Musings: Don't blame Israel for attacking Hamas
![Long Islanders rally against antisemitism in Montauk in October 2023 after...](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.newsday.com%2Fimage-service%2Fversion%2Fc%3AMTVjMDc5ZGYtMTJiOS00%3AZGYtMTJiOS00MzJhMDhi%2Flihate231031_photos.jpg%3Ff%3DLandscape%2B16%253A9%26w%3D770%26q%3D1&w=1920&q=80)
Long Islanders rally against antisemitism in Montauk in October 2023 after hateful graffiti was found in the community. Credit: Gordon M. Grant
After 9/11, some folks blamed and hated any American wearing a turban. After COVID-19 hit, it was time to blame and hate any American of Asian descent. Even decades ago, during World War II, Japanese Americans were uprooted and denied their rights.
Now, it is time to blame and hate any American of the Jewish faith, or any Israeli, for defending Israel for being attacked as it was in 1948, 1967, 1973 and again in 2023.
Are these American flag-burning protesters who claim they want justice and who support Hamas terrorists using this as a cover-up for something deeper? After all, Hamas wants Israel’s genocide “from the river to the sea.”
Where is their concern for justice, and why are they not demonstrating in front of foreign embassies of countries where women experience domestic violence? Why not hold protests against Afghanistan, where women are denied higher education?
Where is the concern and show of indignation and support for the girls in African countries abducted, raped and held hostage in civil wars? Why not protest the embassies of China, Iran and Russia, where human rights are abused?
In Israel, all are educated, all have equal rights, and abusing another person, even a prisoner of war, is considered a criminal act.
Are these situations and other injustices that have been lasting for decades — all over this planet — of no concern to those who are protesting Israel’s quest to wipe out Hamas, and only Hamas?
After having been attacked so many times, Israel now seems to be responding relentlessly, wanting to stop further attacks on its people, once and for all.
If a terrorist group wants genocide on Americans, I would expect our government to boldly and fiercely defend and protect us from the Atlantic to the Pacific.
— Carol Ludwig, Wantagh
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