WaPo – you didn’t mention Hamas once!

Washington Post doesn’t mention Hamas once, in an editorial about Hamas/Israel war

In the consummate anti-Israel spin, The Washington Post published an editorial about the Hamas/Israel war without mentioning Hamas once! The Washington Post editorial “Can Biden win back Arab Americans?” (2/9/24) should be called, ‘Can common sense win back Arab Americans?” Another iteration could be called, “Can common sense win back The Washington Post?”

In an editorial about a war that ensued after a massive terrorist attack that caused the barbaric slaughter of 1200 Israelis of all ages including thousands injured, with 240 taken hostage – many of them children, why omit the name of the culprit?

Has there ever been a war or a terror attack where those interviewed about it or the interviewer omitted the name of the attacker?  Is it any wonder that people are confused about this issue when the educators – the newspapers – can’t even name the instigator of the casus belli?

The entire conversation in the editorial was about how pressure was needed on Israel, and the omission of such pressure was why Arab and Muslim Americans were angry at President Biden. The editorial writers and the Arabs that are supportive of a terrorist organization should want pressure on Hamas, not Israel. If Hamas surrendered and returned the hostages, this war would be over in a second. Israel has offered for Hamas leaders to safely leave Gaza after surrendering and returning the hostages, as early as November.

Pressure on Israel for a cease fire, on the other hand, would ensure that Hamas would remain in power. They have explicitly said that they would repeat October 7’s again and again until Israel was destroyed. Repetitions of October 7th would surely cause more deaths on both sides – Israel will be better prepared in the future – so there would be even more Palestinian deaths. So this end goal is what Biden should pressure Israel to attain according to American Arabs and Muslims (and Post editorialists)?  Where is the sense in that?

How about this for common sense? Arab Americans and Muslims (and post editorialists) should pressure Egypt to take in Gazans temporarily, many of whom are of Egyptian descent. The lack of pressure on Egypt, which says they won’t take in one Gazan, has prevented Gazans from getting out of the war zone, out of harm’s way. Where are the cries for pressure on Egypt? Where are the protests against Egypt?

There are some basic common-sense facts that the Washington Post, its editorial writers and the Arab and Muslim American community that support Hamas need to face.  The side representing the Gazans are terrorists. There are plenty of groups in the world that have grievances that don’t go around murdering, mutilating, burning infants, toddlers, women, men and the elderly. Further, if the grievance was against the side surrounding their border, why didn’t Hamas attack the Egyptians on October 7th as well?

The other harsh reality seen in Palestinian polls is that the Gazans by and large support Hamas – they elected Hamas.  Yes, now some are protesting against Hamas, not for what they did on October 7th, but that they aren’t winning!  Anyone who watched the videos of the parades of Gazan residents on October 7th spitting on the Israelis taken hostage knows that this was an effort by more than just Hamas terrorists.

With all the wars in this century, there has never been such an outcry against the side that was attacked – and in such a brutal fashion. The Washington Post should have more editorials about that! Israel, like any country, has every right to prevent further massacres on their people. Removal of Hamas is a legitimate and integral goal for that. The pressure should be on everybody but Israel.  Whatever editorials the Post publishes in an attempt to point a finger of blame at Israel are irrational – they make no sense. The paper of record in that nation’s capital would benefit learning right from wrong – and with that, they could teach others the same.

Dr. Michael Berenhaus is a freelance activist who works to combat anti-Israel bias in the media. He has been widely published in news sources such as The Economist, The New York Times and The Washington Post.