The Deadly Naiveté of ‘Compassion’ for Our Enemies

Andrew Silow-Carroll’s recent JTA article highlights a group of Modern Orthodox and observant Jews attempting to shift the community’s conversation about the war in Gaza under an umbrella initiative called Smol Emuni (“Halachik Left”, in English). 

On the surface, their calls for “understanding the other side” and engaging with speakers critical of Israel might sound noble, but in reality, this approach is not just misguided—it is actively dangerous. It misunderstands the fundamental Jew-hatred at the core of Palestinian nationalism and, by advocating compassion for the enemy, directly enables the very violence that threatens Jews in Israel, New York, and across the world.

The Danger of Engaging with Israel’s Enemies

One of the most disturbing aspects of this movement is their willingness to give a platform to individuals like Rashid Khalidi and Hassan Jabarin—people who have long histories of anti-Israel activism and opposition to the very existence of a Jewish state. The excuse given is that engaging with these voices leads to a more “nuanced” perspective. But this is the same kind of naivety that allowed the Oslo Accords to happen—believing that if we just listen and empathize enough, our enemies will see our humanity and embrace peace.

History has proven otherwise. The Palestinian national movement is not about coexistence. It is not about borders or “justice.” It is about the complete destruction of Israel as a Jewish state. By giving these voices legitimacy, these well-meaning but dangerously misguided Jews are promoting the narrative that Israel is to blame for its own victimization. They are aiding and abetting those who seek to delegitimize our national existence.

The Root of Palestinian Nationalism: Jew-Hatred

There is a fundamental misunderstanding at play in this movement’s thinking: they assume that the Palestinian cause is based on a legitimate national struggle. It is not. The Palestinian identity was created solely to oppose the Jewish people’s return to their land. 

There was no “Palestinian people” before the third Jewish commonwealth of the Jewish people, Israel, was reborn in 1948, there was no call for the establishment of a Palestinian state between 1948-1967 when Judea & Samaria was occupied by Jordan and Gaza was occupied by Egypt. The massacre of Jews did not begin on Oct. 7th, 2023, but was always going on, like the massacres of 1929 and 1936, years before the Jewish state of Israel was even established. 

The leaders of this movement refuse to acknowledge this simple fact because it forces them to confront some uncomfortable truths that do not fit with their identities: there is no “partner for peace,” and there is a true hatred of all Jews behind the whole cause called Palestine. 

This explains why Jews are being attacked in the streets of New York City, Los Angeles, Toronto, on college campuses across the USA, even though they have nothing to do with Israel. 

This war is not about “occupation” or “settlements.” It is about our very existence as Jews. The mistaken belief that by “understanding” the Palestinian narrative we can bridge the gap, is a fatal delusion. 

Compassion for the Other Side = Support for Anti-Jewish Violence

These well-meaning Jews argue that their approach is about fostering compassion. But who, exactly, deserves compassion? The civilians in Gaza? The very same civilians who took part in the Oct. 7th atrocities and celebrated on Oct. 7th as Jewish women were raped, children were butchered, and families were burned alive? 

As Be’eri survivor Aviad Becher informs us, old men and youth from Gaza were involved in burning his house, not just armed terrorists. We should have compassion for the civilians in Gaza who have spent decades electing Hamas, cheering on suicide bombers, and teaching their children that the highest form of honor is to kill a Jew?

Compassion for such people is not kindness—it is suicidal. It is the kind of foolishness that leads directly to more Jewish suffering, not just in Israel but across the globe. 

The same forces that are driving the war against Israel are fueling this global explosion of antisemitism. The Jews who want to “change the conversation” fail to see the obvious: this is not just about Israel. This is about Jewish survival worldwide.

These Are Not Jewish Values: This Is Western Moral Confusion

The Jews leading this movement believe they are upholding Jewish values by promoting empathy, tolerance, and open dialogue. In reality, they are embracing Western progressive, really regressive, ideals at the expense of authentic Jewish morality. Judaism does not preach tolerance for evil and those who seek our destruction. The Torah commands us to remember Amalek and to wipe out those who rise against us. It teaches us to stand firm in the face of our enemies, not to embrace them.

True Jewish values demand that we defend our people, that we prioritize our own survival, and that we never allow those who seek our annihilation to gain the upper hand. That is how we are a light unto the nations, as they also are targets of this same Muslim religious ideology against all infidels. All one has to do is look at how the Turkish-backed Sunni terrorists who have taken over Syria are today massacring and perpetrating ethnic cleansing of Alawites and Christians in Syria, as European leaders embrace them as respectable leaders of Syria. 

The misguided Jews pushing this dangerous rhetoric are prioritizing a non-Jewish “progressive” moral code over the Torah’s clear commandments. They are rejecting the value of life for themselves and their own people in favor of their enemies, in the name of a misguided compassion for “the other”.

What Should We Do Instead?

Instead of “changing the conversation” to accommodate those who hate us, we need to strengthen our own resolve. We must:

• Expose the lies of the Palestinian narrative and educate our people about the true history of the land of Israel.
• Defend ourselves unapologetically against both physical and ideological attacks.
• Stop trying to appease those who want us dead. Jewish history teaches that appeasement never works—it only emboldens our enemies.
• Foster Jewish pride and unity. We must strengthen our commitment to Torah, to the Jewish people, and to our homeland.

It’s Time to Wake Up

We are living in a critical moment. The war against Israel is not just being fought on the battlefield—it is being fought in the media, in academia, and even within our own Jewish communities. The Jews trying to “change the conversation” are not bringing peace—they are encouraging more evil by giving our enemies ammunition to continue their war against us.

The time for moral confusion is over. We must stand firm, proud, and unwavering in our defense of Israel and the Jewish people. This is not just about politics. This is about the survival of the Jewish people and the whole freedom-loving world.

Avi Abelow is the host of the Pulse of Israel daily video/podcast and the CEO of 12Tribe Films Foundation.