The prescient Golda Meir once stated: “If the Arabs put down their weapons today, there would be no more violence. If the Jews put down their weapons today, there would be no more Israel.” On Oct 7 we found out exactly that. For a few early hours on that fateful Saturday morning, there was no Israel Defence Force. The Jews effectively had no weapons. What ensued was a bloodbath.
The progressive left, self-professed champions of human rights (unless of course those humans are Jewish) rally in the name of an unashamed terrorist organisation that boasted of its October 7 exploits and that it was just the beginning. Instead of outrage and demanding the return of hostages, they march in tandem.
Hamas is equally a threat to Palestinians seeking their own homeland as it is to the future of Israel. Yet protesters conflate their support for Palestine with support for Hamas whose very charter professes its resolve to eradicate Israel as a Jewish state. They appear to not realise that supporting Hamas is also supporting the use of civilians as human shields, the theft of billions of dollars in humanitarian aid repurposed for tunnel infrastructure and weapons accumulation, gender-based violence, violence targeting LGBTQ+, lack of judicial and press independence and no freedom of expression.
Brazen in their hatred of and prejudice towards Jews and anyone who supports Israel as the Jewish homeland, they are quick to cancel anyone who doesn’t tow the party line.
Animus towards Israel and by extension, Jewish communities is at an all time high. But what are actual Palestinians inside Gaza and the West Bank feeling about the war? The Palestinian Centre for Policy and Survey Research polled Palestinians in West Bank and Gaza between Nov 22 – Dec 2. 1231 adults were interviewed in randomly selected locations:
750 in the West Bank and 481 in the Gaza Strip. Their findings were illuminating.
Interviewees were asked: In your view given what occurred on Oct 7, was it a correct decision? In the West Bank 82% agreed it was the correct decision; in Gaza 57% agreed.
Asked was it an incorrect decision, did Hamas make a mistake? In the West Bank 12% agreed; in Gaza 37%. Asked who will be ruling Gaza after the war? In the West Bank 73% think Hamas; 75% are hoping Hamas will be in control. In Gaza 51% think Hamas; only 38% wish to see Hamas in control. Asked who will win the war? In the West Bank 70% think Hamas will be victorious but only 50% in Gaza. Asked their preference of who should rule Gaza after the war? In the West Bank 75% state Hamas whilst only 38% in Gaza. Asked who do they think will rule Gaza? In West Bank 73% state Hamas, In Gaza 51%.
You would surmise the opposite. But it’s Gazans who are living with the reality of Hamas rulership whereas those in the West Bank are dealing with a corrupt Palestinian Authority (PA). Gazans can see with their own eyes humanitarian aid being stolen by Hamas, citizens forced to act as human shields, threats of violence or actual violence for those trying to flee and their homes and livelihood destroyed in a war provoked by Hamas. Support for Hamas has more than tripled in the West Bank compared to three months ago. How to explain their responses? They appear to be radicalising. Frustrated with the ineptitude and corruption of the PA, Hamas is challenging their enemy. Educated from an early age to hate their Jewish neighbours, Hamas is the embodiment of their enmity.
The predicament for Israel is they may prove successful in destroying the current Hamas leadership but there may be a queue ready and willing to take their place.
(This article was originally published in The Australian on 22 January 2024)
1 Comment
You’ve got it right, Liora. This is the worst time in my full life, and the feeling of doom and gloom pervades the air. The poison has been spread far and wide with the press of a button: we have been taught to have Hope and the random acts of kindness that allow you to breathe just aren’t enough for me at this time.