And right now, social media is flooded with anti-war, anti-Israel sentiment.
People are quick to name, blame, and shame — without thought or critical thinking.
Within minutes of Israel’s surgical operation on Iranian military and nuclear installations on 13th of June 2025, Instagram influencers were already shouting, “Ceasefire now!”
But what if they’re missing crucial context?
What if, when one side is actively pledging to wipe your country off the map, dismantling their military and nuclear capabilities isn’t an act of war — but a necessary act of survival?
As a civilisation, we consume violence and war for entertainment — in movies, video games, and television. We cheer for the hero who must slay enemies to “save the world.”
The villain wants destruction; the good guys must destroy him first.
No one questions the narrative when it’s fiction.
But what about in real life?
History shows nations have gone to war to protect — or promote — their way of life. Conquest, greed, revenge, power, and control often overshadowed justice and freedom.
Yet there are moments in history — rare, but real — when war isn’t about domination.
It’s about survival.
About literally defending a nation’s existence.
That’s what I believe we are witnessing now.
I used to reject war.
I didn’t like the idea of military action at all.
I marched in anti-war protests.
I worked in politics and media, resisting conservative and capitalist forces that profit from conflict. I was a proud left-wing advocate.
Then October 7 happened.
And it changed me — completely.
I was stunned awake to the real threat of terrorism.
I saw evil, pure and unfiltered.
Young men, snarling and smirking, massacring whoever they could — proudly live-streaming their brutality on Hamas Telegram channels via body cams.
Screaming “Allahu Akbar” (God is the Greatest) as they executed innocent civilians.
What happened to Israeli civilians that day — women, children, the elderly — was savage. Some of the victims were only identifiable by their dental records. It looked and felt like a 6th-century horror.
I cried daily for months, wincing at the horror I saw and the grief I felt.
As a longtime DJ and music industry professional, the Nova Music Festival massacre hit especially hard. If our kids had been in Israel, they could have been there. The stories from that day are devastating — survival hinged on split-second decisions about which direction to run or where to hide.
The psychological trauma still lingers — especially with hostages still trapped in tunnels, used as bargaining chips and political pawns in a war they did not start and did not want, enduring God-only-knows what conditions. Families torn between hope and despair.
“Protecting your family” is no longer an abstract slogan.
It’s a visceral, urgent, terrifying necessity.
The protests that followed October 7 weren’t spontaneous.
Evidence shows they were pre-planned.
Even before Israel could bury its dead, mass-produced placards reading “Free Palestine” and “From the River to the Sea” appeared — professionally printed, strategically distributed.
This was before Israel had even retaliated. Why does no one question that?
On the steps of the Sydney Opera House, here in Australia, people chanted “Gas the Jews” — with glee.
Could it be that something far more sinister was at play? That there was, in fact, a coordinated plan to launch global protests — across elite universities and major cities — directly after the October 7 massacre?
– An atrocity of this magnitude, twisted into a global campaign of hate against Jews?
They called it “resistance.” They called it “justified.”
But when chants like “From the River to the Sea”—a slogan that calls for the erasure of Israel—began echoing through the streets, often by those who didn’t even know which river or sea it referred to, and violent protests erupted across the world, it became clear: this was no longer about ideological disagreement.
It was sheer, unmasked hatred — wrapped in a keffiyeh.
When in history have the victims of a massacre been blamed so aggressively? The level of dehumanisation toward Jews and the Jewish state has been staggering.
Many say, “I’m not anti-Jewish, I’m just anti-Zionist.”
But here’s the truth: there is no real difference.
Zionism simply means the belief that Jewish people have the right to self-determination in their ancestral homeland.
For the 9 million people living in Israel — and the millions more around the world who see Israel as a vital safe haven for Jews — this belief is core to their identity.
Hating them for that, and using “anti-Zionism” as a cover for hostility, is not political critique — it’s outright bigotry. It’s hatred, dehumanisation, and racism against Jewish people and culture.
Follow the money. It gets even more disturbing.
Take Greta Thunberg’s Gaza flotilla, which sparked a global media frenzy and was allegedly sponsored by Zaher Birawi — a known Hamas operative. His organisation has been designated a terrorist group by Israel since 2021, and he was seen live-streaming the flotilla’s departure from Sicily. In a video that went viral before the vessel was intercepted, Greta claimed she had been “kidnapped” by Israeli forces. In reality, the boat was intercepted in accordance with international maritime law, as would be expected with any unauthorized entry into sovereign waters. The activists were offered sandwiches and safe passage home — yet the false claim of kidnapping and ensuing media hysteria spread rapidly across mainstream outlets and influencer pages, blurring the line between truth and performative activism.
The destructive and violent ongoing protests on U.S. and U.K. college campuses — have allegedly been sponsored by groups with alleged ties to terror-affiliated networks.
According to the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), Qatari influence — especially in higher education — is growing. Since 2021, Qatar has donated over $6.25 million to U.S. universities, making it one of the top five foreign funders of American academia.
The true amount may be even higher, as Qatar is known for covering its tracks.
These donations raise concerns about ideological infiltration — with some alleging they contribute to the rise of antisemitism on campuses and pressure universities to prioritise donor interests over academic integrity.
Qatar is accused of playing both sides — spreading hostile ideologies while maintaining diplomatic ties in the West. Its state-owned media outlet, Al Jazeera, plays a key role in amplifying propaganda aligned with Qatari interests.
“UN Watch” exposes the Hypocrisy.
“UN Watch” is a non-governmental organisation monitoring the UN’s performance and promoting universal human rights. In an eye-opening interview, its frontman Hillel Neuer explores how the UN became a tool for tyrants and a puppet for dictators.
He recalls the UN’s noble post-WWII origins — with Eleanor Roosevelt chairing the Human Rights Commission. But decades of strategic infiltration by authoritarian regimes flipped that script.
“Dictatorships push hardest for influence because they need international legitimacy,” Neuer notes.
Now, countries like China, Cuba, Iran, and Eritrea sit on the Human Rights Council — turning it into a shield for tyranny rather than a beacon of justice.
Anti-Israel propaganda is slick. Strategic. Dangerous.
“Lawfare” — the weaponisation of international law against Israel — has been decades in the making. Natasha Hausdorff, barrister and expert on armed conflict and national security, explains how false accusations are being used as modern-day blood libel against the Jewish state. She is a brave and moral voice in a world full of hysterical blood liables.
“The allegations against Israel — such as claims of colonisation — echoed across universities and college campuses, are in fact being directed at Western liberal democracies as a whole. This is an attack on our very way of life.” — Natasha Hausdorff
This isn’t about polarisation. It’s about truth. And courage.
The bravery in Israel is palpable.
Young people rising to defend their families, communities, and homeland — with no hesitation.
And I can’t help but wonder: how many of my progressive Western peers — shouting genocidal slogans from the comfort of colonised lands — would crumble under the same terror?
It’s a sobering thought.
Let’s talk about Iran.
Some call it “the head of the snake.”
There’s substantial evidence — confirmed and alleged — that Iran, with Qatari support, funds and arms Hamas (Gaza), Hezbollah (Lebanon), and the Houthis (Yemen), surrounding Israel with militant pressure.
But it goes deeper than funding.
White, Western, progressive “peace activists” are being misled.
These jihadist movements are interconnected. Complex. But one thing is clear: they’re telling us exactly what they intend to do.
Iran’s Supreme Leader, and other leaders within the Radical Islamist world have openly and repeatedly called for the destruction of Israel and its people.
If they gain nuclear capabilities, cities may vanish.
Were it not for Israel’s Iron Dome, intelligence networks, and military readiness, it would already be rubble. Thousands of rockets have been fired indiscriminately at civilians in the last two years alone.
Disarming Iran’s nuclear ambitions is not only strategic — it’s a moral necessity.
Too many people are uninformed. Or worse — misinformed.
Instead of studying history or policy, they parrot headlines and influencers.
Iran's regime spreads disinformation using fake news, bot accounts, and AI-generated content to manipulate global opinion and destabilise democracies — especially targeting young progressives.
After Mahsa Amini’s murder by Iran’s morality police, protests erupted. The regime’s response? Internet blackouts, repression, and a flood of pro-regime propaganda on social media.
This is not resistance.
It’s authoritarian manipulation.
I’ve seen friends fall under the spell of anti-Israel propaganda — good-hearted people parroting narratives that shut down nuance, dialogue, and empathy.
What we get instead: Virtue signalling. Rage. Performance. Hypocrisy.
Weaponised rhetoric that mirrors the language of jihadist regimes.
Perspective matters. So does context.
Islam, through empire and conquest, now spans 57 nations.
Judaism — one of the world’s oldest continuous cultures — has one tiny homeland. A land it miraculously reclaimed. And it is under constant existential threat.
If you’ve been chanting “From the river to the sea,” know this: it means wiping Israel off the map.
Yet Israel persists — not to conquer, but to survive.
To protect Jews — and also Muslims, Christians, Druze, and Arabs — who live there in religious and cultural freedom.
And in Western culture, we glorify the warrior.
In film. In fashion. On social media.
But when it comes to being a warrior — standing up for something uncomfortable, complex, and raw — silence.
Afraid of losing followers.
Afraid of being disliked.
Afraid of discomfort.
Where are our warriors of truth?
Where are the humanitarians that care for all humanity not just one cause?
I have a personal connection to all of this.
I’m not Jewish.
But I was in a seven-year relationship with someone who is.
We have a child together.
That relationship gave me a living connection to Israel — its people, its soul, its heartbeat.
More than Shabbat dinners — it’s a rhythm. A sacred essence.
It’s ancient songs whispering: Choose life. Choose peace. Choose family.
And yes — I feel deeply for innocent Palestinians.
For every life lost. For every child who suffers.
But glorifying one side’s pain while denying the other’s will not bring peace.
It only fuels more division, normalises hatred, and perpetuates violence — both physical and psychological.
There is immense pain in the region, and many Palestinians do not want to live under Hamas. But speaking out or resisting often means torture — or death.
Hamas governs Gaza.
It was elected in 2006 after Israel's full withdrawal from the territory in 2005.
Once in power, Hamas brutally eliminated its opposition, solidifying its rule through violence and fear.
Since then, dissent has been silenced, and control maintained through intimidation.
My hope for Gaza:
That its people choose to love their children more than they hate Israel.
That they rise — not in rage, but in courage.
That they build schools, not tunnels. Futures, not fear.
Let Gaza rebuild.
Let the hostages come home.
Let the people breathe again.
My hope for Iran:
That the Islamic Republic regime is dismantled.
(Have you seen Iran before 1979? It was vibrant, free, beautiful.)
That women walk uncovered.
That people speak freely. Dream freely. Live freely.
That a new generation rises — one that chooses peace, dignity, and liberty.
So I leave you with these questions:
Where would the Middle East be without radicalism — without jihadist ideology and the hunger for political and religious conquest?
It’s a vast and complex question, full of nuance.
But imagine it:
A region not torn apart… but rising.
This isn’t just a political question.
It’s generational.
It’s moral.
It matters.
And the future may depend on who has the courage to ask it — and answer it — out loud.
Rire Norman is a New Zealander, who now lives in Australia, where she studied journalism, built a career in the music industry, and expanded her work into grassroots politics.
6 comments:
>"Zionism simply means the belief that Jewish people have the right to self-determination in their ancestral homeland."
The crux of the matter is what is meant by 'ancestral homeland'. Zionism believes this to be the combined borders of the Kingdoms of Israel and Judea some 3 millennia ago. But this is way beyond the borders of the State of Israel established in 1948. Hence the International Court of Justice has held that settlements built outside the 1948 borders are in violation of international law.
>"In reality, the boat was intercepted in accordance with international maritime law, as would be expected with any unauthorized entry into sovereign waters."
Except that the vessel was way outside territorial waters when it was boarded. This is made allowance for in international law under the 'hot pursuit' clauses but those don't apply here. The Israelis should have waited until the vessel was at least in the contiguous zone (12-24 nautical miles out).
I am generally in agreement with the writer of this piece, but it's necessary for one's credibility to pay attention to details.
"Judaism — one of the world’s oldest continuous cultures — has one tiny homeland. A land it miraculously reclaimed. And it is under constant existential threat."
Jews have moved into the area and "reclaimed" the land of someone else, who have lived there in greater numbers and more continuously than the Jews.
That's the heart of the issue and the reason for the inevitable blowback from the native Arabs.
The Jews' alternative explanation is irrational hatred, which is a completely delusional proposition but it allows them to avoid addressing the reality and the causes which I stated above. This Jewish self-delusion (whether conscious or not) is how they justify their actions and account for the reaction of the Arabs.
I'd respect the Jews a lot more if they just admitted that they want someone else's land because it benefits the Jews to have it, and that they're happy to take it by whatever force is necessary. That is open and honest, and doesn't require moralising and sophistry to sustain.
Israel is a nuclear armed state. Iran is not a nuclear armed state. Israel has a population of about nine million people. Iran has a population of about ninety million people. How does a nuclear armed state of nine million people militarily defeat a non-nuclear armed country of ninety million people? They use nukes.
While Iran was adhering to the NNPT terms with the UN and the IAEA, Israel is nuclear armed and refused cooperation with the IAEA. A large number of Iranian nuclear scientists were murdered in cold blood in their beds made targets due to the IAEA giving Israel their physical locations. As a result, Iran has announced the withdrawal from the terms of the NNPT. In addition, the UN, the EU and the IAEA said nothing about a nuclear state attacking a non-nuclear state which was in compliance with the NNPT and cooperating with the IAEA.
With assistance and material support from the United States, France, Jordan and Saudi Arabia, Israel launched an illegal and unprovoked attack on Iran on the night of June 12-13th. Initial results showed an apparent over whelming tactical victory on the part of the aggressors. For a day or so, it appeared that Israel had accomplished the both illegal and impossible task of destroying the government of Iran. Then Iran filled in the shoes of the military leaders who had been murdered in their beds. Iran began to lob a mixture of inexpensive suicide drones designed to be targets for the far more expensive anti-aircraft missiles and ballistic rockets and missiles designed to destroy. In the next ten days Iran managed to close Israel’s primary civilian air field, did substantial damage to Israel’s largest refinery along with a major hit on other important economic and political structures. The damage to Israel will be in the tens of billions of dollars along with the realization that their famed Iron Dome defense shield simply doesn’t work very well. After a dozen days of back-and-forth strikes, someone managed to force a ceasefire on Iran. Israel of course was begging for a cease fire as they were running out of anti-missile rockets and were essentially defenseless.
The War isn’t over. There is a leaky ceasefire in place while Israel gets the United States to replace as many anti-aircraft missiles as possible. Israel has a long history of violating ceasefires and then whine about how they are the victim. While Iran suffered a lot of damage and hundreds of people murdered, Iran is prepared to level the rest of Israel at the right time, using its advanced hypersonic missiles.
Like the war on Gaza and Lebanon and Syria and Yemen undertaken to pacify the ultra-insane religious fanatics of Israel the strike on Iran is just one more war to keep Bibi out of prison. All civilized people and the International Criminal Court call Netanyahu a war criminal. Israel is busy destroying the Zionist experiment and their own country.
As Jewish-American scholar Norman Finkelstein said, Israelis have only one right; to pack up their bags and leave Palestine.
Hmmm, what's your problem nasty Madame? Have you looked at the map of the middle east and seen what a tiny sliver the intelligent , civilised Jews have caused to flourish while all around them the followers of Mahomet are floundering. I'm not a Jew either, but I honour their history, courage and humanity when compared with their adversaries. Jewish history is so much richer and deeper than that of the nasty egotist who has had to personally behead people to secure their allegiance.
Israel, had nuclear weapons for a long time. They could have wiped Iran off they map if they chose to. They would only use nuclear weapons as a very last resort if it looked like Israel and all Jews were going to be killed which is the goal of Iran. A country that glorifies suicide bombers, funds terrorists, and who goal is to destroy Israel must no be allow a nuclear bomb.
With you all the way Chuck - but something awful is going down as we write - a frightful murderous missile on Tel Aviv, which someons else must have introduced to Iran, which they didnt have last week - ulp!
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