I am trying my best not to lose heart, I really am, but it’s increasingly difficult not to do so. Aside from your voice (for which I am so, so grateful) and a few lonely others, we Jews are mostly on our own. Israel is our only safeguard to prevent a repeat of the Holocaust. Do I think that I’m being overly dramatic? No. No, I do not. Because if Israel falls, we will have nowhere else to go, and those who hate us know that full well.
This should be mandatory reading on campuses. But fat chance! The earth is flat, the sun revolves around the earth, burn witches at the stake, y2K, smoking is sexy, and Jews rule the world. It is so much easier to go with the popular opinion.
"Kemp’s numbers are contested by those who have axes to grind. A Guardian newspaper / +972 / Local Call joint analysis of Israeli military data (eg., a “study” funded and undertaken by some of the most anti-Israel propagandists in the world today) unsurprisingly finds a much higher civilian share of Gaza fatalities. They reported a civilian share around ~80% in one published analysis and dispute the lower civilian ratios Kemp cites."
The false claim that 83% of the dead in Gaza are non-combatants made by +972 and the "Grauniad" was based on the fact that the IDF could only identify by name 8,000+ of the 20,000 dead fighting age males encountered in the tunnels and other such locations where Hamas or other "militants" were known to be present, either in combat with IDF troops or in terrorist command centres located in schools and apartment blocks. Not only do the "militants" not wear uniforms all the better to blend in with the civilian population, they don't wear identification tags of any sort.
The fact that the IDF were able to positively identify by name close to a half of the dead presumed to be combatants is really an indication of how targeted the IDF's operations actually are, but trust +972 and the Guardian to misrepresent IDF data in a way intended to blacken the IDF's reputation.
Mass delusions have occurred throughout human history (or hysteria). Just a couple of familiar examples:
- The Iraq Weapons of Mass Destruction consensus (2002–2003): Political leaders, intelligence agencies, and respected commentators across the U.S. and allied countries insisted Iraq had weapons of mass destruction. This shaped public opinion and policy, and led to an ultimately disastrous war, despite the absence of evidence.
- The Salem Witch Trials (1692, Massachusetts): Entire communities, with clergy and judges as authorities, believed neighbors were in league with the devil. Hysteria led to executions based on “spectral evidence.”
People have a tendency to accept the pronouncements of "authority" figures, without critically assessing the facts. Among other awful consequences, such behavior has enabled true genocides, such as that of the 6 million Jews murdered in the Holocaust, or the systematic slaughter of a million Tutsis in Rwanda.
The mass delusion of Israeli "genocide" in Gaza is the ancient bigotry of antisemitism, yet again spreading in pandemic proportions.
One of the risks of uncritically believing lies about Israel is that, in the long run, this makes those who believe lies more vulnerable to not protecting their own liberty.
I too really appreciate your strong and persuasive articles - thank you.
I have a purely aesthetic suggestion: Using all capital letters is seen as shouting/screaming/ shrieking and I find myself wincing every time I see them in my Inbox. How about some other enhancement?
Pat is NOT claiming everything Netanyahu is doing, is good for Israel. No government or leader, of any country can be liked for every decision or action.
I am trying my best not to lose heart, I really am, but it’s increasingly difficult not to do so. Aside from your voice (for which I am so, so grateful) and a few lonely others, we Jews are mostly on our own. Israel is our only safeguard to prevent a repeat of the Holocaust. Do I think that I’m being overly dramatic? No. No, I do not. Because if Israel falls, we will have nowhere else to go, and those who hate us know that full well.
I feel exactly as you do.
This should be mandatory reading on campuses. But fat chance! The earth is flat, the sun revolves around the earth, burn witches at the stake, y2K, smoking is sexy, and Jews rule the world. It is so much easier to go with the popular opinion.
"Kemp’s numbers are contested by those who have axes to grind. A Guardian newspaper / +972 / Local Call joint analysis of Israeli military data (eg., a “study” funded and undertaken by some of the most anti-Israel propagandists in the world today) unsurprisingly finds a much higher civilian share of Gaza fatalities. They reported a civilian share around ~80% in one published analysis and dispute the lower civilian ratios Kemp cites."
The false claim that 83% of the dead in Gaza are non-combatants made by +972 and the "Grauniad" was based on the fact that the IDF could only identify by name 8,000+ of the 20,000 dead fighting age males encountered in the tunnels and other such locations where Hamas or other "militants" were known to be present, either in combat with IDF troops or in terrorist command centres located in schools and apartment blocks. Not only do the "militants" not wear uniforms all the better to blend in with the civilian population, they don't wear identification tags of any sort.
The fact that the IDF were able to positively identify by name close to a half of the dead presumed to be combatants is really an indication of how targeted the IDF's operations actually are, but trust +972 and the Guardian to misrepresent IDF data in a way intended to blacken the IDF's reputation.
Thank you, Pat.
Spot on, Pat.
Mass delusions have occurred throughout human history (or hysteria). Just a couple of familiar examples:
- The Iraq Weapons of Mass Destruction consensus (2002–2003): Political leaders, intelligence agencies, and respected commentators across the U.S. and allied countries insisted Iraq had weapons of mass destruction. This shaped public opinion and policy, and led to an ultimately disastrous war, despite the absence of evidence.
- The Salem Witch Trials (1692, Massachusetts): Entire communities, with clergy and judges as authorities, believed neighbors were in league with the devil. Hysteria led to executions based on “spectral evidence.”
People have a tendency to accept the pronouncements of "authority" figures, without critically assessing the facts. Among other awful consequences, such behavior has enabled true genocides, such as that of the 6 million Jews murdered in the Holocaust, or the systematic slaughter of a million Tutsis in Rwanda.
The mass delusion of Israeli "genocide" in Gaza is the ancient bigotry of antisemitism, yet again spreading in pandemic proportions.
Great writing Pat .. with so many salient points. The British ex army colonel Richard Kemp is a great voice of reason.
Great article. Thanks Pat.
One of the risks of uncritically believing lies about Israel is that, in the long run, this makes those who believe lies more vulnerable to not protecting their own liberty.
I too really appreciate your strong and persuasive articles - thank you.
I have a purely aesthetic suggestion: Using all capital letters is seen as shouting/screaming/ shrieking and I find myself wincing every time I see them in my Inbox. How about some other enhancement?
You can’t make the case that practically anything Netanyahu’s administration is doing is good for Israel. It’s not.
Pat is NOT claiming everything Netanyahu is doing, is good for Israel. No government or leader, of any country can be liked for every decision or action.
What on Earth is an ethnical military?
I presume you mean ‘ethical military’ .. and if so, Pat’s article describes exactly that !
I was just letting Pat know I'm still available to proofread his works. Whether he likes it or not! That was my only nitpick this article.
‘apologies’ .. I only spotted ‘ethnical’ in your comment, not in Pat’s piece 👍