The terrorist massacre is also a result of anti-Israel indoctrination. If this continues to spread, peace efforts will be futile. A commentary by Daniel Frick, Israelnetz
The horror that Israel experienced on October 7, 2023, defies description. The way large parts of the world reacted to it is equally appalling. Masks were shamelessly dropped, and many actors, from students to the highest levels of the United Nations, revealed their antisemitic true nature.
Even a year later, the question of the significance of this terrorist massacre remains – its meaning will only become clear over time. A related question also lingers: even if the massacre were to have positive consequences, could these be considered "good"? They would have been born out of a day marked by horror. For anything "good" to result from October 7th, the price seems too high from the outset.
And yet, one consequence might be considered "good": if what theologian Klaus Wengst so succinctly put into words long before October 7th were to become reality. He was referring to another horror experienced by Jews, namely the Holocaust. In a lecture from 2011, he took it upon himself, as a consequence, "to contribute to ensuring that this people is given the opportunity to live, freed from the hands of their enemies, without fear, in their own identity.".
After October 7th, this appeal should apply even more strongly and be directed to all Christians – Wengst had the Song of Zechariah (Luke 1:73–75) in mind when formulating it – and to people in positions of political responsibility. It would mean that, after decades of hostility, Israel would be living in a new reality: no attacks from the north, east, south, or west, no internal terror, no threats of annihilation.
Unheard warnings
The truth is: Even before the terrorist massacre, the international community was moving far away from this ideal. In the months that followed, it distanced itself even further. The anti-Israel alliance of leftists and Islamists is more united than ever, and large parts of the West are buckling under the pressure, driven by a mixture of colonial guilt complex and naiveté.
The pro-Hamas demonstrations at many universities are a consequence of this development. Three weeks after the massacre, the American actress Mayim Bialik released a video in which she expressed her horror at the antisemitism, particularly at universities in her country. Bialik, who identifies as left-liberal and advocates for a Palestinian state, admitted in the video that antisemitism doesn't stop at people with her views.
That alone was remarkable. Even more interesting, however, was a reaction from Sheila Nazarian. The plastic surgeon from Los Angeles, like Bialik a Jew, is not so well known in Germany; in America, however, she had a show that was nominated for an Emmy. Her response, in which she harshly criticized Bialik, received more than a million views on the X platform.
Nazarian accused Bialik of ignoring years of warnings: “I don’t understand why it took so long for people to realize what many of us have been shouting for the past four years… Many of us who fled socialist countries have been smelling the same stench here in America for years. And we tried to tell you. Why didn’t you listen?… Why did it take a massacre of our people for you to listen?”
Nazarian herself provides the answer: She accuses "progressive" Jews of joining far-left organizations like Black Lives Matter (BLM) – to "belong" or "feel good." In doing so, however, they have ignored BLM's antisemitic tendencies: After October 7th, BLM celebrated the terrorist massacre and described it as "resistance." Even in the years prior, the organization had accused Israel of "genocide" against the Palestinians.
Questionable narrative
The rise of such ways of thinking has gained momentum in recent years. The concept of "intersectionality" plays a role in this: different groups ascribe to themselves a commonality, in this case the perception of being "oppressed." From this perspective, Black people in the USA share the fate of Palestinians in the Middle East.
This way of thinking resonates particularly with young people. Video clips on social media platforms like TikTok have a significant impact: Israel is portrayed as an "oppressor." Facts that disrupt this narrative, such as Israel's withdrawal from the Gaza Strip in 2005, are ignored. Based on these distortions, the Jewish state has lost more and more public support.
As Nazarian's question suggests, Jews and non-Jews alike are captivated by this way of thinking. The idea is that Palestinians only need one state for peace to come, since Palestinians would then finally be "liberated.".
The history of the Gaza Strip shows, however, that the problems run deeper. With the aforementioned withdrawal, the Israeli government also expressed the hope of achieving peace. In return, the Israelis received years of terror, with October 7th representing only the dramatic nadir.
Education as an opportunity
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hinted at one of the "deeper" problems almost 30 years ago. Newly elected in 1996, he visited Bill Clinton at the White House. The discussion centered on the continuation of the Oslo Accords. Netanyahu also called for education in democracy and peace, and for the acceptance of Israel. "That will probably achieve more than all the agreements we are trying to reach," he said
Nearly three decades later, it seems appropriate to revisit this thesis. Hatred of Israel is also a result of the Palestinian education system. Even in kindergarten, educators instill hatred and belief in the murder of Jews. Textbooks from the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) teach students that Israel has no right to exist. Instead of critically examining this situation, Western countries have ignored and even encouraged it. Under the CDU/SPD coalition government, Germany even significantly increased its funding for UNRWA – thereby incurring further guilt.
Necessary "good" consequences of the terrorist massacre include a military victory against Israel's enemies, but also the fight against hatred in people's minds. Otherwise, October 7th will have been nothing more than a day of utter, unimaginable misery. (Daniel Frick | Israelnetz)
