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Following Hamas’ attack on Oct. 7, 2023, nations around the world pledged aid and support for the people of Israel. But global support rapidly dwindled as Israeli bombs rained down on Gaza and the civilian death toll climbed higher and higher. Today, Israel stands accused of genocide, and its leader, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, may be indicted for crimes against humanity.
Watch the video above as Straight Arrow News contributor Ruben Navarrette defends Israel’s behavior and argues that charges of genocide and crimes against humanity from the global community are just new forms of antisemitism.
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The following is an excerpt of the above video:
Meanwhile, in the United States, the House of Representatives and the Senate are working on bipartisan bills condemning antisemitism and seeking to combat it on high school and college campuses. The bills would broaden the definition of antisemitism that the Department of Education uses to enforce anti-discrimination laws. The House passed its bill by a wide margin.
There is controversy, of course. This is Washington after all. The bills broaden the definition of antisemitism to include the “targeting of the State of Israel” conceived as a Jewish collectivity. Some Americans and a number of lawmakers maintain that criticizing Israel is not in and of itself antisemitic. Other critics say that the change would encourage censorship of free speech on college and university campuses.
My view is that criticizing Israel is not automatically antisemitic, but challenging the right of Israel to exist most certainly is. With regard to protesters, my view, and the courts back me up on this, is that challenging U.S. policy toward Israel is protected speech. But insulting, harassing or threatening Jewish students is not. But let’s not get so tangled up in the controversy that we lose sight of the common sense.
The House bill is titled “The Antisemitism Awareness Act.” That’s perfect. Antisemitism is occurring still now, as before, and apparently always, and Americans need to be aware of it and do whatever we can to fight it. Simple as that.
