Shockingly, the State of Israel has morphed into a soulless terrorist organization driven in large part by theocratic influences. Look not only to the deadly horrors of Gaza—seemingly another 30 or 40 killed every day, a third of them children. The ongoing, state-backed, violent (sometimes murderous) takeover of the West Bank led by radical zealots is just a lower-profile outrage. As American citizens, we must not fear speaking out about this sad and horrifying turn.
Hamas? Terrorists to the core, killers without conscience. The atrocities of October 7, 2023, could have no justification. Of course, Hamas needed elimination, and its hellish ploy of using its own innocents as “the shield” could not trump a just and focused retribution…which it got, in spades. Does that somehow excuse what the State of Israel has been doing for months now? For the love of god and humanity, it does not.
I have no connection to, or particular sympathies for, either the Jewish or Arab communities. I’m just a wasp sort of guy with roots in Catonsville, a non-believer with a long interest in history. In truth, I’ve not even wanted to follow the Middle East conflict; none of us has unlimited bandwidth, and it’s been a busy time. The horrors of that autumn/winter of 23-’24 made me turn away, a sense of profound disgust directed at everyone in the misnamed Holy Land.
But this is now.
Trump sucks the air out of every room every day, an endless cascade of headlines. Then there are floods, China, and the Ukraine war. All of it is important (some existential for America, perhaps). But if you can stomach your way through all that and read on, you come face to face with Israel’s crimes du jour. Indiscriminate bombing. Starvation. Relocations. Illegal settlements. Destruction destruction destruction.
The press does report, but I hear little public discussion, much less outrage. Like it’s happening on a different planet. You do know that your tax dollars and mine are supporting the State of Israel today–as for the past 75 years, under every administration, whatever party. But how can it be, that we continue in the face of these horrors? Billions every year…as if Israel can’t tie the hangman’s knot on its own.
History is a funny thing. The stories can be crystal clear as to right and wrong, fault and innocence, guilt and justification. It just depends on the starting point one chooses when spinning the tale. Hamas and October 7, 2023? Arafat and the Intifada? The Oslo Accords? Say the 1967 war? Independence in 1948 (Nakba to the Palestinians)? Or was it the Balfour Declaration? Or the ungodly pogroms of the 19th century in Eastern Europe? Maybe the first Diaspora, or earlier–say the crossing of the River Jordon? (That is the theocratic argument made today by many settlers trying illegally to seize “Judea and Samaria,” aka the West Bank.)
See nothing, say nothing, do nothing, and we deserve the shame that will be heaped upon us in the future. Yes, it’s uncomfortable to speak out—someone is sure to fling the word “antisemite.” But we must not be fearful to call evil by its name.
Israel’s current actions are those of a terrorist organization.
Dan Watson
Easton