This is an opinion piece, and I am sure it will upset one group of people, if not more.

But it needs to be said; also, you should know I am not Jewish nor a Palestinian. 

What is Antisemitism?

This question I pose is both timely and weighty—a societal quandary wrapped in historical layers, much like the rings of a colossal, aged tree. Antisemitism, my friends, is not just an abstract idea; it’s a deeply troubling form of discrimination that targets Jewish people based on their religion, ethnicity, or heritage. At its core, it’s a malicious ideology that has manifested itself in a myriad of ways—from derogatory stereotypes and prejudice to hate crimes and genocides. The roots of this bigotry dig deep into the soil of human history, and its branches have stretched out to touch almost every part of the globe. Let’s pull back the curtain and dive into this, shall we?

A Glimpse into History

To understand antisemitism is to travel through time, past millennia of human endeavors and failures. The story of antisemitism is as old as the Jewish diaspora. From the Biblical tale of Pharaoh and the Israelites to Medieval Europe, where Jews were blamed for the Black Death, the narrative has been fraught with darkness. The Enlightenment era, despite its name, wasn’t quite “enlightened” about this. Fast-forward to the 20th century, and we hit the nadir: the Holocaust, a calamity that led to the murder of six million Jews during World War II. Historical yet contemporary, antisemitism is a chameleon, adapting to the local cultures and ideologies but always retaining its harmful core.

The 2023 Edition

So, how does this vile prejudice manifest in the 21st century, and particularly in 2023? Well, my digital antennae tell me that, despite strides toward global awareness and equality, antisemitism has taken on new, insidious forms, some wrapped in the cloak of political ideologies, others hiding in the dark corners of the internet.

1. Online Harassment: Social media platforms are both a blessing and a curse. They’ve become hotbeds for spreading antisemitic hate speech, memes, and conspiracy theories. A simple tweet can unleash a torrent of bigotry.
2. Violence and Vandalism: Hate crimes against Jewish communities persist. Synagogues are vandalized, cemeteries desecrated, and individuals harassed.
3. Political Discourse: Some political factions weaponize antisemitic tropes for their agendas. Be it from the far-right, far-left, or extremist religious groups, antisemitism knows no single political home.
4. Anti-Zionism and Antisemitism: Criticism of Israel often crosses the line into antisemitism when it employs age-old stereotypes or holds all Jews accountable for the actions of a state.
5. Institutional and Systemic Forms: Discrimination against Jews in work settings, schools, and social institutions also carries the dark stain of antisemitism.

Today

Now let’s look at what is happening around the world today—October 13^th, 2023.  If you are superstitious, it is also a Friday.  6 Days ago, the Hamas Terrorist killed 1300 women, children, grandparents, and babies in Southern Israel. 

If you swipe across the various social media platforms since that day, you will suddenly find thousands of Pro-Palestinian live chat groups, individuals proclaiming they know what is going on in Israel, and thousands of hate-filled comments about the Israelis and Jews.  I struggle to make sense of it; it was Hamas who attacked innocent citizens of Israel who were in their beds sleeping. So, for the sake of an old saying, “For the Benefit of the Doubt,” I will help you understand what Hamas is and why you are being misled by propaganda.

This is a complex and controversial topic that has its roots deeply planted in the soil of conflict, ideology, and aspirations. Hamas, you see, is not just a name on a page; it’s an entity that carries with it a freight of historical, political, and social implications. Let’s unwrap this, shall we?

The Genesis

Hamas, an acronym for “Harakat al-Muqawamah al-Islamiyyah,” which translates to the Islamic Resistance Movement, was founded in 1987 during the First Intifada—a Palestinian uprising against Israeli occupation. It emerged as an offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood, a Sunni Islamic organization with branches across the Arab world.

The Ideological Spectrum

Hamas combines Palestinian Nationalism with Islamic Fundamentalism. Its original charter in 1988 explicitly called for the establishment of an Islamic state in Palestine, including present-day Israel, and it employed antisemitic tropes. However, its 2017 political document suggested a willingness to accept a Palestinian state based on 1967 borders without explicitly recognizing Israel. This duality has led to various interpretations of the group’s objectives and ideology.

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

1. Militancy: Hamas has both a political wing and a military wing, the latter known as the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades. The military wing has been involved in suicide bombings, rocket attacks, and other forms of violence, primarily against Israeli targets. These actions have led countries like the United States, the European Union, and Israel to designate Hamas as a terrorist organization.

I met evil, and I walked through their tunnels.

I lived in Jerusalem during the Second Intifada (2002 – 2005), and I watched Buses, Cafes, and Children blown up by suicide bombers. Please note that at this time, Israel was policing Gaza and left in 2008. So, Hamas has had no supervision since 2008, and they have made a lot of concrete that seems to have vanished from view above ground.

I made several trips to Gaza and met with most of the leaders of Hamas. On one trip, I was given a tour of the tunnel system under Gaza City, which, at that time, was massive– now, 20 years later, I can only imagine they have built an entire city below ground.

At that time, they boasted they had built five miles of tunnels. I walked in tunnels that were crude, small, and looked like they were dug by hand, and one tunnel that you could drive a car through with sophisticated concrete walls and a roof. It looked like a tunnel in Europe. Oddly enough, my Hamas guide proudly told me it was built with money sent from Europe. 

In the 90s, I was allowed to meet the founder of Hamas for a potential interview, Sheikh Ahmed Ismail Hassan Yassin, who was in a wheelchair and nearly 100% blind. I also met the head of the al-Qassam Brigades, who told me about how they move around and avoid being hit by Israeli Rockets. None of the people I met at Hamas cared about Palestinians. They were in it for the money, fame, and power.  

2. Governance: Since “winning” the 2006 Palestinian legislative elections, Hamas has governed the Gaza Strip, facing challenges like economic hardship, infrastructure decay, and tensions with Fatah, the rival Palestinian faction that controls the West Bank. I highlighted the word ‘winning” in my first sentence because winning in Gaza is very different than winning in the USA. Hamas came to power because they used force to control and terrorize the Palestinians who live in Gaza, the same people they use as shields today. They killed anyone who would oppose them.  Sadly, all the international governments, such as the USA, want you to believe they have achieved something in Gaza, and so they leave out the details of how Hamas won the 2006 elections. If they told you the full story, it would look like they were wasting your money in Gaza and or that they helped Hamas to take control.
3. Social Services: This is where the waters get muddied. Hamas also operates social programs, providing services like healthcare and education to Palestinian communities. This duality—part militant group, part governance structure—adds layers of complexity to its identity. Why do they do this? The same reason the USA has USAID is to win favor. Hamas controls every aspect of the Gaza Palestinians’ lives, and thus, they control their life. Hamas has made themselves indispensable so that life will end without Hamas, and that is what they believe.

Since the day Hamas took control, they have been building their tunnels, smuggling weapons, training fighters, indoctrinating children, and terrorizing the Palestinian citizens of Gaza. 

The 21st Century Picture

In today’s geopolitical theater, Hamas remains a significant and contentious actor. Its relations with Israel are marked by periodic flare-ups and ceasefires, a cyclical pattern that shows how deep-rooted the conflict is. It is October 2023; this conflict with Hamas has been going on since 1987, when it was formed. 

Do not believe all the pundits and so-called experts about the situation that it’s a religious or ancient fight; it is not. This is about power and money for Hamas. Hamas has dreams of grandeur of being the group to end Israel and push them out of the region. They want glory, and they use Islam to manipulate people into believing they are blowing themselves up for Allah—God.  

Today, I am watching thousands of people around the world demonstrate for Free Palestine from Israel. What you are doing is helping a terrorist organization called Hams, who does not represent the Palestinian people. I know the Palestinian people; I lived with them, and I have known many American Palestinians who do not support Hamas. They are exhausted by the conflict, and they are sick of it all.  

I spoke with a mother of two boys who lives in Gaza this morning. She is terrified. She is a good friend whom I have known for nearly 30 years. She has always been an honest and good person. She has never left Gaza; she was born in Gaza and has never seen anywhere else in the world.  

She told me, and I quote, “We are prisoners of Hamas, and I fear I will die this week because Hamas will not let us travel.”  She told me she lives in an apartment building that sits above a Hamas Tunnel entrance, and they have recently placed Hamas look-outs on the roof to watch for the Israelis. 

She told me that Hamas is walking around telling everyone to stay put and not believe the propaganda from the Israelis, to stay in their apartments; it is their duty to support Hamas, who has supported them. 

Today, many Americans will be supporting a terrorist organization called Hamas, which just six days ago killed 250 young kids enjoying a concert in the desert. They also murdered over 1,000 other innocent people. If you support Hamas, you are not only being Antisemitic, but you are stating you choose evil over good; you have decided that human life has no value, and you are telling the world that you are easily manipulated by propaganda and thus an ignorant supporter of terrorism.  

I am not Israeli, nor do I live in the region anymore. I do not condone any violence, and I do not believe that Israel is perfect; they have also made many mistakes.

As an armchair quarterback 4,000 miles away, you should put yourself in the shoes of the mother or father who saw their child shot and burned to death in their car at a concert.

I know this because the daughter of my dear friend was killed at the age of 18 at the Supernova concert on Saturday by a group of cowards who claim to be supporters of the Palestinian people–they are not. 

She was also my goddaughter, and I was there the day she was born; I never expected to outlive her.  

I wish this conflict would stop; I want everyone to live together or as peaceful neighbors. I do not wish this cycle of violence to continue.

I beg all of you to become informed, learn about this conflict, and remember these are human beings on both sides of the fighting, and I don’t want any innocent people to die.
It is 2023.

Let’s end world conflicts.