To those who hate us – ‘Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn’

This iconic line from Gone with the Wind captures how I feel today towards those whose fundamental mission is to criticize Israel and the Jewish People, come what may. I warmly value those who challenge us out of love, respect, or a shared commitment to justice.

I’ve long worked to help do my littel bit to shape Israel’s perception in the world and counter the vile anti-Zionist and antisemitic rhetoric that persists. There comes a point, however, when its irrationality renders it a wasted effort.

I cherish being ethical, moral, tolerant, and free of hatred based on race, gender, religion, or creed—not because the UN demands it, but because it defines the core of our Jewish soul and the DNA of our nation for thousands of years.

We face enemies who attack our weakest with impunity, hold hostages, and reject the moral principles we uphold—often while we’re constrained by global scrutiny. Yet our Declaration of Independence, written amid existential threats in the shadow of the Holocaust, reflects our unwavering commitment:

THE STATE OF ISRAEL will be open for Jewish immigration and for the Ingathering of the Exiles; it will foster the development of the country for the benefit of all its inhabitants; it will be based on freedom, justice, and peace as envisaged by the prophets of Israel; it will ensure complete equality of social and political rights to all its inhabitants irrespective of religion, race, or sex; it will guarantee freedom of religion, conscience, language, education, and culture; it will safeguard the Holy Places of all religions; and it will be faithful to the principles of the Charter of the United Nations…

WE APPEAL—in the midst of the onslaught launched against us—to the Arab inhabitants of the State of Israel to preserve peace and participate in the upbuilding of the State on the basis of full and equal citizenship.

WE EXTEND our hand to all neighboring states and their peoples in an offer of peace and good neighborliness, for the advancement of the entire Middle East.

When I see our soldiers labelled as Nazis, our nation accused of genocide, nations recognizing those who seek our destruction, or Western liberals cheering for Hamas, I refuse to despair. Instead, I embrace the defiance of Clark Gable’s words. Israel is a beacon of democracy, innovation, and culture—a special nation that strives for excellence despite its imperfections. We acknowledge our flaws and work to address them, knowing no nation is perfect. We are one of the most self-critical peoples, constantly challenging our moral integrity. Yet we face scrutiny unlike any other country, often rooted in bias rather than fairness.

To our friends, supporters, and those who critique us constructively out of fairness, your perspectives strengthen us, even when we disagree. To fellow Israelis who protest and challenge the state out of love and a desire for justice, your passion fuels our growth. We must respect international law, but it must be applied justly, not through biased systems or kangaroo courts.

To those who peddle tired, unfair rhetoric against Israel, I invite you to engage with facts and fairness, but if you refuse, I say today: “Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn.”

I am proud of Israel and remain in love with the land and its people—across all segments of society. On Israel’s 77th birthday, in the land where Abraham walked, Joshua and Ezra led our returns, and King David penned the Psalms, I embrace our vision of peace, as stated by Isaiah:

The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, The leopard lie down with the kid; The calf, the beast of prey, and the fatling together, With a little child to herd them. The cow and the bear shall graze, Their young shall lie down together; And the lion, like the ox, shall eat straw. A babe shall play over a viper’s hole, And an infant pass its hand over an adder’s den. In all of My sacred mount, nothing evil or vile shall be done; For the land shall be filled with devotion to GOD, as water covers the sea.

May Israel and the world find true peace with our neighbors, rooted in love, not hatred.