The Jewish Agency for Israel’s Post

When I was a child, my French grandpa, who had fought in WW2 and had escaped from a prisoners camp in Germany, took me to a village about 2 hours away from my grandparents' home, right in the center of France, a village named Gentioux. He wanted to show me a monument. On that war memorial, were the names of 58 village kids who had been killed during WW1. Like you would see in all French villages. But what was special about it, what my grandpa wanted me to see, was the epitaph: « Maudite soit la guerre » (Damn the war). The monument was inaugurated 100 years ago, in 1923. For decades, it was the target of anti-pacifist groups, who thought such an epitaph flouted the honor of the soldiers who had felt on the battlefield, and the honor of the country altogether. My grandpa thought I should, on the contrary, always remember that wars bring wrath, destruction, death, desire for vengeance, and more wars. The opposite of humanity. I was perhaps 7 years old but that moment with my grandpa in Gentioux is one that I often remember. It resurfaced acutely in my mind with the Hamas terrorist attack in Israel, Israel’s retributions against Hamas, the terrible consequences for the Palestinian people and potentially beyond. The Hamas operation in Israel was an operation that, beyond the unacceptable horror and barbarity, was designed by its executors, and by its main sponsor, to trigger a terrible escalation. An escalation that aims to prevent any progress, at annihilating any difficult step being made lately in building a peaceful Middle East. A peaceful Middle East where the Palestinian people would have the right to live free and not in a dystopian open-air prison that fuels anger and despair, where the existence of Israel would be acknowledged and accepted by all, where two states, Israel and Palestine, would coexist, would both be full-members of the United Nations, would be recognized by all in the Arab world and beyond, would develop normalized relations and heal their wounds. A Middle East where religions would stay in their place, not in government, and coexist peacefully. Those on both sides who are responsible for this escalation, that already cost the life of thousands of Israeli and of thousands of Palestinians, those who are exploiting it to stay in power, those who block the indispensable humanitarian aid to make its way, lack any sense of humanity. More violence does not work. The desire for revenge is understandable. But it does not work. It has never worked. It did not work after 9/11, it did not work after 1918, it hasn’t worked since 1948 in Palestine. People must stand up against the governments, or against those who confiscated their governments, when their appetite for control and power turned them against the protection of their own people. I stand behind humanity. Maudite soit la guerre.

Tackling the complicated nature of the conflict necessitates more than oversimplified language. Attali overlooks a crucial aspect: our opponent is Hamas, a terrorist organisation that has openly expressed their objective of eradicating Israel. This fact is pivotal in comprehending the intricate nature of Israeli society amidst the current crisis. Contrary to being homogeneous, the society is united by two crucial concerns: the liberation of the 134 hostages held by Hamas, and the total cessation of all terrorist attacks. The Israeli society, characterised by its diversity and complexity, does not gain any advantages from the instructive teachings of outside observers. It is worth noting that some commentators conveniently overlook these crucial points. The author's analysis dangerously oversimplifies the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, disregarding the intricate reality faced by individuals directly impacted by the actions of terrorist groups like Hamas. The assertion that Israeli society is tainted by individuals like Netanyahu fails to acknowledge the fact that a substantial segment of the public does not endorse his leadership. As an individual who has actively opposed his policies, I consider it unacceptable when self-proclaimed experts, who are observing from a distant perspective, assume to provide oversimplified resolutions, particularly in light of the brutal killings Hamas have perpetrated on over 1200 innocents. We need to recall the heinous acts committed by Hamas on October 7th, which serve as a clear reminder that we are involved in more than just a territorial conflict. This is a battle for our own existence against ideologies that fundamentally reject our right to live. This war is encapsulating a profound ideological battle. Hamas's ambitions are rooted in the jihadist ideology of the Muslim Brotherhood. If the dispute solely revolved around land, it might have been addressed decades, ago. However, it continues to exist because Islamist groups cannot tolerate the presence of a democratic, Jewish state alongside them. Their hostility stems from their rejection of Israel's legitimacy beyond the scope of Sharia law, apprehension that Israel's democratic framework may undermine their autocratic regimes founded on oppression and the deprivation of freedom, and ingrained antisemitism as evidenced in the Hamas charter. Continuing to depend on obsolete analyses only prolongs this tragedy, placing the burden of defending our right to live in an and plagued by ongoing terrorist attacks on our young people. This conflict necessitates an approach that surpasses oversimplified interpretations, acknowledging its complex realities. It is imperative to transition towards a discourse that genuinely respects human intellect and, in particular, the dignity of the remaining 134 hostages held by Hamas, including a one-year-old infant. #Hamas #Israel #Geopolitics #Terrorism #Palestine

Yesterday, AJC released its 2023 State of Antisemitism Report. The annual report examines the way Jews and the general public experience and understand antisemitism. The results are startling - here are a couple of top findings: ❌ 63% of American Jews say the status of Jews in the U.S. is less secure compared to one year ago. ❌ 78% of American Jews who heard about the Hamas terrorist attacks in Israel say the attacks made them feel less safe as a Jewish person in the U.S. ❌ 46% of American Jews say they altered their behavior out of fear of antisemitism in 2023. Please take a few minutes to read the full report here: https://lnkd.in/dJ7tnfhs

The first time I ever set foot on #German soil, over seventy years had passed since the parents and grandparents of my wonderful hosts in Berlin murdered my own people during the #holocaust . #Terrorism cannot be defeated by talking to terrorists and certainly not letting them #lead the #war. On the other hand, it is not possible to defeat terrorists without assistance from the #international #community. World War II ended only when the international community intervened. In 2024, the global community faces an imperative #responsibility to address and prevent acts of terrorism against #Jewish individuals and communities in the world and in Israel. Such acts not only mark a direct attack on the values of #democracy, but also serve as a stark reminder of the darker aspects of #human #history that we must eradicate. #Together . International cooperation is essential, not only in terms of intelligence sharing and law enforcement, but also in cultural and educational exchanges that can reduce prejudice and misconceptions. And yes, also with military aid that will reduce our need for a desperate defense of the #right to #life. In addition, the rise of online #platforms has made it easier to spread #hate #speech and extremist ideologies. It is imperative that #governments and #technology companies work more closely together to monitor and regulate content that may incite violence and hatred. The responsibility to prevent terrorism against Jews, or any other group, is not only a matter of individual countries but of humanity as a whole. We must collectively step up our efforts to create a world where respect for life and human dignity can prevail over the baser instincts of hatred and discrimination. And only this German boy, who came out of this picture of the end of the war, taken in the #Holocaust #Museum in #Berlin, forces us to continue to #believe that it is possible. Together #PriveIT #DPOaaS Holocaust Educational Trust Holocaust Museum LA Holocaust Museum Houston Next Generations of Holocaust Survivors

I want people to think and use their critical thinking skills when it comes to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, the conflict between Hamas, a terrorist organization, hell-bent on eliminating the Jewish state of Israel. I think we need to start any discussion off with what defines a home: ancestral, land, or the physical place one has inhabited for generations? I am not going to develop this discussion for anyone who reads my posts I will leave it up to thinking, rational individuals to deal with this question of who owns what and what rights they claim they have to what defines their home Once we have had that discussion, we can begin to unpack some of the hot button issues that seem to be driving the rhetoric spinning into a bloody black hole around the Palestinians in Gaza; both Hamas supporters and ordinary Palestinians, trying to live a life and Israel, who were attacked on October 7, 2023 where in the civilian population, was brutally attacked by a carefully, financed and organized group of Hamas and Jihadi terrorist, whose soul, ambition in life, appears to be the annihilation of their neighbors, the Jewish state of Israel. I am a person who deals in history and facts, the statements I am making here are based on facts and logic. I do not in any way see Hamas or Jihadists as freedom fighters in a struggle for an independent Palestinian state, which I am all for and have been from the beginning of this conflict. Their Objective from the beginning has not been for a peaceful coexistence with their neighbor. That is a fact, and it is stated in their constitution. Their current Hamas leaders are vent, seeking patriarch, who ambition in life besides securing as much money as possible for themselves from the funds that have been given to them to build a viable Palestinian state, are two eradicate the Jewish state. Given the circumstances, those people who are arguing for a cease-fire, and for peace, in any cost, simply our not being realistic. In the United States had an implacable enemy, who was constantly disrupting the normal course of our ordinary life and creating chaos in our country. What do you think we would do about it? After 911 and the attack we endured. We show the world how we would address such an unprecedented and murderous attack against our country. I don’t have to explain what our government did or why it did it. By the same token, I will leave it up to all the humanist dancing on the head of a pin, who do not, and are not living in or participating in defending Israel’s right to exist, which, essentially were it not for Hamas be necessary, to explain, or defend. I will only ask that you examine the vocabularies applied to Hamas and Israel by both sides in the current war and the outside players. Think of it as a chess board full of pawns. Ask yourselves about the various pieces in this bloody game of geopolitics and who gains, what they gain by supplying money and munitions to the warring armies.

My heart is breaking for my Israeli friends and colleagues today. They are calling this the bloodiest day in Israel since the 1973 Yom Kippur war. Like then, we will examine the indications and warnings that were missed leading up to the attack. Analysis of the Yom Kippur war showed it wasn’t a failure to collect intelligence, but a failure to imagine, a failure to overcome cognitive biases. What do we ignore when we look at American security? International security? What will it cost? https://lnkd.in/g6hyEM6Y

6 days ago I did "Shooting the Breeze" with Lady Liberty. I joined a good friend if mine Daniel Lewkovitz to discuss the war in Palestine and Israel. (We sit on either side of this war) I was born in Lebanon. My early years living through the civil war, plays a huge part in my stance today. I unabashedly call for a ceasefire. Why? Because I remember how scared and fearful I was. I remember driving past burnt out school buses after an explosion. I remember the stories of death and missing loved ones. I know the war propoganda machine well. I know how successful it is in distracting (Is anyone focused on whats happening in the West Bank?), by fuelling a divide narrative so successful, that both sides feel justified calling for death of the other. I know that those calls do nothing to help innocent and ease the suffering of those on the ground. My experiences are no where near as bad what these poor innocent children are facing today. We are the adults in the room. We are supposed to call for calm and peace. The continuing bombardment of Palestine is doing nothing except killing more and more people and driving more and more division. Its not bringing hostages home. This is not the Jewish populations fault either. I understand their fear too. I remember the Cronulla riots and watching Arab woman being shoved around and attacked and I was scared and I was in Victoria. Of course the Jewish population here is feeling it too. What we cannot do, is attack one another. There is enough war and hate in the world. The media needs to stop focusing on the few idiots that spew hate and Focus on the victims. Focus on a solution. Focus on the messages of hope, freedom and peace and shame these governments into a ceasefire. If anyone actually thinks that Israel can remove Hamas they are completely ignorant. If anyone believes that Hamas will get rid of Israel they are living in la la land. We need to go back to the table. We need to go back to a two state solution. We need peace. Over 10,000 civilians have died. These are human beings. Enough is Enough. You will not #bringthemhome by blanket attacks. You need to allow the Palestinian people to elect a government that is brought to the world stage as an equal. One that truley represents their interests and is focused on two state solution. The only way to do that is to empower them not drive them to desperation. #palestine #israel #israelpalestinewar https://lnkd.in/gB8NS2hw