Defending Israel: No Apologies for Success

Why Is Israel Held to a Different Standard? A Closer Look at Democracy, Conflict, and Global Hypocrisy

Imagine living in a country where democracy is not just an ideal, but a lived reality. Where people of all ethnicities, religions, and genders vote freely every four years. Where freedom of speech is protected by law, and innovation drives the economy. Where the land, once a barren desert, now flourishes with modern cities, agriculture, technology, and culture.

This is the story of Israel.

From the outside, Israel shares much in common with other Western democracies like the Netherlands, France, or Belgium. These countries too fought for their survival during war, rebuilt themselves, and now enjoy peace and prosperity. Yet there is a stark difference: no other democratic country faces such relentless international scrutiny or is subject to the same obsessive criticism and political interference as Israel.

A History of Defense, Not Aggression

Since its founding in 1948, Israel has been forced to defend itself repeatedly from neighboring countries that refused to accept its existence. The wars of 1948, 1967, and 1973 were not launched by Israel, but against it. And yet, after every defensive war, wars that would have wiped out any other small country, Israel extended its hand in peace.

Contrast that with other regional conflicts:

• The Western Sahara, occupied by Morocco since the 1970s. Little international pressure.

• Turkey’s invasion of Cyprus in 1974. The northern part remains occupied, yet sanctions are rare.

• China’s control of Tibet, and its policies in Xinjiang. No boycotts.

• Syria, where a civil war has killed hundreds of thousands. The world largely turned a blind eye.

• Yemen, where Houthi militias launch missiles at Saudi Arabia and Israel, and yet their aggression receives far less media coverage than Israel’s responses.

In each of these examples, foreign powers tread lightly, often for geopolitical reasons. But when it comes to Israel, a democratic country defending its citizens from terror groups like Hamas, Hezbollah, or attacks from Iran-backed forces in Yemen, the global tone shifts. Suddenly, boycotts, divestments, and condemnations emerge, not against the attackers, but the defender.

The Double Standard Is Real

Critics say their opposition is about human rights or international law. But why are Israeli food, art, and culture targeted, while Israel’s technology, medical innovation, and security intelligence are eagerly embraced? Why is no other country’s domestic policy subject to such micromanagement by the EU or the UN?

One cannot help but ask: Is this rooted in concern, or in something more sinister?

When nearly 200 global territorial disputes exist and only one—Israel—is consistently on front-page news, the issue may no longer be political, but personal. It’s not unfair to ask whether antisemitism is still influencing world opinion, dressed now in political clothing.

Leadership, Narcissism, and Global Meddling

There’s also a psychological aspect to consider. Studies have shown that world leaders, across history, often exhibit narcissistic traits: a thirst for control, an inflated sense of moral superiority, and a need for validation. From Hitler and Stalin to modern figures like Kim Jong-un or even democratic leaders such as Trump, this pattern repeats.

Could it be that modern leaders—many of whom seek validation as “peacemakers”—can’t accept that a tiny country like Israel does not need their permission or moral approval to exist and defend itself?

Perhaps they feel threatened by a state that thrives without their intervention. A country that leads in innovation, medicine, agriculture, and security, despite decades of conflict and isolation.

Israel Doesn’t Need Saving—It Needs Respect

The truth is, Israel does not seek conflict. It seeks peace. But it also refuses to be passive in the face of existential threats. Just like any other nation, Israel has the right—and the duty—to defend its citizens.

The real question isn’t what Israel is doing wrong, but why the world remains largely silent about nations where:

• Women are treated as property.

• Journalists are imprisoned.

• Religious minorities are slaughtered.

• Terror groups operate as governments.

Why does the democratic world condemn Israel, a country where Arabs sit in the Knesset, LGBTQ+ people serve openly in the military, and the press is free?

Conclusion: Focus on Facts, Not Politics

This isn’t a call for blind support of Israel or any government. Criticism is part of democracy. But criticism must be fair. It must be contextual. And it must be consistent.

If the global community truly values democracy, human rights, and peace, then it must hold every country to the same standard. Otherwise, it becomes clear: the problem isn’t what Israel does, it’s that Israel dares to succeed.

And that’s a double standard the world can no longer afford.