How the West legitimized terrorism

A sense of exhaustion and anger led to a long hiatus in my writing. I am speechless watching the global community justify the false narrative of apartheid, genocide, and human rights violations by Israel- while excusing terrorism. October 7 has long disappeared in the rearview mirror of a world community ally to terror. The worst culprits are the UN and its members of the Security Council. Unabashedly antisemitic, both historically and politically- redefining Hamas as resistance and Israel as a villain.

But I am not surprised because I am old enough to remember history. What is happening now is reminiscent of what happened in 1979 when Iran took 66 Americans hostage in Tehran. Under a weak Carter administration, it held these Americans prisoners for almost two years, releasing them on the eve of Ronald Reagan’s inauguration. Iran released the hostages not because of moral epiphanies but because it realized that Reagan was not Carter, a weak president at home and abroad. They knew that they could not “get away with it” any longer. However, this was the unfortunate beginning of the legitimacy of terrorist states.

The euphoria of getting the hostages back missed the opportunity to put Iran on notice and possibly change the radical landscape we see today. The future of Iran became apparent as the world watched Islamic radicalism take over the country, mainly terrorizing women through Sharia laws. But the world chose idle threats over significant action. Although still upset with Iran, oil became the catalyst for turning a blind eye, citing economic stability. However, as Iraq and Iran embarked on a long war threatening oil supplies, terrorism took the back burner of serious concern until 9/11. The Iraqi invasion of Kuwait threw the US and its allies into conflict in the region, protecting global oil assets. In the meantime, terrorism spread from Lebanon to Pakistan with relative ease. The end of the Cold War created an opportunistic vacuum in Afghanistan as Russia retreated, tired and defeated. A void quickly filled by the Taliban and Al-Qaida, operating practically unhindered until 9/11. A wake-up call two decades too late.

As the Taliban, Al-Qaida, Hezbollah, and Hamas rose to prominence, Israel was caught in the middle, experiencing a surge of terrorism at home and abroad. Turning over Gaza to the Palestinian Authorities did not do much to dampen the assaults against Israel. Gazans elected Hamas in favor of the Palestinian Authority, and the rest is history. However, global rhetoric put Israel as the sole responsible entity for peace in the Middle East. Israel was held to higher standards than the thugs attacking it—an attempt at self-righteousness by the global community. The push and shove for Israel to conform at its expense took its toll as terrorist attacks increased across the country. No matter how much Israel complied, the world was never satisfied. Israel was forced to “normalize” relationships with no other than Arafat, who, upon his death in 2004, was headlined by the German newspaper Der Spiegel with Der Terrorist mit dem Nobelpreis: The terrorist with the Nobel prize. Der Spiegel got it right. A terrorist who led the second Intifada against Israel and while shaking hands with Clinton refused his offer of a Palestinian state. A thug turned statesman and Nobel prize winner. If it weren’t so tragic, it would be hilarious.

October 7 broke the mold of hostage-taking because murder, rape, and pogrom-like terrorism preceded it. This begs some serious questions: in what world is it morally upright to allow murderers to set conditions for the release of hostages they have taken, tortured, and, in some cases, killed? How can logic and decency push for a deal that releases thousands of terrorists back into Israeli and Gazan society? An inadvertent blind eye to the restocking of Hamas inventories. Stupidity or deliberate?

The legitimizing of terrorism has been set. Once Hamas was given recognition as a political bargaining body, it was emboldened to continue to commit heinous acts because holding off long enough gets the media on its side with global immunity. Jews and Israelis are now in danger of violence without much recourse because Israel has been vilified and the terrorists elevated to victimhood. The released terrorists are given the same moral equity as the hostages. Hostages are now a bargaining chip courtesy of the global community and their disingenuous call for “peace”.

Ceasefire agreements give terrorists legitimacy. Hoods and guns may be replaced by cheap suits, but their murderous intentions do not waver. Their actions have been interpreted as morally upright and given political and social global asylum. In merely 15 months, terror was validated as a human rights issue. Supported by the likes of the UN Security Council and its overwhelming antisemite membership, Hamas is now a legitimate member of the global community. Regrettably, the UN is not the only culprit of disingenuity. Pope Francis, the head of the Catholic Church, has continually disparaged Israel and its “behavior” in Gaza while conveniently forgetting Hamas. Worse still, recently in several moments of reflection, the pontiff blamed both sides for the pain inflicted on Gazans, thus equating Israel with Hamas. Last week, Rome’s Chief Rabbi Ricardo Di Segni took exception to the pontiff’s remarks on the war in Gaza. Bringing to the forefront the disingenuous comments on Gaza, as the pontiff blamed Israel for its “shameful” activities. The Chief Rabbi pointed out other regional wars in the region which seem to escape the pope’s radar on “shame”. The pontiff seems to have selective indignation when it comes to human suffering.

The rapid spread of global anti-Israel and antisemitism flourished unabated. According to a recent report, by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), antisemitic attacks in the US rose by 140% in 2023. The legitimization of Hamas started on US campuses and the streets of major cities where pro-Palestinian protests soon morphed into open pro-Hamas support. Free speech was the excuse for the proliferation of antisemitism. Antisemitism has reached heights not seen since the 1930s. For clarity, ADL did not include pro-Palestinian demonstrations in numbers quoted in their report, which leads to the conclusion that the global increase of antisemitism was emboldened by public condemnation of Israel by the likes of the UN compelling historically antisemite countries like Ireland to follow suit.

Nebulous messaging from the Biden administration, often incoherent and confusing, did not help. The wavering back and forth on aid left Israel politically isolated by her once staunch ally. The global condemnation of Israel continued with warrants for the Israeli Prime Minister by the ICC, an organization fraught with antisemite bigotry, and ethical deficiency. An organization that should be labeled as a terrorist sympathizer.

Golda Meir once said: “We don’t thrive on military acts. We do them because we have to and thank God we are efficient.” (Vogue, 1969). Israel is held to high moral standards and condemned whereas its terrorist neighbors are elevated to victimhood. Terrorists are legitimized, and Israel is delegitimized. The Nazi-like antisemitism is not by chance. It was created by a world order, that has no problem shaking hands with the devil in a photo op at Israel’s expense. This latest handshake may prove to be lethal, as Israel’s right to exist and defend itself is questioned, leaving it vulnerable to another October 7. In the words of Golda Meir, the world should be put on notice that; “Those that perished in Hitler’s gas chambers were the last Jews to die without standing up to defend themselves.” Israel will continue to be resilient and those of us on its side will continue to condemn those who aim to destroy it.

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ADL. 2024. U.S. Antisemitic Incidents Soared 140 percent in 2023 – Breaking All Previous Records | ADL

McElwee, J. January 16, 2025. Rome’s chief rabbi criticizes Pope Francis over Israel remarks | Reuters

Von Floriam, H. November 11, 2024. Zum Tode Arafats: Der Terrorist mit dem Nobelpreis – DER SPIEGEL

Golda Meir. (2024). Golda Meir – Wikiquote

Golda Meir Quotes. (n.d.). TOP 25 QUOTES BY GOLDA MEIR (of 93) | A-Z Quotes