Moreover, most of the population is still living without adequate access to food, shelter, care and other vital needs. These abhorrent conditions are not sustainable.
As I explained in my previous blog on this topic perhaps, the most problematic bone of contention is the creation of a Palestinian state alongside Israel. Support for this two-state solution has been growing internationally. Conversely, the idea is deeply unpopular among Israelis. According to a recent Pew Research Center poll only 21% of Israelis believe their country and a Palestinian state could coexist. This is the smallest percentage ever recorded since the survey commenced in 2013. Recently, when asked to opine on this issue Trump was noncommittal. He said “a lot of people like the one-state solution; some people like the two-state solution. We’ll have to see.” There is still a plethora of Muslim countries that do not recognize Israel as a country.
The rebuilding of Gaza will be an enormous task. For what it’s worth the UN has estimated that the area is covered with some 50 tons of rubble and debris that would take 30 years to remove completely. Additionally, the area is strewn with live ordnance, which must be removed for obvious reasons. It estimated the cost would be $50 billion, which will probably prove to be an understatement. Trump is expecting the various neighboring Arab nations to pony up the money, but as of yet there have been no volunteers. Furthermore, the area has suffered “brain drain” as many of the skilled and professional people have fled and are unlikely to return.
The issue of who will govern Gaza is another contentious point. The Plan calls for it to be governed initially by a “technocratic, apolitical Palestinian committee” overseen by a “Board of Peace” led by Trump and others such as former British Prime Minister Tony Blair. Some of the Arab states have suggested the Palestinian Authority. Netanyahu has declared he would “never” agree to that.
The situation is fluid and fraught with uncertainty and contradictions. For instance, according to the NY Post Iran has expressed support for terminating the “genocidal war” in Gaza but asserted it will continue to support Hamas “if Israel continues its expansionist and racial plans.” There have already been indications that the Plan is fragile and may not hold together.
Conclusion
As I said, Phase One of the Plan was a rousing success, but there is still much work to be done in order to achieve a lasting peace. For the Plan to succeed will require a considerable amount of time, money and fortitude. It will probably fall to the US to hold the current coalition together. It will be important to prevent the rise of new terrorist groups and to keep guard against outsiders who will seek to take advantage of what they perceive to be a power vacuum.
Finally, once again, one must be mindful of the lessons of history. Often, ill-advised decisions made after a war have sown the seeds for the next one. For example, during WWI the ill-conceived Balfour Declaration was intended to secure Jewish support for the Allied war effort. The declaration boosted the legitimacy of the Zionist movement and influenced the British Mandate for Palestine, leading to increased Jewish immigration and the eventual establishment of the State of Israel in 1948. Unfortunately, it was made without the consent of the majority Arab population in Palestine and came after Britain had made conflicting promises of independence to Arab leaders. This double-dealing, which many historians believe was intentional (since Britain needed both sides’ support to win the war) laid the groundwork for the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian wars that have plagued the Middle East ever since.
Also, the Allies’ harsh peace terms foisted upon Germany after WWI planted the seeds for the rise of Hitler and Nazi Party, which led to WWII.
On the positive side we should seek to emulate the success of the Marshall Plan following WWII by which the US propped up the war-torn countries of Europe which, in turn, prevented the spread of communism to those areas.
PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP’S MIDDLE EAST PEACE PLAN
First, my standard disclaimer. The following blog constitutes my personal opinion, except where otherwise noted. Feel free to disagree, but to paraphrase the late Leslye Gore, “it’s my blog, and I’ll write what I want to.”
President Trump, whom some detractors unfairly and inaccurately, have labeled a “warmonger,” among many other unsavory characterizations, deserves much praise for attempting to accomplish what many, if not most, observers including me have long opined to be impossible, that is broker a lasting peace in the Middle East. He has proposed a comprehensive 20-point peace plan (the “Plan”), which, as I write this, is being negotiated between the combatants. Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s Prime Minister said on Saturday that he hoped to announce the release of the hostages still being held by Hamas, actually an exchange with Palestinian prisoners currently being held by Israel, “in the coming days.” According to the BBC Hamas has said it agrees to the peace plan proposals in part but has not responded to several key demands, including its disarmament and not having any future role in the governance of Gaza.
A senior Israeli security source said that initially the negotiations would focus only on the release of hostages and would give Hamas a few days to complete that phase. The 20-point plan, which has been agreed upon by Trump, Netanyahu and a plethora of other countries worldwide, proposes an immediate end to fighting and the release of 48 hostages held by Hamas, only 20 of whom are thought to still be alive, in exchange for hundreds of detained Gazans and Palestinians.
According to multiple media outlets the Plan is essentially just a framework for a potential deal. It states that within 72 hours of an agreement all remaining hostages would be released. Recently, Trump optimistically told reporters – “We have a really good chance of making a deal, and it’ll be a lasting deal.” He added that the hostages could be released “very soon,” perhaps within one week. I hope he is right, but I remain skeptical. It should be noted that Hamas is not fully onboard yet.
The Plan further stipulates that once both sides agree to the proposal “full aid will be immediately sent into the Gaza Strip.” It also states that Hamas would have no role in governing Gaza, and it leaves the door open for an eventual Palestinian state.
The BBC has cautioned that Hamas’ agreement is contingent upon certain “field conditions” being met. What does that mean? Who knows? I view that response as too vague to be meaningful. Don’t forget, the hostages are Hamas’ only bargaining chip. I want to see them freed as much as anyone, but I don’t see why Hamas would willing to release them until a deal has been signed.
More on that below.
All of the above optimism should be taken with a huge grain of salt. After the Plan was announced publicly a week ago, Netanyahu reiterated his longstanding opposition to a Palestinian state, saying in a video statement: “It’s not written in the agreement. We said we would strongly oppose a Palestinian state.” In addition, in my view Hamas has been insisting on a Palestinian state and furthermore will not abide by any plan that includes recognizing Israel. That would contradict Hamas’ long held foremost view that Israel is an illegitimate country and has no right to exist. I don’t know how those diametrically opposed positions get reconciled.
The Plan is the closest both sides have come to a deal since the war began two years ago, but I believe it has too many unresolvable points to achieve a lasting peace.
According to the BBC and other media outlets the major impediments to a lasting deal are as follows:
- Mutual antipathy– The two sides hate each other and don’t trust each other. Israel rightfully does not trust Hamas to abide by any peace agreement. Hamas’ longstanding goal has been the total destruction of Israel. It has continually refused to recognize Israel as a legitimate country, and it has long maintained that neither Israel nor Jews in general has a right to exist. Hamas is afraid that once the hostages have been released there would be nothing to prevent Israel from completing its stated mission to destroy it once and for all. Israel’s stated goal throughout the war has been the destruction of Hamas, and President Netanyahu has repeatedly reiterated Israel will not stop until [Hamas] is “finished.” This is not a realistic basis for a lasting peace agreement. This alone would likely prevent Hamas from agreeing to the Plan.
- Future governance of Gaza – According to The Plan initially Gaza would be governed by a temporary “transitional body of Palestinian technocrats” supervised by a “Board of Peace” headed and chaired by Donald Trump and involving former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair. Eventually, control would be handed over to the Palestinian Authority. Hamas would not have any role in governance. I don’t see any way that Hamas would agree to that.
- Israeli withdrawal – The Plan envisions three stages of Israeli troop withdrawal. The first stage leaves about 55% of Gaza under Israeli control, the second 40%, and the third 15%. That final stage would consist of a “security perimeter” that would “remain until Gaza is properly secure from any resurgent terror threat.” In my view the vagueness of the wording and lack of a clear timeline for full Israeli withdrawal is problematic.
- Hamas’ disarmament – Hamas has consistently refused to disarm until a Palestinian state has been established, and even if they were to agree to do so who would believe them? Conversely, Netanyahu has reiterated consistently that “Hamas will be disarmed and Gaza will be demilitarized.” He has vowed to accomplish this “either the easy way or the hard way.”
- Netanyahu’s Political Future – Netanyahu is dealing with strong political opposition internally chiefly due to his prosecution of the war. His popularity is waning, and he is facing an election next year. A majority of Israelis are tired of the war and want it to end. They claim he is only continuing the war in Gaza to remain in power. This group is supported by recent polls that have disclosed that approximately 70% of Israelis want the war to end in exchange for the release of the hostages. Conversely a group of far-right members of his cabinet have threatened to dissolve his coalition government if the war were to end before Hamas is completely destroyed. Finally, Netanyahu would likely have to deal with a major corruption trial once the war ends.
Due to the foregoing, I am not optimistic regarding the likelihood of the Plan being agreed upon and even less optimistic that it would last if it were to be.
Hamas has been losing on the field of battle, but it has been winning bigtime in the court of public opinion. This is its biggest advantage, and I believe it has been the biggest impediment to a cessation of hostilities. I believe that Hamas is playing a delaying game in the belief that eventually public opinion will force Israel and the US to agree to more favorable terms. In the meantime, it will play lip service, but it has no intention of agreeing to the Plan.
Since October 7, 2023, open hostility towards Israel and, by extension, Jews in general has been increasing. I believe this antisemitism is not new. It’s always been there. Throughout history it has lain dormant, like a volcano, only to erupt at certain times of stress or misfortune. There have been many examples of this, which I have detailed in previous blogs. However, due to limitations of time and space I will only cite a few current examples to illustrate my point.
- Recently, the NY Post reported that the Democratic Socialists of America (which includes Zohran Mamdani as a member) promulgated a resolution in support of boycott, divestment, sanctions and armed resistance against Israel. Moreover, they are threatening to expel any members who do not support this position. According to the Network Contagion Research Institute, a nonprofit that tracks extremism, this resolution “signals intensifying ideological rigidity, intolerance and radicalism” towards Israel and Jews. Also, Mamdani’s extreme antipathy toward Jews has been well documented over the years. Accordingly, Matthew Schweber, a member of Columbia University’s Jewish Alumni Association, characterizes him as “unfit to be mayor of NYC.” Inexplicably, polls still show him to have a double-digit lead among NYC Jews in his campaign for mayor. Either they are being gaslighted or just don’t care about his antipathy, but if he wins, they will come to rue the day.
- The UN, which is supposed to be neutral, has long been dominated by antisemitic/anti-Israel sentiments. In 1975 it declared Zionism to be “a form of racism.” In the current conflict it ignores the facts and views Hamas terrorists as “freedom fighters.” Its current narrative is that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza by blocking shipments of food and other necessities, whereas in reality it is Hamas that is stealing the relief supplies and reselling them on the black market. In the entire history of the world Israel is the only victim of aggression that has been criticized for retaliating against the aggressor.
- Various nations, including China, France, Russia, and the United Kingdom, have already expressed support for a Palestinian state and its membership in the UN. Trump has correctly opined that this would, in effect, reward Hamas for its attack on 10/7/23 and its ongoing terrorism.
- Public support for Israel has been waning even in the US. According to a recent NYTimes/Siena University poll only 34% of respondents sympathize with Israel in the current conflict compared to 35% for the Palestinians. Last year a similar poll reported 47% for Israel and 20% or the Palestinians. The same poll reported that 40% of Americans believe Israel is intentionally killing civilians in Gaza whereas the complete opposite is true. Even more disturbing is that 70% of voters under 30 oppose further economic or military aid for Israel. In addition, not surprisingly the same poll reported that 54% of Dems sympathized with the Palestinians
Conclusion
President Trump has worked hard to put this comprehensive Plan together and to garner widespread support for it. For that, he is to be commended. It is yet another example of his oft-stated desire for peace around the world.
That said, in my opinion he is “pissing into the wind.” Based on the foregoing, there is no way that Hamas would feel compelled to agree to the Plan. And, if it does sign it, it will not abide by it.
It knows it is winning the publicity battle, which makes it inclined to delay and delay some more. Quite simply, most of the world hates Jews. Always has; always will. At times this hatred has been covertly lurking just below the service. And then, at other times it has erupted like a volcano. This is not just my opinion; it is a historical fact as I have delineated in various previous blogs. It will not change.
Currently, this antipathy has been extended to Israel as well. It has often been said that the US is Israel’s only friend in the world. As sad as that is, I maintain that it is overly optimistic. I maintain that Trump is Israel’s only friend. Witness the above polls. Unfortunately, Trump will not be president forever. The GOP, which is more supportive than the Dems will not be in power forever either.
American Jews have grown complacent and content. Inevitably, the Dems or the Socialists with their strong antisemitic/anti-Israel faction will gain power. What will happen to Israel and the Jews then? That was a rhetorical question. The answer, based on history, is nothing good.
MAMDANI AND THE JEWS
To put it succinctly, Mamdani is a communist and an antisemite. I have said this before, and I will say it again. This characterization is not just my opinion. It is not hyperbole. It is gleaned from his own statements. The far-left Dems and their allies in the media have largely soft-peddled or ignored his antisemitic proclivities and opinions and have labeled him a “socialist,” which though abhorrent to most voters, has a more benign connotation than “communist.”
The Dems have been falsely describing President Trump as a ” fascist,” “Hitler,” and a “threat to democracy” for the past ten years. In reality, it is comrade Mamdani who is Hitler reincarnated as a communist and who is an existential threat to our democracy. In my opinion, this is obvious, but many Dems, even Jews, don’t perceive it. Why? This is the conundrum. See below for possible explanations.
Some examples based on M’s own words:
- He refuses to acknowledge Israel as a Jewish state.
- He has consistently been critical of Israel’s policies regarding the ME. For instance, he continues to accuse it of committing apartheid and genocide in Gaza, according to The New York Times. Furthermore, he believes the US is “subsidizing a genocide” through its support for Israel.
- He actively supports the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement, which advocates for economic and cultural pressure on Israel over its treatment of Palestinians.
- According to The Forward, he authored a bill to penalize charities that assist Israeli settlements, which some critics say targets Jewish organizations.
- He has refused to condemn the chant “globalize the intifada,” a phrase widely interpreted by many in the Jewish community as condoning violence against Israel. (As I have often said, in this context “Israel” is code for “Jews,” much like bigots used “states’ rights” as code for “segregation” in the mid-20th century.) He has also stated that Palestinians have a right to resist and characterizes the war with Israel as combating a “colonial occupation.”
- He has advocated government owned and operated grocery stores, freezing rents, defunding the police, free bus fares, and many other freebies that sound enticing but are, in reality, unworkable and unrealistic, if not sheer lunacy. The allure of free stuff is a mirage; nothing is really free. Somehow, someone, somewhere has to pay for it.
Lately, M has been attempting to moderate some of his extreme prior comments, particularly those regarding the police. In a recent interview he assured reporters “I am not running to defund the police.” Ladies and gentlemen do not be fooled. His current reversal is disingenuous. He is merely following the time-honored strategy of moving toward the middle in order to get elected. I believe his true feelings are those he has been espousing for years before he began his campaign for NYC Mayor, not the current iteration. Tatana Timoshenko, whose son, NYPD Detective Russel Timoshenko, was recently killed during a routine traffic stop derisively characterized M’s reversal as “too little, too late.” Likewise, Grace Machate, the widow of recently slain NYPD officer Robert Machate, dismissed his current promises as “not reality.”
According to the latest polls M has a sizeable lead in the current five-person mayoralty race as well as head-to-head against each of the other candidates. Incredibly, according to the same polls he has a commanding 17-point lead among Jewish voters. There is no logical reason for this. So, as I said above, why? In my view, (1) many Jews are unaware of or ambivalent toward his views; (2) it has become acceptable in some quarters to criticize Israel; (3) many Jews are being gaslighted by the prospect of “free stuff;” and (4) most significantly, the Jewish community in NYC and elsewhere has grown complacent and believes it is safe and secure in America from bigots like M.
In this regard Jews should be more cognizant of history. For example, Jews lived safely and securely in Germany for some 500 years before the advent of Hitler and the Nazi Party. Much like in the present-day US they were an integral part of the financial, economic, and social fabric of the country. We all know what happened then. There is a plethora of other examples, but that is the most extreme one. The lesson is Jews cannot take anything for granted. M is eerily similar to Hitler other than the fact that he is a communist whereas Hitler was a fascist. He is charismatic, glib and connects with the people in the way that few politicians do. His antisemitic views are real and very dangerous. His influence within the Dem Party is growing by the day. At the moment, his appeal is primarily local and limited to the far left, however, there is a real possibility that prospectively it will spread throughout the country like a contagion.
Many GOPers believe that M’s popularity and influence may cause more moderate Dems like (Up)Chuck Schumer to lose in the 2026 primaries to more radical candidates. If that were to occur, I would shed no tears. Readers of my blog are fully cognizant of my opinion of (Up)Chuck, but the election of a far leftie like AOC would not be any better for Jews and the country as a whole. On the other hand, Senate Majority Leader John Thume has opined that if M were to become mayor the Dem Party will be “in big trouble nationally.” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that M’s election would change NYC to “Caracas on the Hudson.” I concur as far as the short run is concerned, but as I said long term I have some misgivings.
Conclusion
As the Dem nominee for mayor in NYC where, according to the NYC Campaign Finance Board, registered Dems outnumber registered GOPers by roughly six to one Mandani’s election is virtually guaranteed. In that case, with a far-left city council we can expect most of his policies will be enacted. NYC will be in mucho trouble financially, economically, socially, and every other way. A great city that in many ways is a representation of America, itself, will commence an inexorable slide into oblivion. Furthermore, eventually what happens in NYC affects NY State and perhaps much of the rest of the country as well.
Let the exodus from NYC and NYS begin! Florida, Texas and other low tax, low cost, low crime states beckon and entice.
IRAN’S COMEUPPANCE
The following is a compendium of various news reports regarding the Israel-Iran War, which, as most of us know is currently raging in the Middle East, supplemented by my own opinion sprinkled in where noted.
In my view, almost anyone who was paying attention to world events knew it was only a matter of time. It was obvious that Iran, despite its continuous denials, was developing nuclear weapons and the capacity to deliver them. Also, everyone knew that it would not hesitate to use them once it was able to do so. Iran has been very blunt with respect to its goal to destroy Israel and then wreak havoc on other countries it perceived to be enemies, including the US.
I maintain it was equally obvious that Israel would never allow Iran to possess such weaponry. Jews have already suffered through one Holocaust; they do not need another.
Israel has been at war since its founding as a nation. It knows this war is literally a fight to the death. If the US leadership were to continue in its appeasement policy, it was prepared to act alone. Once Donald Trump became president and the US expressed unwavering and unconditional support of Israel’s “no nuclear weapon for Iran” policy the die was cast. I’m surprised it waited so long to “drop the hammer,” but I suppose Trump and Netanyahu wanted to give peace a chance.
As I have written many times Trump is not wishy-washy like Joe Biden and other former US presidents. He says what he means and means what he says. He gave Iran 60 days to agree to a deal, and on the 61st day he gave Israel the go-ahead. In turn, Israel has unleashed holy hell on Iran. In just a few days Israel has destroyed much of Iran’s nuclear capacity, killed much of its leadership and nuclear scientists, virtually destroyed its air force, and has the country at its mercy.
As I said, Trump has repeatedly said he wants peace, but he is prepared for war. The US already had substantial assets in the ME region, and recently, as a show of force, it tasked another aircraft carrier group to the area due to what the US military termed “an emergent operational requirement.” As the expression goes, “hope for the best, but prepare for the worst.”
Messrs. Trump and Netanyahu have been working closely together to thwart Iran. In a sense they have been providing a blueprint of how to deal with a genocidal terrorist autocratic regime. Now, it appears that there is a real chance to transform the geopolitics of the ME. In due course, perhaps other Arab nations will join the “Abraham Accords” that Trump has been advocating. You may have noticed the deafening silence from Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the other ME nations. They didn’t want Iran to have nuclear capacity either. No one does. No one trusts them not to use it.
Predictably, the biggest opposition has been coming from within the US from the TDS-afflicted far-left wing of the Dem Party and their allies in the media. For example, Hakeem Jeffries wants it both ways. While acknowledging that “Iran should never be allowed to become nuclear capable” he has backtracked by advocating for a “reduction in hostilities.” Doofus Tim Walz is bemoaning the fact that the US, by its unwavering support of Israel, has ceased to be a “neutral arbitrator.” Not to be outdone, Ilhan Omar has chimed in with what the NY Post termed her usual “antisemitic dog whistles.” As expected, the country’s leading Jewish politician, (Up)Chuck Schumer, has failed to express support for Israel. One of the few voices of reason among Dem leaders has been PA Senator John Fetterman who told the Jewish Insider he was “shocked by his ‘party pals’ ‘ views.” I say, he shouldn’t have been.
Iran is the very definition of a rogue nation with an unhinged leadership. It is an integral part of a rogue’s gallery of nations that includes Russia, China and North Korea. It has been the world’s biggest sponsor of terrorism. Through its proxies, such as Hamas, Hezbollah, the Hootie’s and other terrorist organizations it has fomented mayhem and death throughout the ME, Europe and the US. It has attempted to assassinate President Trump at least twice, and it is reputed to have several terrorist cells active in the US. In my view, it deserves what it gets.
CONCLUSION
Clearly, Iran’s leadership, through arrogance or blind hatred, miscalculated the situation. They were used to dealing with appeasers like former presidents Biden and Obama whom they were able to “string along” with deceit and deception and who offered only tepid support for Israel. They didn’t realize that Trump is totally different from them. Their insane hatred of Israel blinded their reason, and now they will pay for it.
Now, Israel is in total control of the situation. If it chooses it could assassinate the Ayatollah, and destroy Iran’s oil fields, which would render the country leaderless and bankrupt. Trump has urged some restraint “for now.” Perhaps, he is patiently waiting for the Iranian people to rise up and displace the country’s current leadership, which is reputed to be widely unpopular. The Ayatollah could always follow in the footsteps of Syria’s former president Bashar al-Assad who fled to Russia. However, Trump’s patience won’t last forever. The situation has been evolving rapidly. Stay tuned.
HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS
“Father time” is undefeated. That is a well-known expression often applied to sports careers, but it is also applicable to other aspects of life, such as Holocaust survivors.
It has been 80 years since the end of WWII and the resultant worldwide revelation of the Holocaust that the Nazis visited upon Jews, Gypsies, and others they deemed to be “enemies of the state, inferior” and even “subhuman,” from the early 1930s through 1945. It is estimated that the Nazis and their often-eager collaborators murdered some six million Jews during this period. (Yes, there are credible records of many who risked their lives to save Jews, but in my opinion, they were in the minority.) The overall total, including, non-Jews, is unknown due to the many mass executions whose victims were buried in hidden and unrecorded mass graves, but according to Wikipedia, research by historians places the number of Holocaust victims murdered at “not less than twelve million and probably more.”
The contrast between the estimated Jewish populations of some European countries prewar versus postwar is shocking but not surprising: Germany – 560,000 vs. 15,000, Poland – 3.3 million vs. 300,000, and Austria – 191,000 vs fewer than 4,000. Jews had been living in those countries for hundreds of years. They had become ingrained into the economic, political, social and cultural life of those countries. They were always welcome, until they were not.
It has often been said that the surviving victims’ best revenge on Hitler and the Nazis was to live a long, productive life. As the Tom Hanks character counseled the Matt Damon character in the iconic WWII movie Saving Private Ryan: “earn it.”
Inevitably, with the passage of time the number of Holocaust survivors has dwindled down to a precious few. According to a recent article published in the Associated Press only some 200,000 Jewish Holocaust survivors are still alive, roughly one-half of whom live in Israel. (By comparison, Israel is home to merely .12% of the world’s total population.)
The Claims Conference, which monitors Holocaust survivors, estimates their median age to be 87 with about 1,500 of them in excess of 100 years old. As one might expect a goodly number of them are in poor general health, not only the result of age but also the physical, mental and emotional abuse and stress of the Holocaust, itself. According to research provided by Vanishing Witnesses sadly, but inevitably, due to normal mortality rates approximately 50% of them will likely pass away in the next six years, and virtually all of them within the next 15.
One survivor who has fulfilled the aforementioned advice to “live long and well” is Albrecht W. As profiled in the aforementioned AP article AW is 100. He survived Auschwitz, Bergen-Belsen, Mittel Brau-Dora and three “death” marches. Virtually his entire extended family was murdered in the Holocaust. To this day, he is still haunted by “horrendous memories” of what he endured. “I sleep with it; I sweat; I have nightmares; that is my [remembrance].” He dedicated his working career to teaching high school students and others about what he and others endured. Nevertheless, he is one of those who worries who will keep the memories alive after he is gone.
Conclusion
The primary takeaway from the foregoing is that very soon there will no longer be any firsthand witnesses to the horrific events that took place. Yes, there are photos, films and secondhand accounts, but they do not have the same impact. “Holocaust deniers” are already asserting that the events of the Holocaust are either exaggerated or never occurred. Ironically, they are simply too horrific and inhuman to be believed. Normal people cannot conceive that a human being could do those things to another human.
As time moves on, these “deniers” will become more numerous and vociferous. They will claim that photos and film records have been photoshopped and “doctored” and any remaining witnesses are unreliable. Eventually, the memories survivors have vowed to ensure people will “never forget” will, in fact, be forgotten, and the world will be inching closer to the next Holocaust. I hope I am wrong about this but based on history I doubt it.
HARVARD UNIVERSITY’S CHUTZPAH. DEMS’ CONTINUING SELF-DESTRUCTION
For many years Harvard University has enjoyed a most impressive reputation. Many people have always viewed HU as among the finest and most prestigious educational institutions in the world. Many people still do. According to Wikipedia HU students, alumni, faculty, and researchers include eight US presidents, 24 heads of state, 31 heads of government, 188 living billionaires, ten Academy Award winners, and 110 Olympic medalists, including 46 gold. Additionally, they comprise a plethora of Nobel laureates, Fields Medalists, Rhodes Scholars, Pulitzer Prize winners and prominent members of government.
Furthermore, the Academic Ranking of World Universities has ranked Harvard first in each of its annual rankings of the world’s colleges and universities; the Times Higher Education–QS World University Rankings, which was published from 2004 to 2009, ranked Harvard first in the world in each of its annual rankings; it has been ranked first in the world each year since 2011 by its successor, the Times Higher Education World University Rankings; and according to annual polls conducted by The Princeton Review, Harvard is consistently among the top two most commonly named “dream” colleges in the United States for both students and their parents.
However, recent events tell me that HU has been reading its own press clippings, so to speak. In my opinion HU thinks it is above not only the law but also above common decency. Read on, and I will explain.
HU is a private university located in Cambridge, MA. It was founded on October 28, 1636, and it is the oldest university in the US. It was named for its first benefactor, John Harvard. By the latter part of the 19th century, it had become a favorite among the Boston elite. In the opinion of many both it and its students had developed a snobby or bumptious attitude, which exists unfettered to this day.
By the early 1920s the percentage of Jewish students at HU had grown to 20%. The university’s president at the time thought that was excessive. Accordingly, he sought (unsuccessfully) to limit the admission of Jewish students to 15% of the undergraduate population. He also refused to require desegregation of the university’s freshman dorms. He stated that, “we owe to the colored man the same opportunities for education that we do to the white man, but we do not owe to him to force him and the white man into social relations that are not, or may not be, mutually congenial.” A certain antisemitic and anti-Black culture was being established, which has only intensified since then.
For many years this sentiment was mostly covert, but in the last few years it has exploded into the open. In January 2024, Harvard’s president, Claudine Gay, was forced to resign in the wake of allegations of antisemitism after having served only six months. Gay was succeeded by Alan Garber, who has done nothing to rectify the campus culture. In fact, it can be argued that it has deteriorated further during his short tenure.
Now the HU Administration has developed a brazenness that is astounding. It has resisted reining in antisemitic/anti-Israel “protesters.” It has hardened its stance even in the face of losing substantial amounts of federal money and being subjected to other penalties and ridicule.
For instance, HU normally receives some $8 billion per year from the federal government most of which is earmarked for research and affiliated hospitals. The Trump Administration has already frozen $2.2 billion in grants, canceled a $60 million contract for further aid, and threatened to revoke the school’s tax-exempt status, which would be a huge blow. Regardless of these financial penalties, HU is stubbornly adhering to its policies. According to the NY Post it views these protests as a “civil right for the school [and the protesters] instead of a violation of Jewish students’ civil rights. Moreover, the school’s attorneys have reiterated HU “will not surrender its independence or relinquish its constitutional rights.”
Conclusion
This high-profile obstinance only reinforces the public’s perception of elitism and antisemitism as exhibited by HU, Columbia and various other colleges in the Ivy League and elsewhere in recent years. As I said antisemitism has been festering covertly at the nation’s colleges for many years. The Biden Administration’s laissez-faire attitude and the October 7, 2023 terror attacks against Israel have brought it out in the open by giving “cover” to these radicals.
Unlike most schools HU has the financial resources to reject any federal assistance, at least for a time. It possesses an endowment estimated at $53 billion, by far the largest of any university. So, for now it can afford to stand on principle.
In the meantime, this is just another example of the far left being on the wrong side of every issue. Its TDS has forced it to oppose any policy espoused by Trump. This group has taken control of the Dem Party thereby making it the Party that favors open borders, criminals over law-abiding citizens, the rights of illegals over US citizens, government waste fraud and abuse, antisemitism, anti-working man, trans rights, and many other highly unpopular issues.
The latest iteration of this involves Maryland Dem Senator Chris Van Hollen. He ignored the horrific murder of Rachel Morin, a Maryland constituent. He didn’t even bother to make a condolence call to the family. Now, he feels compelled to free the murderer from the El Salvador prison in which he is being incarcerated. He has taken the highly unusual step of traveling to El Salvador to make a personal appeal for his release. This publicity stunt makes him look like a publicity-seeking buffoon and only serves to buttress his and his Party’s negative image. Good luck with that. Keep it up Dems.
DEM PARTY SELF-DESTRUCTION
Based on the political news since the November 2024 election I have come to the conclusion that the Dems are heading slowly, but inexorably, toward self-destruction. Figuratively, I feel as if I am watching an out-of-control speeding vehicle careening toward a cliff, and there is nothing I or anyone else can do to stop it. What’s more, the Dem Party professionals and their allies in the media are driving the car. Hyperbole, perhaps, slightly, but after reading this blog, I believe that, unless you are a “Kool-aide drinker,” you will come to the same conclusion.
Consider:
- The election was nearly five months ago, long enough for the shock to have worn off. Long enough for the Dems to have regrouped and formulated a strategy to rebound.
- And yet, after all this time many if not most of them have still not ascertained why and how they lost. They cannot fathom that they, themselves and their policies, were to blame. Rather than looking internally, they are continuing to blame others.
- Most of us know that the first step to resolving a problem is to admit that you have one. This is a hard lesson to learn, but it is a necessary one. Drug addicts learn it; alcohol abusers learn it; why can’t the Dem politicians learn it?
- In my opinion it is because they are in complete denial. They live in a figurative bubble and cannot conceive how the vast majority of people live, how they continually have to deal with real life problems, like finding a good-paying job, putting food on the table, and paying the rent or mortgage.
- In essence, they believe their own propaganda. We all know the drill. The border is secure; go “Green;” illegals, even criminals, drug dealers and terrorists, have rights even superseding those of citizens; inflation is transitory; and transgenders should be allowed to enter girls’ private spaces and compete with them in sports.
Last November the GOP won an election as decisively as any in a long time. Trump won the presidency in a landslide; he won the popular vote, which is rare for a Republican; he won all seven swing states; he made significant inroads into traditionally Dem voting blocs such as blacks, Hispanics, Jews and young people; and his coattails flipped the Senate and retained the House.
However, the numbers do not tell the entire story. Five months later the Dem Party finds itself in complete disarray. It is firmly in the control of its radical left wing. Its spokespersons are AOC, Bernie Sanders, Hakeem Jeffries, and Jasmine Crockett, all left wing, not a moderate in the bunch. CNN, MSNBC, the NY Times and the Washington Post are spewing their distorted fake news as aggressively as ever.
Meanwhile, the Trump Administration has established itself on the “right side,” the “commonsense side,” of every issue that is important to voters, the so-called “80-20 issues,” such as securing the borders, the rights of citizens over illegal aliens, law and order, energy independence, deporting criminal illegal aliens, eliminating fraud, waste and abuse in government, Israel over Hamas, peace in Ukraine, local control of education, and eliminating transgenders from women’s private spaces and sports. On the other hand, the Dem’s, since they must oppose any Trump policy, have been forced to support the opposing side in all of those issues.
Thus, they have been forced into the ludicrous and untenable position of supporting, or at least tolerating pro-Hamas, anti-Jewish riots and lawlessness on college campuses, blocking the deporting of criminal illegals who have committed the most heinous of crimes, and firebombing Tesla showrooms. The latter is especially inane. It was the Dems who pushed EVs and other “green” policies on the reluctant public for years. Elon Musk was their hero. Now, just because Musk is an ally of Trump’s they are advocating the destruction of his company and returning to gas guzzler cars? Don’t they realize how unhinged that appears? Don’t they care? Furthermore, let’s not overlook the fact that they are endangering innocent people’s lives and damaging thousands of workers’ livelihoods.
Now the radical Dems are attempting to depose Chuck Schumer as Minority Leader in the Senate and replace his with a more left-leaning senator. Regular readers know I am not a Schumer fan. In fact, I despise him politically. I have no respect for him. I consider him to be a political chameleon with no integrity. His support for Israel and Jews, in general, has been tepid at best. He has not spoken out in support of Israel in its war against Hamas nor in opposition of the riots and lawlessness on college campuses against Jewish students. That said, I believe they would be making a mistake if they were to replace him with a more radical senator.
Conclusion
The Dems need to regroup and fast. They need to recognize why and how they lost in 2024 and change their policies. They need to get over their TDS and join the Republicans on the right side of the aforementioned 80-20 issues. They need to control their radical left wing and coalesce behind moderate leaders. Otherwise, there will be more of the same in 2026 and beyond.
On the humorous side, Joe Biden has resurfaced. He has offered to help the Dems with their current predicament. That should be a “hard pass.”
JEWS FOR KAMALA
I have made this point many times during the 2024 presidential election campaign, but it bears repeating. Why in the world would any Jew who is thinking objectively and who cares about Israel and the welfare of American Jews, vote for Kamala Harris? For that matter, why would they vote for any Democrat? After all, Dem pols are supporting Harris, or at least they are reluctant to speak out in contradiction of her antipathy toward Jews. I don’t get it; it’s inane; it’s not logical.
Perhaps, it is due to habit and inertia. They’ve always voted Dem; their parents always voted Dem; so, they continue the practice without giving it serious thought or analysis. In any case the Dems have abandoned the Jews and Jewish causes. They have not been loyal to you, so you no longer owe them your loyalty. Jews need to have an open mind.
Another reason is some voters, although they agree with Trump’s policies, despise him intensely on a personal basis and refuse to vote for him under any circumstances. That is just ridiculous, inane and fatuous. If Trump were to lose the election he would, of course, be disappointed. But he would not be devastated. He would merely return to his previous life as a billionaire entrepreneur and entertainer. We, on the other hand, would be saddled with the same policies we are suffering under now. Therefore, anti-Trumpers would be “cutting off their noses to spite their face.
Perhaps, a brief review of Harris’ actions and non-actions since becoming the nominee would be helpful and appropriate.
- Among her staunchest supporters is the antisemitic far left wing of the Dem Party. It’s obvious that she is afraid of offending them. This includes “Squad” Congresswomen, such as AOC (NY), Ayanna Pressley (MA), Rashida Tlaib (MI), and Ilhan Omar (MN), among others. She knows she needs their support to win, and she will need their continuing support to govern. All have repeatedly expressed antisemitic and Anti-Israel attitudes. Furthermore, Tlaib and Omar are representatives of states that are Anti-Israel hotbeds. Harris needs those states’ electoral votes to win.
- Publicly, Harris (and Biden, for their policies and actions have been interchangeable) have stated that they support Israel, and it that it has the right to defend itself. (Thank you, Captain Obvious!) However, privately they have continually acted to restrict Israel’s response to the horrific October 7, 2013 sneak attacks. From the outset they have advocated “restraint” and demanded “precision” in its deployment of weaponry. It’s all right for the terrorists to attack indiscriminately, but the Israelis have to demonstrate “restraint” and “precision?” This is wholly unreasonable. What do “restraint” or “precision” even mean in this context? Also, tell me what other country in the history of the world when attacked has been urged to show “restraint?” The answer is “none.” Did the US show “restraint” after Pearl Harbor or 9/11? Of course not. But BH expected the Israelis to do so after October 7.
- BH threatened to withhold arms and support if Israel got too aggressive. In my view, the purpose of this was to placate their antisemitic far left wing and also Iran.
- BH and their minions objected to Netanyahu’s war strategy, so they tried to force him to resign or call for new elections. They trotted out political chameleon Chuck Schumer to give “the speech,” which I discussed in a previous blog. This type of outrageous interference in the internal workings of another sovereign government is not appropriate with respect to an ally, particularly one that is our only reliable one in the volatile and strategically crucial Middle East. Perhaps, BH need a lesson in geopolitics.
- BH insisted that a member of their administration sit in on Israel’s war cabinet meetings to suggest/approve strategies.
- BH continue to refuse to recognize that Iran is the root cause of the terrorism extant in the ME and take corrective action against it.
- BH have blamed a “significant deterioration” in the level of aid reaching the citizens of Gaza on Israel. They threatened to withhold aid if the Israelis did not allow more humanitarian aid into Gaza.
- Furthermore, they have long insisted that Israel not attack Rafah for “humanitarian reasons” even though there has been ample evidence that Hamas’ leadership was hiding there. Luckily, the IDF did not obey BH’s instructions. They attacked anyway. Douglas Murray, a columnist for the NY Post accompanied the IDF and filed an exclusive report describing the operation.
- Lo and behold, a few days ago, we learned that the 10/7 mastermind, Yahya Sinwar, had been hiding in that very area. He had set up luxury accommodations for his family and him deep within the labyrinth of tunnels under the city. In his report Murray described it as a “Rafah rat’s nest.” He reported “for the past 12 months [Sinwar] had [been] scurr[ying] like a rat through the tunnels he [had] spent years building.”
- In summary, he reported that the IDF found it to be well-stocked with food, medicine, and other provisions, including millions of dollars of cash that had been provided by the UN and had been earmarked for the Gazans. So, Sinwar and his family were living in relative luxury while the Gazans he and his men were supposedly “protecting” were starving. And all the while, the world had been criticizing Israel for keeping aid from the Gazans. How did he obtain all these goods? Either he stole them, or terrorist-sympathizing UN workers gave them to him. Either way, it is unconscionable.
- In addition, the IDF ascertained that Hamas had been smuggling rockets, guns and other weapons through this area. Had BH been cognizant of this while they were telling the IDF to refrain from attacking this area? Who knows, but I wouldn’t put it past them. The IDF also found passports and UN IDs, which indicates that Sinwar was planning to flee, like a coward, to Egypt with assistance from the UN. This is further evidence of the UN’s sympathizing with terrorists over Israel.
- This is just one of many examples of the UN’s blatant bias in regard to curbing terrorism in the ME. Another example is that since 2006 it has maintained a peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon to monitor the cease fire between Hezbollah and Israel. Recently, the NY Post reported that Hezbollah terrorists had dug a labyrinth of tunnels right under the noses of the peacekeepers which they had been utilizing to launch terror attacks in Israel. It described the UN as “worse than useless.”
- Opponents of Israel have persistently accused it of “genocide” against the Palestinians in Gaza. This accusation is not only inaccurate, but also it is inflammatory and dangerous. In point of fact, the Israelis have gone out of their way to minimize casualties, even providing advance warning of attacks so civilians could vacate the area. It is the Hamas terrorists who have shown a blatant disregard for Palestinian civilians by hiding among them and in hospitals and schools. The collateral damage means nothing to them. In fact, they want it for the optics. Unfortunately, this accusation has been accepted by many people. In a recent campaign speech Harris added fuel to the fire by stating that “[genocide] is real.” That was totally irresponsible. She should know better. She said it to rile up her base for votes. Afterwards, an anonymous campaign official attempted to clean it up, but she said what she said.
- As I have written in previous blogs BH have basically ignored the ongoing displays of antisemitism against American Jews. They have done nothing to deal with the violence on college campuses, nor the surging rate of crimes against Jews. They have many options. For example, they could have demanded that the college administrators deal with the matter or else lose funding. The Federal government provides a significant amount of financial aid to these universities in the form of grants. It also has the option to initiate legal action. They could have weaponized the Justice Department, Homeland Security and/or the FBI to investigate the masterminds behind the protests.
- Few people, think the protesters are all “students” who just happened to organize. In fact, according to a recently published study conducted by George Washington University Iranian agents have been “funding and fueling hate” on college campuses.
- It is no surprise that Harris has met several times with Imam Mohammed Ali Fahiem, who has deep ties with the Iranian regime, is vehemently antisemitic and anti-Israel, and is one of the suspected leaders of the antisemitic program against American Jews.
- In addition, they have done nothing to curb the overt and covert antisemitism against Jewish citizens.
CONCLUSION
Kudos to Israel for standing its ground against BH. Otherwise, we would have never found and killed Sinwar and discovered the duplicity of Hamas, the UN, and perhaps BH. This operation dealt a damaging blow to Hamas. I have often said the quickest way to rescue the hostages is to let Israel win the war.
Rather than criticizing Israel for its war strategy it should be admired for its determination to eradicate Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis, and the rest of its enemies once and for all. In a sense it is fighting this war for all of us. Iran and the terrorists have been clear that they hate all “non-believers.” That includes all of us. If they were to succeed in annihilating Israel, they would not stop their aggression. Have we not learned anything from history?
Thankfully, there have been signs that the message is resonating with Jews. According to a recent poll by the Manhattan Institute Jewish support for Dems has been deteriorating. Currently, it is at 67%, which is the lowest in 40 years. By comparison 80% of Jews voted for Bill Clinton in 1992. The same poll reported that 86% of Jews supported Israel. Their chief complaint, according to Jesse Arm, chief of staff at the Institute was the Dem Party’s “tolerance” of the extreme criticism being levelled against Israel, notably calling it “genocidal.”
Anti-Trumpers, wake up. As I said above if you vote for Harris just because you hate Trump personally, you would onlybe hurting yourselves.
THE RECENT ESCALATION OF ANTISEMITISM
In the past couple of years I have posted several blogs detailing the state of antisemitism both in the US and the world at large. I believe that the one-year anniversary of the brutal and heinous surprise attack by Hamas against Israeli civilians on October 7, 2023 is an appropriate time to review and update the issue. We are all familiar with the repulsive details of those heinous terrorist attacks and the resultant war. There is no need to repeat it all here. One might say the attack was Israel’s 9/11.
Rather than generating sympathy for the victims the attack seems to have unleashed a level of antisemitism not seen since the 1930s and 1940s. Below please find my analysis of the root causes of this, citations of some of the numerous examples, and a warning to American Jews.
- Without repeating what I have posted in some detail in previous blogs suffice to say that the root causes of antisemitism go back some 5,000 years. Jews have always been perceived as being “different,” different religion, different God, different day of worship, different appearance, and different customs. People tend to mistrust and even hate those who are different.
- Throughout history Jews have been persecuted (e. g. the Spanish Inquisition, the pogroms of Russia and Poland, and of course the Holocaust.
- Until the advent of the State of Israel in 1948 Jews did not have a land of their own, a land where they would be safe and secure. Wherever they lived they were subject to the whims of that country’s rulers.
- Many, if not most, rulers were not welcoming. Some were even downright hostile. Others would tolerate Jews for a time. One reason was that in times of strife, for example, a plague or a famine or other misfortune Jews would provide a handy scapegoat. By blaming the Jews rulers would be able to distract the masses from their own culpability and their own miserable existence. For instance, Jews co-existed in harmony and prosperity in Germany for some 500 years before the rise of the Nazis who found them to be a convenient scapegoat for Germany’s post-WWI misery.
- More recently, Jews have lived in the US in peace and prosperity since its founding. They have grown secure and complacent, and they are not aware that it can all be taken away. Many of them are oblivious to the depth of antisemitism extant in the US and the world in general. History has demonstrated that it can all be taken away either violently or gradually so that one would not notice until it was too late.
- With respect to the war in the ME both the Jews and the Muslims consider Jerusalem and the surrounding area to be their “Holy Land,” and they have fought numerous wars for the control of it over thousands of years.
- The Muslim terrorists dispute the validity of the State of Israel and want to obliterate both it and the Jews who inhabit it. They have made no secret about it. Hamas has included that goal in its charter. Furthermore, that is the meaning of the chant “from the river to the sea, the Holy Land will be free.”
- On the other hand, the Jews are determined to destroy Hamas, Hezbollah and the other terrorist groups as a fighting force decisively once and for all.
- The Israelis don’t want a ceasefire at this time. They are winning, and they want to finish the job. They know that if they don’t, they will just have to fight another war in the future, and another, and another, and another. Eventually, they may lose one, and then it would Sayonara.
- Neither side is in favor of the much-ballyhooed two-state solution. Hamas would not honor any ceasefire anyway. They would just use it as a chance to regroup and rearm for the next war.
- The smart strategy for BH would be to support Israel 100%, get out of its way, and let it finish the job, but as one can see it is not doing that. I believe it is either out of ignorance, a desire to placate the antisemitic left wing of the Dem Party, or a combination of the two. In addition, they lifted the Trump sanctions against Iran, which very effective. Iran was practically broke. Instead BH’s policy has provided it with untold billions of dollars of oil money that it is using to fund the terrorists. That is an ill-advised policy, geopolitically, economically and militarily. Israel is our only dependable ally in the volatile and strategically critical ME. BH’s policy has actually lengthened the war and endangered the lives of the hostages.
- BH have urged Israel to show “restraint” in its response. They have provided Israel with only tepid support to avoid offending the radical left wing of the Dem party.
- Incredibly, the bulk of world opinion is against Israel. It was the one that was brutally attacked, yet most of the world’s sympathy has been directed toward the Palestinians. Obviously, that is because of antisemitism. In the history of the world Israel is the only country that was attacked that was then urged to show restraint or even standdown.
That brings us to the main subject of the blog, the alarming expansion of antisemitism in the US and the world. There are a plethora of examples of this, but I will only cite a few to illustrate my point.
- Recently, the NY Post reported that 61% of American Jews claim they have “faced bigotry” since last October 7.
- According to a recently released survey by the National Opinion Research Council at the University of Chicago 3.5 million Jews have reported that they were victimized by antisemitism in some manner during the past year. This includes violent crimes such as rape and assault and threats such as targeting synagogues, homes and/or businesses with swastikas, graffiti and the like.
- Approximately 25% of the respondents expressed fear or reluctance over identifying themselves as Jews, for example by wearing particular clothing or jewelry.
- Roughly 40% of college students responded that they felt “uncomfortable” or unsafe at a “campus event.”
- Nearly 30% felt that they had been “excluded from a group or event.”
- The Anti-Defamation League disclosed that there have been in excess of 150 occasions of “physical assault,” approximately 1,840 instances of “vandalism” and about 8,000 incidents of “written or verbal abuse” against Jews in the past year. Approximately 1,200 of these incidents occurred on college campuses. To put these numbers in some context they represent a 200% increase over the prior year. 200%!
- If you know your history you will recognize this as being reminiscent of what occurred in Germany in the 1930s and early 1940s.
- What I have described has not been limited to the US. The UN has long exhibited feelings of antisemitism. The membership includes many Islamic countries that have long been sympathetic to the Palestinian or even terrorist viewpoints. Moreover, recently French President Emmanuel Macron has been advocating cutting off arms shipments to Israel. It is important to understand that there are only 15.8 million Jews in the world whereas the Muslim population is 1.8 billion, and a goodly number of them live in the US and various European countries where they wield some political influence. Even though relatively few of them are radicalized, I believe most of the moderates are still sympathetic to the Palestinian cause.
CONCLUSION
The heinous nature of the October 7 attacks should have generated some sympathy for Israel and Jews in general. In fact, as demonstrated above, the opposite has occurred. It has unleashed latent, covert antisemitism, which I believe has always been lurking just below the surface, like an inactive volcano, waiting to explode. The outpouring of blatant, overt antisemitism in the last year is no coincidence.
BH have done nothing to quell the antisemitism either on college campuses or in general. Nor has Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, who is Jewish. They have not pushed back against politicians like Ilhan Omar who have continually expressed antisemitic views. They have not provided support to the US Jewish community. They speak in vague generalities and platitudes, but as I keep saying, actions speak louder than words.
Schumer’s case has been particularly disturbing to me. He is one of the most powerful and influential politicians in the country. He represents NY State, which is heavily Jewish. He, of all people, should be advocating for Israel and the Jews. Instead, he has done the opposite by criticizing Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu’s prosecution of the war, even calling for him to resign. As I wrote in a previous blog in my opinion, his actions have been despicable.
In my view, the main takeaway from the current climate is that we Jews are not as safe and secure as we think we are in the US or anywhere else. This is no time to be complacent. We have an election next month. Historically, a majority of Jews has voted for Dems, and for the most part they have delivered. However, the BH administration has not supported Jews. They have not been loyal to us. Why should we continue to be loyal to them. When Trump was president, he was a staunch supporter of Israel. In addition, he has exhibited the conviction and strength of character to support Israel regardless of world opinion and to stand up to the antisemites extant in the US. In my view, it is time to switch and vote for the GOP.
We Built It Blog by Larry Jacob 