The lies fueling antisemitism and Gaza misery

Like many rabbis today, I lead a community living with fear. Since the horrors of Oct. 7, 2023, and the war that followed, our safety and security have been threatened. We face a surge of violent antisemitism worldwide, fueled by the dangerous myth that Israel is to blame for it all.

A terrorist in Washington murdered two young Jewish professionals, claiming, "I did it for Palestine. I did it for Gaza." The suspects who gunned down Jews celebrating Hanukkah at Bondi Beach were linked to the Islamic State. Such violence is the predictable result of a torrent of rhetoric demonizing the Jewish state, sympathizing with terrorists, and excusing the spilling of Jewish blood. And it erases the original cause of this war: Hamas invaded Israel, murdered Jews in their homes, kidnapped toddlers and the elderly, and Israel responded as any responsible nation would.

When "globalize the intifada" and accusations of "genocide" become normalized, and when Israel is branded uniquely evil and illegitimate, the result is obvious: Jews are targeted for harassment and worse.

But these accusations flatten a complicated geopolitical conflict into a smear and deny the facts. Gaza's longest border is not with Israel but with Egypt. Yet Egypt, together with every other Arab state, has refused to accept Palestinian refugees during this war. Innocent Gazans, including children, have been trapped in a violent war zone. In contrast, after Russia invaded Ukraine, millions of refugees were absorbed by neighboring countries. On Long Island, our interfaith coalition welcomed families from Ukraine and Afghanistan.

These facts are absent from arguments that claim to care about Palestinian lives, because the dominant narrative must blame Israel alone. The failures of the Arab world and their enablers must be explained away. Israel is judged by standards no other country attacked so brutally by its neighbors is required to meet. Most tragically, Hamas — a theocratic death cult that executes dissenters, steals international aid, and remains committed to killing Jews — is excused or even celebrated as a moral resistance movement.

Herein lies the moral catastrophe of calls for Israel to unilaterally disarm. Such calls claim humanitarian concern, but they increase Gazan suffering by empowering Hamas and condemning Gaza to its continued tyrannical rule.

A ceasefire signed by Israel, Hamas and several Arab and European states calls for Hamas to disarm. All acknowledge that Hamas must be disarmed. Yet none are willing to assist in that task, leaving Israel alone to bear the burden, as Hamas fighters hide behind innocent civilians.

Gaza's people, abandoned by many who claim to support them, deserve accountability. Effective support for Palestinians would mean demanding new leadership committed to peace between the Jewish and Palestinian nations, recognizing that both have legitimate claims, insisting on compromise, and eliminating antisemitism from public discourse and education. It is also fair, and necessary, to ask whether Israel's actions have at times been excessive, as occurs in every war. A democratic society must assess itself with moral conviction and transparency.

Nothing here diminishes the suffering of this war. Jewish tradition insists on one unconditional truth: Every single human being is a whole world, and the death of any innocent soul equals the death of the whole world. Every innocent life lost — Israeli or Palestinian — is a tragedy beyond measure. We must grieve with all who mourn. This is the only way, and the true pathway to peace.

This guest essay reflects the views of Rabbi Michael A. White, senior rabbi of Temple Sinai of Roslyn.