About that “Right to Self-Defense”
The terrorists group Hamas is dedicated to the genocide of the Jewish people (and the destruction of Western civilization for that matter). Since May 10, 2021, it has fired over 4000 rockets at the Israeli civilian population, killing 12 people.
In response to this latest round of Hamas attacks on Israel, a large number of governments have affirmed that “Israel has the right to defend itself.”
At first glance, it appears that Israel should be extremely thankful for the support. However, the necessity to affirm that the State of Israel has the right to defend itself is deeply problematic.
There is no need for permission before a state acts to protect its citizens from a malicious external threat.
In addition, this acknowledged “right” always seems to be endowed for a limited time only - preventing the Jewish State from ever taking protective measures to decisively deter another round of attacks.
Worse still are those who reflexively blame Israel and question whether Israeli Jews should even be allowed their most basic human right to self-defense.
By this logic, Israelis should accept whatever violence Hamas sends their way or, according to some like John Oliver, treat the conflict like a sport in which both sides must be evenly matched, with similar levels of ordinance and casualties.
“There is a massive imbalance when it comes to the two sides’ weaponry and capabilities. While most of the rockets aimed toward Israeli citizens this week were intercepted, Israel’s airstrikes were not.”
John Oliver
A similarly disingenuous argument was made by Congresswoman Ilhan Omar. In a May 10 tweet, she cynically attempted to silence those who believe in Israel's right to self-defense. She insinuated that those who defend this right can only do so once they have also agreed to defend Palestinians, making no distinction between civilians and Hamas terrorists.
We parenthetically note her silence on Hamas’s violent oppression of its own people and its terror attacks on Israelis. It takes a certain artistry to support an oppressive dictatorship using the language of justice and peace.
The IHRA definition of antisemitism, accepted by the United States government, states that antisemitism includes:
"applying double standards by requiring of it [Israel] a behavior not expected or demanded of any other democratic nation”.
To claim that Israel has no right to self-defense is, therefore, gross antisemitism.
It is time to draw a line and state clearly -- the time when Jewish people dig their own graves, march themselves into gas chambers or wait while rockets rain down upon their homes, is over.
Antisemitism will not disappear by itself, and Canary Mission, for its part, will continue to expose those perpetuating this ancient hatred.