Unprovoked, A Word Reserved for Israel

A 30-year-old Iranian man named Esmail Fakri was hanged last week. His alleged crime? Spying for Israel. His confession? Extracted under torture. His trial? A sham. His death? Just the latest in the Islamic Republic’s four-decade habit of executing dissidents, women, students, and anyone it suspects of sympathy towards the West—especially towards Israel.

And where were the human rights activists? Where was Greta?

Fakri wasn’t just a victim of tyranny, he was accused of affiliation with Israel. And in today’s warped moral landscape, that makes you disposable.

Meanwhile, Israel is once again being denounced for committing an “unprovoked” act of aggression. This time, for striking Iranian military targets tied to terrorism and nuclear enrichment. And as usual, Western media, academia, and their activist offspring leapt not to the defense of victims or civilians, but of the regime funding jihad.

Let’s talk about that word: “unprovoked.” What exactly does this include?

• Was it when Iran launched over 300 missiles and drones at Israel on April 13–14—its first direct attack from Iranian soil in history?
• Was it the thousands of rockets fired by Hezbollah into northern Israel since October 7?
• Was it Iranian-funded Houthi missile and drone attacks on Israeli civilians?
• Was it Tehran enriching uranium to near weapons-grade while promising to annihilate Tel Aviv and Haifa?
• Was it the October 7 pogrom, which Iran helped plan, fund, and glorify?

Apparently none of that provokes anything, except, of course, Israel’s existence.

For more context–on April 1, Israel eliminated Brig. Gen. Mohammad Reza Zahedi in Damascus. He was a senior commander in Iran’s Quds Force, tasked with managing Hezbollah, Islamic Jihad, and other proxies. Zahedi wasn’t a diplomat. He was orchestrating regional warfare. His removal was a surgical act of counterterrorism. Iran’s response? A nationwide missile assault on Israel. But Israel’s critics now pretend that it was provoked—and Israel’s response is what crosses the line.

And what about Hezbollah? Since October 7 alone, Hezbollah—armed, funded, and directed by Iran—has fired thousands of rockets into northern Israel, terrorizing towns and displacing over 60,000 civilians. Entire communities have been evacuated. And when Israel targets the very commanders behind those barrages in intelligence-driven precision strikes, well, apparently it’s “unprovoked.” As if assassinating battlefield generals during wartime is somehow immoral. It’s not. It’s called defense.

Iran’s proxy war machine doesn’t end with Hezbollah or the Houthis. In Iraq, Iran exerts influence through a network of Shia militias, including Kata’ib Hezbollah, Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq, and Harakat al-Nujaba. These groups are part of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), but many operate as direct extensions of the IRGC’s Quds Force. They’ve launched rocket attacks on US bases, threatened Jordan, and even played a role in attacks targeting Israel. Tehran’s reach isn’t limited to Gaza or Lebanon; it’s regional, coordinated, and expanding.

Then came Hezbollah’s escalation in Beirut. When Israel struck a senior figure, the BBC ran this headline: “Hezbollah fires rocket barrages after Israel’s deadly air strike in Beirut.” That’s it. No context. No cause. Just the implication that Israel acted first. Hezbollah’s missiles? Framed as a reaction. And this is what passes as honest, accurate reporting.

And Iran isn’t subtle. It has developed missiles called Khaibar Shekan—meaning “Destroyer of the Jews.” These are real weapons, used in real attacks on Israel, named with genocidal intent. When the world shrugs at missiles labeled with antisemitic slogans, but explodes in outrage when Israel disables the launchpads, there’s no more neutrality; for me, this spells bigotry.

Should any of this still surprise us? Unfortunately it does, it really does–even though we’ve already witnessed the most puzzling and outrageous behavior in the aftermath of October 7. When Columbia and Harvard panels didn’t mourn Jewish victims, and instead “contextualized Palestinian resistance,” this wasn’t nuance it was the moment that the slaughter of Israelis became negotiable, reframed, excused, and intellectualized. And now, the next generation of anti-Israel ideologues are proudly carrying the torch. Figures like Najla Said—daughter of Edward Said, the godfather of modern anti-Zionist thought—casually denies Jewish nationhood on podcasts while cloaking it in self-righteousness and progressive buzzwords. The language is updated, but the message is the same: Jews can exist, just not in their own state. As if that softens the blow.

Then there’s Greta Thunberg—deported from Israel after attempting to breach through a naval blockade during war time. She continues to spread misinformation and blood libels with zero consequence. Being anti-Israel has become a performative badge of progressive virtue.

This isn’t just exhausting. It’s dangerous. Because at the heart of this outrage isn’t Gaza. It’s not judicial reform. It’s not even Netanyahu.

It’s that Israel exists. It thrives. It defends itself. And that infuriates people.

And here’s the worst part: even inside Israel, too many have absorbed this venom. The far-left, desperate to hold onto moral ground, now compares Israel’s democracy—flawed, loud, and endlessly self-critical—to Iranian or Syrian dictatorships. It’s ludicrous, insulting. Israel isn’t a theocracy. We don’t hang protestors, jail women for showing their hair, or name our missiles after genocidal slogans.

You can hate Bibi. You can protest the government’s policies in Judea and Samaria, but if you equate the Israeli government to Iran’s, this goes beyond Left or Right–you’ve surrendered facts for fashion. You’re actually keeling to the mob.

Let’s not forget how antisemitism rides; it has followed us through every exile in the diaspora, and these days, once again, it’s open and violent. The only difference is that it wears a mask of virtue.

It’s clear that he word “unprovoked” is no longer neutral. It’s a weapon, wielded exclusively against Jews who refuse to die quietly.

So let’s stop pretending this is about proportionality, or policy, or even peace. Israel isn’t being condemned for what it does—it’s being condemned for daring to exist, for surviving, and for defending itself with precision against a regime that slaughters dissidents, funds terror, and builds missiles inscribed with genocidal slogans. The real obscenity isn’t Israel’s retaliation—it’s the global gaslighting that calls it “unprovoked.” Actually, no, what’s truly unprovoked is the hatred. The missile barrages. The pogroms. The silence when Jews die. And the shrieking outrage when Jews fight back. That’s not journalism. That’s not activism. That’s antisemitism—polished, progressive, and utterly shameless.

The next time someone says “unprovoked,” ask them: what would it take? Because as far as I’m concerned what all of this really means is: How dare the Jews not go quietly.

Extra reading:

“Bobby B. Sprout Meets a Bunch of Rotten Veggies” follows a bright little Brussels sprout who sets off in search of adventure. But beyond his familiar veggie patch, Bobby discovers a world filled with preconceived notions and judgment. Through playful language and rich illustrations, this universal tale explores themes of prejudice, belonging, and bravery. Rooted in timeless values of resilience and self-worth—and echoing the Jewish experience of being “the other”—Bobby’s story encourages children to embrace their uniqueness and treat others with open hearts. A heartfelt read for ages 4–8, and a gentle reminder that being different can be your greatest strength.

Find your copy on Amazon.