Understanding the full extent of such atrocities often takes time. We saw this following the attacks of September 11, the bombings in Madrid and London, and the massacre in Christchurch. People usually need weeks, if not months, to process the enormity of such events.
However, in the aftermath of the massacre in Israel, political reactions were swift and, notably, lacked depth of compassion.
Only hours after the violence, Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta called for “restraint from all parties in the region,” yet she did not acknowledge the victims directly. Compare this, for example, with her immediate expression of sadness following the earthquake in Nepal last weekend.
Why is there such an apparent lack of empathy when the victims are Jews?
United Nations Secretary General António Guterres delivered a clue. Only a few days after the attack, Guterres said that the events “did not happen in a vacuum.”
Though technically true, this statement can be interpreted to suggest a broader context may partially explain, perhaps even justify, the violence.
In this way, part of the blame is implicitly assigned to the victims. And as such, this rhetorical figure resembles classic antisemitic narratives which hold the Jews accountable for their own persecution.
Responses to the events of October 7 have varied, with some focusing on Hamas’ aggressive stance and refusal to cease hostilities, while others have criticised Israel for its military response.
Considering Hamas’ ongoing threats and actions, the criticism levelled at Israel’s response comes close to a denial of Israel’s right to self-defence – or indeed, its right to exist.
Disturbingly, the aftermath has also seen a rise in attacks on Jewish people and symbols worldwide, independent of their connection to the state of Israel.
Jewish-owned businesses, homes, and places of worship have been targeted solely based on religious identity.
None of these institutions have anything to do with the state of Israel. They were attacked purely because they were Jewish. That is what we usually call antisemitism.
The resurgence of this ancient scourge, as evidenced by these attacks, is alarming. It compels us to remember the catastrophic consequences of unchecked hatred.
The world has seen what evil antisemitism caused in the Holocaust. Never again is now.
In our podcast, Oliver Hartwich interviewed Israel’s Ambassador to New Zealand, Ran Yaakoby, on Hamas’ attacks and the global rise of antisemitism.
Dr Oliver Hartwich is the Executive Director of The New Zealand Initiative think tank. This article was first published HERE.
Only hours after the violence, Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta called for “restraint from all parties in the region,” yet she did not acknowledge the victims directly. Compare this, for example, with her immediate expression of sadness following the earthquake in Nepal last weekend.
Why is there such an apparent lack of empathy when the victims are Jews?
United Nations Secretary General António Guterres delivered a clue. Only a few days after the attack, Guterres said that the events “did not happen in a vacuum.”
Though technically true, this statement can be interpreted to suggest a broader context may partially explain, perhaps even justify, the violence.
In this way, part of the blame is implicitly assigned to the victims. And as such, this rhetorical figure resembles classic antisemitic narratives which hold the Jews accountable for their own persecution.
Responses to the events of October 7 have varied, with some focusing on Hamas’ aggressive stance and refusal to cease hostilities, while others have criticised Israel for its military response.
Considering Hamas’ ongoing threats and actions, the criticism levelled at Israel’s response comes close to a denial of Israel’s right to self-defence – or indeed, its right to exist.
Disturbingly, the aftermath has also seen a rise in attacks on Jewish people and symbols worldwide, independent of their connection to the state of Israel.
Jewish-owned businesses, homes, and places of worship have been targeted solely based on religious identity.
None of these institutions have anything to do with the state of Israel. They were attacked purely because they were Jewish. That is what we usually call antisemitism.
The resurgence of this ancient scourge, as evidenced by these attacks, is alarming. It compels us to remember the catastrophic consequences of unchecked hatred.
The world has seen what evil antisemitism caused in the Holocaust. Never again is now.
In our podcast, Oliver Hartwich interviewed Israel’s Ambassador to New Zealand, Ran Yaakoby, on Hamas’ attacks and the global rise of antisemitism.
Dr Oliver Hartwich is the Executive Director of The New Zealand Initiative think tank. This article was first published HERE.
3 comments:
Hamas need to be destroyed. They asked for this and put their headquarters under hospitals and use ambulances to transport thenselves. It is hamas that is killing their own people, not israel. Absolute pure evil. I hope israel blast them to oblivion.
A small correction. Hamas headquarters is actually in Qatar, but it's instructions and funding come from Iran.
Israel may look in that direction before too long.
As my Beloved said to me after "the worm turned" on Israel not long after 7
October..."it's only wrong when Israel does it." The fact that countries like China and even Russia have the brass neck to talk about "war crimes", human rights, international law and demand an immediate "ceasefire" is jaw-dropping. Our own MPs such as Chloe Swarbrick et al chanting "from the river to the sea...etc" is hate speech, anti-Semitic, and is the clarion cry for Israel and its Jewish populus to be wiped off the face of the world. So Ms Swarbrick wouldnt have minded one of her family being carted off in a blood-splattered frenzy to an unknown fate in the bowels of Gaza? I doubt it. . Why are there no consequences? In Sydney they chanted "Gas the Jews". One wonders if we are really only a hair's breadth away from anarchy. Wherever I stand, I stand with Israel. Unfortunately I cannot express this sentiment out loud, even in NZ, given the violent ravings of pro-Palestinian supporters. R.I.P. Free Speech.
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