Anti-Semitism and Islamophobia seem to have resurfaced with a vengeance since Oct. 7, the day Hamas stormed into southern Israeli slaughtering civilians, including babies and young children, wherever they found them. Rape and torture were also on the menu of horrors that day. About 240 Israeli civilians were dragged into Gaza as hostages.
The world was outraged. This was a barbaric attack. Israel had a right to defend itself. In this country, at least, Moslems became a renewed focus of hate and attacks. Forget the fact that few had any connection to Hamas. Few had any connection to terrorists. It was 9/11 all over again.
So, call it what it is: Islamophobia is hatred of Moslems for no other reason than they are Moslems.
Then Israel declared war and launched its counterattack at where Hamas is: The Gaza Strip. The goal: Destroy Hamas for killing Jews simply because they are Jews. And announcing that they plan to keep doing it.
The world is outraged. It is like Oct. 7 never happened. Why? Because Hamas imbeds its fighters and infrastructure among civilians. So, when Israel bombs Hamas military targets, civilians, including children, are inevitable killed and injured.
Cease-fire is now the call as the world watches in horror at the death and destruction the fighting is causing in Gaza, ignoring the hundreds of rockets Hamas et al are firing indiscriminately into Israel, putting at risk civilians, including children.
Israel has refused to agree to a cease-fire until Hamas is neutralized.
Huge demonstrations are being held around the world including the United States. On college campuses, Jewish students are being harassed and threatened. Not just by other students, but also in some cases by the people who are supposed to be teaching them. Nations around the world are condemning Israel, but not Hamas, for what is going on. It is convenient to ignore how the fighting started and that Hamas is the one who put the Gaza civilians in harm’s way, and just blame the Jews.
Would any of those countries calling for a cease fire agree to one if it were its civilians who were slaughtered that way? I doubt it.
Israel puts its medical facilities safely underground. Hamas puts its military infrastructure safely underground – beneath hospitals and schools and residential areas.
So, anti-Semitism has come roaring back to the surface. Call it what it is: Hatred of Jews just because they are Jews.
Those two hatreds – of Jews and Moslems – have never gone away. They just lay dormant until some event unleashes them. Such as Oct. 7 and its aftermath.
Perhaps for those who hate for the sake of hate to religious teachings, those teachings about caring for the sick and not abusing innocents. It is easy to hate. But hatred also consumes the hater.
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