areas, stone-throwing on passing cars with innocent families in
them, or incendiary balloons and kites, Palestinian terrorists
relentlessly try to pervade Israeli society and instill in its
citizens a fear of living safely and securely in their homeland.
In only 20 years, there have been more than 1,300 victims
killed as a result of Palestinian terror, with scores more suffering
from both long-term physical and psychological wounds
Israel is a miracle in and of itself. It
represents hope, perseverance, and
success and has managed to achieve the
unthinkable, a feat made even more
astounding by the active calls for it to
be destroyed. So long as we continue to
stand up for ourselves and vocalize our
support and love for the only Jewish
state, we have already won.
and trauma.
There are no excuses or reasons that can somehow try to
justify the indiscriminate attacks that continue to plague the
Jewish state. The political climate in the region is undoubtedly
fragile and I would be remiss to say that either side is entirely
perfect or innocent, but diplomatic relations are not a means
for perpetrating the kind of immoral hate crimes that are far
too common and rob the lives of so many. A poll taken by
the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research in 2018
found that “46% of Palestinians support a return to an armed
intifada” due to the indefinite suspension of peace negotiations
and “30% prefer waging ‘an armed struggle’” against Israel in
order to change the status quo.
The problem at hand goes far beyond borders. It is clear that Palestinian jihad is not incentivized by a realistic goal to “take down” the Israeli
government nor to achieve peace in any form, but to “attack every Jew on the globe by way of slaughter and killing” as recently urged by senior
Hamas official, Fathi Hammad, in Gaza. Quite blatantly, violence against Jews is incited in every realm of Palestinian society, from propaganda
in children’s shows such as Tomorrow’s Pioneers to the textbooks used in schools, where “the curriculum perceives the martyrdom of girls as a
measure of equality.” In essence, it is difficult to place 100% of the blame on the terrorists themselves, when their indoctrination is not only the
norm, but culturally, socially, and politically inspired as well.
It is shocking and disturbing that not only are the brutal tactics used by Palestinian terrorists and encouraged by their leaders public knowledge,
but they have generated condonation and even support among many in the international community. Somehow, people have equated supporting
the “Palestinian cause,” which includes the aforementioned vicious acts of terrorism, with a humanitarian one. No longer is there only a feeling of
being singled out or hunted down by the enemies that geographically surround Israel, but a legitimate reason to be concerned anywhere simply
because I am a Jew and Zionist.
Passivity is Not the Solution
When I started college at the University of Chicago last year, I was prepared to encounter anti-Israel sentiments. Having attended a summer
program focused on current issues and youth activism where I was confronted by another one of the 16-year-old attendees who told me that
“Israel tests chemical weapons on Palestinian children” and therefore terror attacks on Israelis are justified, I was aware of how widespread and
extreme the ignorance regarding Israel is. Moreover, how misinformed and hostile so many have become. I was fortunate to be attending a school
that is relatively placid when it comes towards Israel-related issues; nonetheless, efforts to demonize Israel still surfaced every now and then.
I was walking through campus and nearing the library when I began to hear the booming sound of a megaphone angrily accusing Israel of
committing a genocide and comparing it to the Holocaust. There I was, a college freshman, Jew, Israeli, and descendant of Holocaust victims,
being targeted for my identity once again. While the fear of being ostracized or even threatened and harassed is completely understandable on
campuses these days, this incident invoked the memory of Orly and her mother lying helplessly in their hospital beds. It reminded me that this
form of hate is not new, and as Jews, we have quite literally always been subjected to it. Whether it is a suicide bomber on the streets of Jerusalem
or a passionate and brainwashed political activist in a suburb in Illinois, their aims and intentions converge to delegitimize, abuse, and erase the
historical connection between Israel and the Jewish people.
Passivity is not the solution when one’s existence is endangered. Tolerance is not the answer when terrorists are involved. ZOA, an organization
that is wholeheartedly committed to its mission and values of supporting Israel and the Jewish people in everything that they do, is. In a day and
age when people are too ashamed and afraid to fight for what is right, I found myself incredibly fortunate to be interning this summer at one
of the only places that does just that. Whether it is discussing how to combat anti-Semitism through legal means or meticulously researching
various Israel-oriented topics to provide the general public with accurate information, my time at ZOA has provided me with the opportunities,
resources, and experiences to continue defending Israel and my identity with full conviction and pride.
The primary reason for why I am a Zionist is not because I empathize with Israelis being under constant threat of an attack. Perhaps the fact
that Israel has thrived and flourished in every regard, despite the odds, has reinvigorated my Jewish pride and support for Israel, but it is not the
stimulus. My love for Israel spans everything from heritage, religion, morality and beyond. It is proof to the world that we refuse to be daunted
by the hate, oppression, and persecution that seep through every country and generation. Israel is a miracle in and of itself. It represents hope,
perseverance, and success and has managed to achieve the unthinkable, a feat made even more astounding by the active calls for it to be destroyed.
So long as we continue to stand up for ourselves and vocalize our support and love for the only Jewish state, we have already won.
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