To the True Friends of Israel: Speak Up
Since October 7th we have been witness to the demonization of the Jewish state, a narrative built on blatant but increasingly popular lies and libels reminiscent of the darkest chapters of history. Israel, the very embodiment of Jewish spirit that holds life as a supreme value, is being accused of committing genocide, of using hunger as a war weapon, of deliberately killing children and civilians. What began on radicalized campuses and among the notorious enemies of Israel has spread like wildfire in the halls of international diplomacy as Heads of state are now calling for sanctions. Most alarming of all, these slanders are being echoed, and thus legitimized, by a small but loud handful of Jews and Israelis.
As we have seen in the last couple of weeks, public denunciations of Israel on global stages by some of its usually strongest allies (let alone some of its own citizens and other self-loathing Jews) have caused irreparable harm. These voices, claiming to speak in the name of morality (and even in the name of Zionism for some) have instead become tools in the hands of Israel’s enemies. Their words, their semantics, their accusations of Israel’s “dangerous drift”, have been acclaimed and quoted to support the worst distortions of reality. Among these new critics and “false prophets” are personalities who once stood firmly with Israel. But now, under pressure, they are flinching and joining the choir, accusing Israel of losing its moral compass when it is, in truth, their own clarity that is failing. This is precisely when authentic Zionism, rooted in the belief of Jewish sovereignty fulfilling a destiny for the betterment of mankind, demands we Jews all remain strong and united in the face of those libels and accusations. And let it be said clearly: it is not only our right but our duty, as Jews and as Zionists, to speak up. These badges of honor carry obligations. Hiding, bowing, whispering has never protected the Jewish people. Silence in the face of persecution never saved us, not in the Middle Ages, not during the pogroms, and certainly not in the 1930s. It is speaking up and standing tall – from Jabotinsky to Begin, from Yehuda HaMaccabi to Mordechai Anielewicz (the 24-year-old leader of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising), from these inspired Jews who defy bravely pro-Palestinian protests with a flag of Israel and cries of “Am Yisrael Hai,” to those Jews who hit back when being attacked by antisemites – that secures our survival and dignity.
It cannot be said enough: these allegations are not just wrong; they are deliberate lies presented as truth and circulated as common knowledge. This also goes for every non-Jewish supporter of Israel who knows what they stand for and recognizes what Israel is fighting for. Your voice matters too.
What is at stake today is not simply a dispute over policy or a debate over borders or governments. The world is at a civilizational crossroads. This is a battle not between Israel and the Palestinians, but between a Jewish democratic nation defending its citizens and ensuring its future, and a fanatical, jihadist movement that revels in death and destruction. Between the free world, and an ideology that crushes freedom, truth and life itself.
So, true friends of Israel: do not waver. Do not simply stay silent or content yourself with not partaking in the calumny. Silence will not shield Israel. It will only expose it further. If you have not spoken out yet, now is the time. If you’re beginning to question Israel’s actions, open your eyes. See with what moral clarity our army operates. See how, if hunger has been weaponized, it has been so by Hamas, which systematically steals humanitarian aid. See how the IDF takes every necessary step to avoid killing children, those same children whom Hamas is using as human shields.
One may disagree with Israeli policy. But do not be misled, these policies are still guided by the moral clarity and the Jewish values that lie at the heart of the Jewish State. The truth is that Israel is NOT committing genocide. Israel is NOT targeting civilians. Israel does NOT starve people on purpose. Israel is at war with a barbaric terrorist regime that burned, assassinated, mutilated, raped, and kidnapped its people on October 7th. A regime that still holds our hostages underground. A regime whose very foundation and outspoken goal is our destruction.
Those who have seen the reality on the ground have seen the truth. They have met the soldiers who fight with restraint under a strict moral code. They have seen the painful and somewhat impossible decisions forced on a democracy fighting in an environment where civilians are used as shields. They know that Israel does not seek to eradicate a people, but to defeat a death regime.
So stand strong with Israel. Speak up and say what you know to be true. Speak not only as allies, but with the conviction of those who understand the meaning of responsibility — historical, moral, and Jewish. In doing so and expressing the unconditional love that is Zionism, you will be bravely speaking for justice and truth and for everything the free world claims to cherish – including the hope for peace. If you speak up for Israel, the values you defend will empower you. Those who truly care about the Palestinians know that standing with Israel will help bring about a future free of Hamas. Speaking up for Israel is not about politics. It is about defending civilization. It is about the fight against jihadist darkness that threatens us all. It is about insisting that October 7th will not be rewarded with statehood. That barbarity will not shape the future.
Because speaking up for Israel means speaking up for life itself.
