Until after midnight on Friday night, October 6th-7th, I was discussing Israel with my dad’s good friend Michael (we call him a “walking encyclopedia”) who was staying with us for Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah. While we debated the character of the Jewish state and legitimate versus illegitimate criticism, we would have never imagined that literally as we spoke was the onset of a shocking and tragic invasion by Hamas terrorists in Israel.
What is reassuring amidst this dark time in Jewish history is that around the world people are learning the realities and complex dynamics facing the Middle East. The extreme-left notion of a basic oppressor-oppressed relationship between the Israelis and the Palestinians is oversimplified, and many are seeing this as they witness the real threats to peace in the region.
Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, while criticizing Israel’s response, applied nuance, acknowledging “the horrific actions of Hamas, whose disregard for Israeli, Palestinian, and human life overall could not be more clear.”
United Nations Security Council member Malta’s ambassador affirmed that Hamas must be the focus of blame, including for the problems the Palestinians face: “Palestinian civilians are also victims in this and Hamas put them in this position.”
The popular online content creator Steven Bonnell, known as “Destiny,” criticized Israeli settlements, but rebuked the idea that Hamas’ atrocities are “freedom fighting.” He also affirmed Israel’s need to defend themselves: “If Palestinians stopped fighting, perhaps conditions would grow worse for them, or perhaps not. If Israel stops fighting, it will cease to exist.”
A NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist national poll conducted after the terrorist attack indicates that the bulk of Americans of both main parties are not blind to the atrocities either. 77% of Republicans, 69% of Democrats, and perhaps most strangely a comparatively low 54% of independents, “favor U.S. public support of Israel.” Only 10% of Democrats and 5% of Republicans say that the United States should “publicly criticize Israel.” 18% and 15% respectively want the government to “say or do nothing.”
The biggest divide reported is over Israel’s military response. 35% of Democrats say it has been “too much,” compared to 13% of Republicans. But as demonstrated by the respondents’ answers this may better reflect tactical differences and not necessarily their views on Israel’s right to facilitate their self-defense.
Whatever political differences people might have surrounding Israel, we should expect that, when it really matters, our leaders would be mature adults and unequivocally condemn terrorist attacks. Many have indeed met the moment.
Both President Biden and former President Trump have strongly rebuked the Hamas terrorists. Israel’s Foreign Ministry noted 84 countries who have released statements of solidarity, according to The Times of Israel. There were also many international signs of support. The White House, the Eiffel Tower, the UK’s House of Commons, the Sydney Opera House, and Germany’s Brandenburg Gate were lit blue and white.
In the United States, the vast majority of officeholders across political hues are expressing sympathy. The staunch critics are likely to escalate pressure on Israel’s response. But, while a couple of them have issued painfully disappointing statements with moral equivalencies that are ignorant at best, they are eclipsed by their allies who actually call out Hamas by name, care about the truth, and care about Israeli lives, even if critical of the country at times.
Representatives Jamaal Bowman and Ocasio-Cortez sharply condemned the attack as well as a rally in Manhattan which displayed antisemitism and was backed by the New York City Democratic Socialists of America, an organization with which they have ties. Representative Ilhan Omar delivered a strong statement mourning “children, women, the elderly, and the unarmed people who are being slaughtered and taken hostage by Hamas.”
Representative Shri Thanedar renounced his membership of the Democratic Socialists of America over the New York division’s support of the aforementioned rally (according to Politico, Bowman let his membership expire last year due to outcry after he voted to increase funding for the Iron Dome and visited Israel).
Sympathy and support for the Israelis is not just in words or kind gestures, either. Those who are able are taking action too.
At the UN, the US pushed for a condemnation of Hamas in the Security Council, who are not sufficiently united to release a statement. “There are a good number of countries that condemned the Hamas attacks,” Robert Wood, a senior US diplomat, said, noting that some disagreed on language.
The US also sent military ships “to strengthen Department of Defense posture in the region to bolster regional deterrence efforts,” Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin stated.
It is a glimmer of light seeing a remarkable unity and understanding among our allies, who show that recognizing the humanitarian crisis in Palestinian territories does not detract from their outrage over terrorism. Regardless of our differences, many thankfully share, in good faith, the ultimate goal — difficult though desperately needed — of peace in the Middle East.