That Was Then, This Is Now
From 1974, I recollect coming home one day to a frontpage headline: an Israeli attack killing three Palestinians. Three terrorists massacred 28 Israelis. Headlines. Content. Context. Or am I confused with another day, another terrorist attack on Israel, and another headline misrepresenting the incident?
In 1979, Israel, I was studying abroad. My Israeli roommate was a Hebrew teacher. Her students, primarily Christians, foreigners in Israel for extended stays. The day after Israel Independence Day, she said her German students were shocked by what they observed. They couldn’t believe they saw so little drinking on Independence Day. Nobody got drunk. I assure you, in 2026, Israelis drink.
In 1991, a young professional working for the New Israel Fund, I attended a meeting with a grantee, fledgling organization, B’Tselem – The Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories. Its Jewish director and Palestinian field worker attended too. Naively, I was possessed by the idea, and not alone, that this NGO would achieve its purpose. Violations of Palestinians’ human rights would be investigated and result in change. B’Tselem would become irrelevant. Certainly, I didn’t believe Israeli soldiers, or Jewish settlers, commited sexual crimes. I understood claims of human rights violations require verification. I understood Israeli law reflected British mandate laws regarding house demolitions. I understood tensions between Israeli perception of security and Palestinians’ freedoms. Verification essential to disproving fabrications. I dared ask: are there claims of Israeli soldiers raping Palestinians? No such thing, I recall being told, though not something to be publicized either, lest it provoke false claims.
Intruding thought: abuses met with abuses reported in 1948 disclosed in recent years. Time. Context. Evolving narrative.
In 2024, months after October 7, new perceptions. Meeting an Israeli donor and member of Parents Circle – Families Forum, where I worked. He lives in Europe, visits Israel frequently, volunteers in the West Bank protecting Palestinians from Jewish settlers. I found myself saying, shudderingly uttering that if I expect the world to believe the atrocities of October 7 – as if Hamas documentation of that day on body cameras is questionable – I can’t categorically discard reports that Israeli soldiers ra-a-a-ped Palestinians. The word, choked, by tears I fought. Because I “know” Jews, Israelis, don’t do such things. But I know these things occur in all societies. Facing we are no exception. But doesn’t Israel hold itself to a different standard?
Since then, the Sde Teiman case precludes further deluding myself. I question the credibility of parts of Nicholas Kristoff’s opinion column, “The Silence that Meets the Rape of Palestinians,” published in the New York Times earlier this week. Arguments regarding publication timing and discussion of anonymity behind accounts don’t need my input.
When I told Haim about the article, he responded with disbelief, immediately adding that if it’s true, they must be harshly punished. Intruding thought: Sde Teiman. Moments later, we spoke about the article, knowing it required further investigation.
The day after its publication, the New York Times published Isabel Kirshner’s report, “Israeli Report Examines Sexual Violence During and After Hamas Led Attack.” As I type: A tingle. Cringing, pain. Identifying. Fear. Israeli journalist, Anat Saragusti, pointedly concludes content of the two pieces: no comparisons, just that human horror and abuse of human beings is horrific.
Israel cannot place itself above investigating and punishing Israelis abusing Palestinians.
It’s legitimate to claim agreements placing plots of land under Palestinian rather than Israeli jurisdiction were negligent. Arguable that sites with historic significance should rightfully be under Israel’s control. Though arguably expectations for peace justify concessions. It arbitrarily came to my attention that on May 6, 2026, MK Sharenn Haskel called for reversing the injustice placing King Solomon’s Pools under Palestinian jurisdiction. Now there’s an issue. Why let investigating claims of sexual abuse war crimes by Israelis distract us!
Drones threaten northern Israel incessantly. The US ceasefire agreement with Iran and commitment to Trump binds Israel to minimal retaliation. Yet, foreign media report on extensive Israeli attacks in Lebanon?
Then and now – changed and unchanged standards.
Harriet Gimpel, May 16, 2026
