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Israel’s fight is America’s fight

Hamas will not hesitate to escalate its war on civilization and democracy.

IDF in Gaza
Israeli soldiers operating in the northern Gaza Strip, Nov. 11, 2023. Credit: IDF.
Dr. Joseph Frager is a lifelong activist and physician. He is chairman of Israel advocacy for the Rabbinical Alliance of America, chairman of the executive committee of American Friends of Ateret Cohanim and executive vice president of the Israel Heritage Foundation.

Israel is leading the fight against barbarism, terrorism and evil. Israel is in an existential battle but is also exposing the fault lines and fissures in society today.

The sheer depravity that Hamas unleashed on the world on Oct. 7 should be seen by all as wickedness and criminality. The murder of innocent civilians, the beheading of infants, the sexual violence against women, the kidnapping of the elderly and the public display of support for such actions are beyond the pale.

The fact that 72% of Arabs living in Judea, Samaria and Gaza surveyed from Nov. 22 to Dec. 2 approved of the Hamas massacre is an outrage. The poll had only a 4% margin of error. This means that such perverted and backward thinking is the norm. This is what Israel has to deal with in any of its attempts to make peace. That is why after 30 years since the Oslo Accords, no real peace has been achieved. That is why talk of a two-state solution is rubbish.

The riots and protests that have taken place in the U.S. in support of Hamas are shocking as well. America has declared Hamas a terrorist organization. To have airports blocked, libraries defaced and bridges closed by Hamas supporters is unacceptable and untenable. More violent disruptions are planned at airports as travelers return from the holidays and at Times Square during New Year’s celebrations. Wrist slap arrests are being made, but where are the water cannons and mounted police? New York should lead the way in preventing these illegal mob events. The apathy is inexcusable.

Unless Americans wake up to this horror, Hamas will not hesitate to escalate its war on civilization and democracy. Israel’s fight is America’s fight. It is the world’s fight. Civilization is at a crossroads. Either we stand up now or risk losing everything America represents to the free world.

The New York City mayor said that he is “grateful that Leqaa has been released this evening from ICE custody after more than a year in detention for speaking up for Palestinian rights.”
“I hope all the folks from Temple Israel know that we’re praying for them,” the U.S. vice president said. “We’re thinking about them.”
The co-author of the K-12 law told JNS that “this attempt to undermine crucial safety protections for Jewish children at a time when antisemitic hate and violence is rampant and rising is breathtaking.”
The measure has drawn opposition from civil-liberties groups, including the state’s ACLU.

Israel Airports Authority confirmed that the planes were empty and no injuries were reported.

The victims suffered light blast wounds and were listed in good condition at Beilinson Hospital.