Do Jews Deserve a Safe Haven?

11/13/23

Like many, I’ve been riveted to the news about the war between Israel and Hamas, and I’ve watched with disbelief, sadness, and despair both (a) what’s going on and (b) the public’s response to it. Most depressing is the fact that peace anytime soon seems out of reach — and it doesn’t appear to be any more likely even with an extended horizon. Given the barbarism of the October 7 debacle, observers should have no illusion as to Hamas’s goal of indiscriminately killing Jews and eliminating the state of Israel. To ask/demand that Israel not defend itself against that threat would impose a constraint on Israel that would be unthinkable for literally any other country on earth.

Of course Israel has responded; and the citizens of Gaza are suffering mightily under that response. With mounting casualties and destruction in Gaza, public opinion has been shifting against Israel, and demands for Israel to declare a ceasefire have been growing. Unfortunately, a ceasefire in and of itself with no other conditions imposed won’t resolve the threat that Israel faces. That threat remains as long has Hamas stays in control; and while Israel is under rising pressure to halt its efforts to defend itself, where are the calls for Hamas to release the hostages?

With Hamas remaining in place, Israel is vulnerable to a repeat of October 7. Israel can’t…