One of the great ironies of history: The mass persecutions, ethnic cleanings and genocides of Jews over the past few centuries are what made Israel the powerhouse it is today. Jew haters are too stupid to understand that they continue to make the case for a strong Jewish state better than any Zionist ever could.
For decades the majority of Israelis hoped for some form of coexistence, but every offer was refused. More Israelis began to think that there was no longer a possibility of coexistence because the vast majority of Palestinians and their Muslim brothers simply wanted them dead from the river to the sea. Oct 7 convinced even more Israelis that tens of millions of people in the West also wanted them dead. As Dara Horn wrote, people love dead Jews. After all this, I don't see any way that Israel will consent to a Palestinian state on its border, especially a state that will require most of the West Bank to be Judenrein (yes, most progressives and Muslims and European leaders agree with the Nazis) and therefore uprooting hundreds of thousands of Jews from their homes. This did not work well in Gaza. To add to this terrible divide, many Israelis have become acutely aware that the West Bank, a euphemism for Judea and Samaria, is the heart of ancient Israel and to have this Judenrein is politically, morally and emotionally impossible. Some Jews have always lived there for 3000 years. Israel is, of course, blamed for this, but basic common sense and knowledge of how we got here tells us that the Arab desire to kill all the Jews has always been the reason for the continuing conflict. It's a tragic situation.
One thing more. I think that many who cheered on Oct 7 believe that the pogrom and the attacks and slander of Israel from around the world would convince many in Israel to leave. They would simply give up from exhaustion. Surely four generations of living under continuous threat would convince many more to leave. Some have indeed left, but the vast majority are staying and some Jews living in the West are leaving for Israel. Go figure.
By George, you’ve done it again Pat. Your analysis is right on. However I have a solution for the Western pro Palestinian activist situation, which should make everyone happy. Offer them free transportation to Gaza so that they can provide their services to Hamas. We can even supply them with vehicles & Palestinian flags at the border, so as they drive into Gaza, Hamas will know they are friendly & sympathetic to their cause. Who wouldn’t be happy with this? Everyone wins: Hamas would have more Westerners to torture or kill; The West can get rid of them; & the pro Palestinian activists can do something more constructive for their cause. Why just march & demonstrate if they can offer hands on assistance. That’s what Israeli soldiers do 🦁
Gazan civilians have already suffered quite enough and continue to suffer as Hamas tries to engineer its survival as the governing power in Gaza while still appearing to be complying with the terms of last fall's ceasefire agreement. Inflicting thousands and thousands of tragedy tourists on them would be immensely cruel.
Pat, I was one of the Jews you were talking about.
I had very little to do with Judaism. I'm agnostic. I didn't celebrate Passover, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur or any of the holidays. I wasn't involved in Jewish life at all.
What I was, however, was deeply patriotic. I'm a dual Canadian-American citizen, and I loved both countries. I truly believed they were my two homes.
Then came October 7.
Nothing will ever compare to the horror of that day itself. But for Jews in the Diaspora, the aftermath was its own wake-up call. I could hardly believe what I was seeing, especially here in Canada. Antisemitism used to exist on the fringes. Suddenly it was becoming mainstream. The speed of the change shocked me.
That experience taught me something I never expected to learn. Canada is where I live. America is where I lived. But I have only one true home, and that's Israel. Because when push comes to shove, governments change, societies change, public opinion changes. Israel is the one place that exists to ensure the Jewish people always have a home.
If I were younger, I would have put on an IDF uniform. Since I can't, I fight in the only way I know how. I write. I speak out. I published hundreds of posts through my Facebook group, Love Israel, Stop Hate, and now I write articles trying to make whatever difference one person can make.
Your article captures exactly why so many Jews who once stood on the sidelines no longer do.
On a personal note, when AIDS devastated the gay community, I had two close friends die. I spoke out on behalf of gay people because I believed it was the right thing to do.
I'll admit that, since October 7, I've often been disappointed that so many LGBTQ+ organizations and activists haven't shown the same solidarity toward Jews. But then I think of people like you and Douglas Murray, and it reminds me that there are always principled people who refuse to follow the crowd.
So thank you for being one of them. Your voice matters, and I hope more people support your work.
You might want to open a history book and look at how many democracies have weakened or collapsed over time, and how quickly public opinion and political culture can change. No country is permanently immune simply because it has a long democratic tradition.
Frankly, after watching the dramatic changes in both American and Canadian politics over the past decade, I’m surprised anyone could still believe that “it can’t happen here.” Democracies rarely disappear overnight. They erode gradually, often while people insist their institutions are too strong to fail.
And by the way, did you ever imagine New York would elect a socialist mayor whom many Jews regard as openly hostile to Israel and deeply troubling on antisemitism? How quickly did that happen, right before your eyes?
I'm a democratic socialist, so I have no problem with Mamdani. He was elected based on issues of affordability, which the federal government has completely ignored. His focus should be on New York City, not on foreign policy.
I am absolutely not ready to give up on American democracy and am proud to be one of many people who is fighting back against the authoritarianism of the Trump Administration. The US is my one and only country, my one and only home, and I am committed to fighting for it and resisting any and all attempts to impose fascism here--and I know I am far from alone in this effort.
I agree with you on this: We progressives must remain and fight against antisemitism and antizionism in our spheres. After yeserdays' anti-Israel vote in the House, Zionist Democrats should not leave the party. They should redouble their efforts to return the Dems to sanity.
Survival it 'tis! An' it galls "our" detractors that, ding it!, we stiff necked peepull INSIST on "Stayin' Alive" -- as the Bee Gees sang (great song, great hair lol!) L'Chaim!
To put it blantly, the "Pro-Palestine" mob is giving Israel this choice: fight in Messada, or return to Auschwiez. Of course they choice is Messada. Israel is not going anywhere.
“Their enemies are fighting to end Jewish sovereignty.
“Antizionism is not a polite political movement that seeks compromise or coexistence. It is a genocidal force that seeks, in its most generous incarnation, ethnic cleansing and, in its less kind form, genocide.”
I have nothing to add, except, as with much of your work, I wish I wrote this.
Thanks again. You’re a mensch, and a brilliant one.
Greatly insightful as usual. However, while the Ukrainian situation resembles what Israel faces, it is not the same as what Israel faces. While the Ukrainians fight for their sovereignty, they do not fight to avoid their wholesale elimination by genocidal barbarians... (not that the Russians aren't barbaric).
I couldn't have said it better. Thank you!!! Why don't these people realize that frothing at the mouth to destroy Israel just results in more violence and more dead Palestinians??!!
In many or most instances, yes. I just finished Rutger Bregman's Utopia for Realists (the first chapter outlines the millions of ways we have improved.)
One of the great ironies of history: The mass persecutions, ethnic cleanings and genocides of Jews over the past few centuries are what made Israel the powerhouse it is today. Jew haters are too stupid to understand that they continue to make the case for a strong Jewish state better than any Zionist ever could.
💯
For decades the majority of Israelis hoped for some form of coexistence, but every offer was refused. More Israelis began to think that there was no longer a possibility of coexistence because the vast majority of Palestinians and their Muslim brothers simply wanted them dead from the river to the sea. Oct 7 convinced even more Israelis that tens of millions of people in the West also wanted them dead. As Dara Horn wrote, people love dead Jews. After all this, I don't see any way that Israel will consent to a Palestinian state on its border, especially a state that will require most of the West Bank to be Judenrein (yes, most progressives and Muslims and European leaders agree with the Nazis) and therefore uprooting hundreds of thousands of Jews from their homes. This did not work well in Gaza. To add to this terrible divide, many Israelis have become acutely aware that the West Bank, a euphemism for Judea and Samaria, is the heart of ancient Israel and to have this Judenrein is politically, morally and emotionally impossible. Some Jews have always lived there for 3000 years. Israel is, of course, blamed for this, but basic common sense and knowledge of how we got here tells us that the Arab desire to kill all the Jews has always been the reason for the continuing conflict. It's a tragic situation.
One thing more. I think that many who cheered on Oct 7 believe that the pogrom and the attacks and slander of Israel from around the world would convince many in Israel to leave. They would simply give up from exhaustion. Surely four generations of living under continuous threat would convince many more to leave. Some have indeed left, but the vast majority are staying and some Jews living in the West are leaving for Israel. Go figure.
By George, you’ve done it again Pat. Your analysis is right on. However I have a solution for the Western pro Palestinian activist situation, which should make everyone happy. Offer them free transportation to Gaza so that they can provide their services to Hamas. We can even supply them with vehicles & Palestinian flags at the border, so as they drive into Gaza, Hamas will know they are friendly & sympathetic to their cause. Who wouldn’t be happy with this? Everyone wins: Hamas would have more Westerners to torture or kill; The West can get rid of them; & the pro Palestinian activists can do something more constructive for their cause. Why just march & demonstrate if they can offer hands on assistance. That’s what Israeli soldiers do 🦁
Gazan civilians have already suffered quite enough and continue to suffer as Hamas tries to engineer its survival as the governing power in Gaza while still appearing to be complying with the terms of last fall's ceasefire agreement. Inflicting thousands and thousands of tragedy tourists on them would be immensely cruel.
I have no idea what you’re talking about Lynne. But that’s OK. Many people have no idea what I’m talking about.
Pat, I was one of the Jews you were talking about.
I had very little to do with Judaism. I'm agnostic. I didn't celebrate Passover, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur or any of the holidays. I wasn't involved in Jewish life at all.
What I was, however, was deeply patriotic. I'm a dual Canadian-American citizen, and I loved both countries. I truly believed they were my two homes.
Then came October 7.
Nothing will ever compare to the horror of that day itself. But for Jews in the Diaspora, the aftermath was its own wake-up call. I could hardly believe what I was seeing, especially here in Canada. Antisemitism used to exist on the fringes. Suddenly it was becoming mainstream. The speed of the change shocked me.
That experience taught me something I never expected to learn. Canada is where I live. America is where I lived. But I have only one true home, and that's Israel. Because when push comes to shove, governments change, societies change, public opinion changes. Israel is the one place that exists to ensure the Jewish people always have a home.
If I were younger, I would have put on an IDF uniform. Since I can't, I fight in the only way I know how. I write. I speak out. I published hundreds of posts through my Facebook group, Love Israel, Stop Hate, and now I write articles trying to make whatever difference one person can make.
Your article captures exactly why so many Jews who once stood on the sidelines no longer do.
As always, a terrific article.
Thanks Frederick. So many truths.
Pat, no, thank you for everything you do.
On a personal note, when AIDS devastated the gay community, I had two close friends die. I spoke out on behalf of gay people because I believed it was the right thing to do.
I'll admit that, since October 7, I've often been disappointed that so many LGBTQ+ organizations and activists haven't shown the same solidarity toward Jews. But then I think of people like you and Douglas Murray, and it reminds me that there are always principled people who refuse to follow the crowd.
So thank you for being one of them. Your voice matters, and I hope more people support your work.
Be well, my friend.
That day had no effect on me. My one true home is the US, now and forever.
The German Jews in the '30s said the same thing as well.
Completely irrelevant. Unlike Germany, the US has a 250-year history of democracy and being a nation of immigrants.
Laurel, I respectfully disagree.
You might want to open a history book and look at how many democracies have weakened or collapsed over time, and how quickly public opinion and political culture can change. No country is permanently immune simply because it has a long democratic tradition.
Frankly, after watching the dramatic changes in both American and Canadian politics over the past decade, I’m surprised anyone could still believe that “it can’t happen here.” Democracies rarely disappear overnight. They erode gradually, often while people insist their institutions are too strong to fail.
And by the way, did you ever imagine New York would elect a socialist mayor whom many Jews regard as openly hostile to Israel and deeply troubling on antisemitism? How quickly did that happen, right before your eyes?
I suggest you open them.
I'm a democratic socialist, so I have no problem with Mamdani. He was elected based on issues of affordability, which the federal government has completely ignored. His focus should be on New York City, not on foreign policy.
I am absolutely not ready to give up on American democracy and am proud to be one of many people who is fighting back against the authoritarianism of the Trump Administration. The US is my one and only country, my one and only home, and I am committed to fighting for it and resisting any and all attempts to impose fascism here--and I know I am far from alone in this effort.
I won't waste my time. Be well.
I agree with you on this: We progressives must remain and fight against antisemitism and antizionism in our spheres. After yeserdays' anti-Israel vote in the House, Zionist Democrats should not leave the party. They should redouble their efforts to return the Dems to sanity.
Survival it 'tis! An' it galls "our" detractors that, ding it!, we stiff necked peepull INSIST on "Stayin' Alive" -- as the Bee Gees sang (great song, great hair lol!) L'Chaim!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_izvAbhExY
As John Aziz said: The People Who Want To Destroy Zionism Are Making Zionism Stronger: https://johnaziz.substack.com/p/the-people-who-want-to-destroy-zionism
thanks fer sharin'! a noo discovery fer me this writer ;-)
To put it blantly, the "Pro-Palestine" mob is giving Israel this choice: fight in Messada, or return to Auschwiez. Of course they choice is Messada. Israel is not going anywhere.
Pat, you have exposed the core of the matter. Well said.
MIC DROP 🎤
Pat, you da bessst.
Am Israel Chai 🇮🇱
Hi Pat, and friends,
Very well said.
“Israelis are fighting for survival.
“Their enemies are fighting to end Jewish sovereignty.
“Antizionism is not a polite political movement that seeks compromise or coexistence. It is a genocidal force that seeks, in its most generous incarnation, ethnic cleansing and, in its less kind form, genocide.”
I have nothing to add, except, as with much of your work, I wish I wrote this.
Thanks again. You’re a mensch, and a brilliant one.
Greatly insightful as usual. However, while the Ukrainian situation resembles what Israel faces, it is not the same as what Israel faces. While the Ukrainians fight for their sovereignty, they do not fight to avoid their wholesale elimination by genocidal barbarians... (not that the Russians aren't barbaric).
Of course, no two cases are exactly similar. And you are absolutely correct about this not at all insignificant difference is relevant.
I couldn't have said it better. Thank you!!! Why don't these people realize that frothing at the mouth to destroy Israel just results in more violence and more dead Palestinians??!!
Because the well-being of Palestinians is the last of their concerns. Dead Palestinians only give them more self-righteousness.
The world HAS advanced as much as most assumed in the past 80 years. We live in a better, more enlightened age.
In many or most instances, yes. I just finished Rutger Bregman's Utopia for Realists (the first chapter outlines the millions of ways we have improved.)