British journalist Brendan O’Neill is appalled at the way so many in the West paint Israel’s efforts to defend itself as “war crimes.” No matter how precisely it attacks its targets — as the Hezbollah possessors of pagers, hand-held radios, and walkie-talkies were — the IDF is accused of “indiscriminate” killing in Lebanon. No matter how many ways the IDF warns civilians in Gaza to leave places and buildings that are about to be targeted, Israel remains accused of “indiscriminate” bombing. For too many people around the world, everything Israel does is “a war crime.” More on this world-wide condemnation of the Jewish state for defending itself can be found here: “This wasn’t a war crime – it was an audacious assault on anti-Semites,” by Brendan O’Neill, Spiked, September 18, 2024:
…All eyes are on Israel, naturally. Experts suspect Mossad intercepted a massive stash of pagers destined for Hezbollah militants and planted explosive material in the batteries. Then they sent a signal, from hundreds of miles away, that caused the batteries to overheat and eventually to blow up. The planning required for such a spectacular op blows the mind – no pun intended. I know Israelophobia is the default position of the influential classes, but surely even they will admit this was an ingenious way for the Jewish State to take out the adherents to a self-styled ‘army of god’ that has sworn itself to excising the ‘cancerous growth’ of Zionism from the Middle East. (They mean Jews.)…
That many in the West view Israel’s every action as criminal is depressing, but not surprising. Fundamentally, they think it is a crime for Israel to defend itself. They think it is a crime for Israel to take any action that might limit the threat posed by the apocalyptic anti-Semitism of Hezbollah and Hamas. And they think this because they think Israel’s very existence is a crime. They view the Jewish State as a criminal enterprise, a vile, law-defying blot not only on the Middle East but also on the reputation of humankind itself. When you harbour such intense, irrational hatred for one nation, it is a short step to telling that nation to down its weapons, lower its defences and let itself be attacked.
Make no mistake, this is what the radical accusers of Israel are saying when they tell it to stop bombing Hamas, stop attacking Hezbollah militants, stop arming itself, stop everything. They are saying leave your enemy be, and let your people be murdered. They can call this ‘anti-Zionism’ as much as they like, but to many of us their bizarre and cruel singling out of the world’s only Jewish nation as the only nation that is forbidden from fighting its enemies smacks of anti-Semitism. If you are stony-faced when Jews are murdered, but furious when their murderers have 20 grams of explosives put in the batteries of their pagers, then please remove the word ‘anti-fascist’ from your social-media bio, please refrain from calling yourself ‘anti-racist’, and please cease all future use of the word ‘progressive’.
Through those weaponised pagers, Israel sent an important message not only to Hezbollah but also to the world. It let the world know that you cannot kill Jews with impunity anymore. Those days are gone. Kill Jews now – as Hamas and Hezbollah have both done, as part of their fascistic war on the Jewish State – and there will be consequences. You might lose a bollock, you might lose your life. That the racist militants of Iranian-sponsored Islamism are peeved that Jew-killing is no longer acceptable makes sense. That so many ‘progressives’ in the West also seem put out by the fact that killing Jews is a riskier business today than it was in earlier centuries is more disturbing. Paging the Western left: racist terrorism must always be resisted.
When it comes to the Jewish state, many in the Western world have become morally unhinged. They would deny Israel the right, and with arms embargos the ability, to defend itself against those who make no secret of their desire to destroy the Jewish state.. The West does not realize that the same forces of Islam that cannot accept Israel’s existence are also those that, thanks to the 50 million Muslims who now live in Europe and whose numbers inexorably increase would, if they could, make Islam everywhere dominant, and Muslims rule, everywhere.
Tony Rice says
Muslim countries are run by those harbouring hate and jealousy of Israel, no less than 5 Arab countries invaded Israel at it’s birth to kill it , by miracle did not succeed. IF they had had any sense they would have welcomed their semitic COUSINS with open arms, joined with them, so Jewish brains with Arab money would have made the Middle East prosper as never before, BUT Islam based on it’s beliefs of hatred , killing and submission of others failed to deliver, and still does. ( except in a few cases )
somehistory says
With one mouth, they say Israel has the “right” of self-defense. But, with their other mouth, they say Israel should not exercise that right.
I liken a lot of stuff that happens to how people behave when behind the wheel of their powerful cars and trucks. Traveling the streets and highways, one takes his life in his hands and puts it also in the hands of strangers.
We may not even think about it, but when we get out on the roads, we expect common courtesy and for the other drivers to care about us. For the most part, they don’t.
They may *know* you have the right-of-way in some moment, but if you don’t act fast, they are more than willing to take it from you, risking an accident if you also go for what is rightfully yours. You must yield your rights to them or have an accident in which you may be killed.
Put that same aggressive, me-first, driver on foot; and crossing the street, he expects you to honor the traffic laws and not run him over.
mozlums and their supporters are like those aggressive drivers. They have no respect for the ‘rights’ of others, but demand that every right they have be respected and for all to bow to them in every instance. To yield and keep them safe, while you may suffer.
So, Israel has a ‘right’ to self-defense, but is supposed to give it up so the mozlums can have all they demand to have without anyone getting in their way and making them have to yield.
The mozlums should all take a hard look at Ezekiel 38-39…Any that do, might save their lives.
SC says
Extremely good allegory while also deecribing many US drivers accuratetly
somehistory says
thank you very much, SC.
Patrick says
What you and Somehistory said!
somehistory says
Thank you, Patrick.
James Lincoln says
somehistory,
The average price of a new vehicle United States is approximately $50,000.
And autobody repair shops are now incredibly expensive – even for relatively minor bumper damage.
Yet many drivers still take unnecessary risks with their expensive cars.
I honestly cannot understand it – not to mention actual bodily injury / death…
Frank Anderson says
JL, I have a neck with 3 disks replaced with bone grafts and a titanium brace. The people who tailgate me do not have insurance. They know I have uninsured motorist insurance, so they don’t need to buy their own. The law requiring drivers to insure their own vehicles is not enforced like the tailgating law, giving more support for defiance of the law. Approximately 70 percent of all wrecks, not accidents, arise from deliberate following to close in my area.
Have you thought about how much auto insurance has increased because of the EV fad?
James Lincoln says
Frank,
Sorry to hear about the orthopedic issues involving your neck. Hope that you recovered well post-surgery.
Agree with your post regarding tailgating / automobile insurance.
To your point, the cost to repair EVs is at least one factor causing the increase in insurance costs. Not to mention the fire hazards with those big bad lithium batteries.
Best wishes always.
Frank Anderson says
Surgery was in 2014. Before that, the 3 disks simple wore out and disappeared. It doesn’t matter how fast I drive there is always someone who wants to force me to drive faster. But I have cameras recording front, back and side and stay within the law. With car tags only on the back, people think they are immune. Even more fun are people who steal or switch tags. And the corrupt and incompetent police departments that shield them from prosecution. The local PD has announced it has issued 812 tickets and warnings for RED LIGHT violations. But not one for tailgating.
ALWAYS, respect and best wishes. Frank
Frank Anderson says
James, if an orthopedic surgeon had performed the surgery my neck would be bent like a C because of entry into the spine from the back. A neurosurgeon went in from the front, playing baseball with my voice box, but keeping the spine in its normal shape. I was warned of this difference by an honored Jewish friend who is a radiologist. ONE of many reasons I have great regard for Jewish people.
James Lincoln says
Frank,
Thank you for your detailed replies.
Boog says
Not a big deal to them if the car is stolen or is a junk car that has no insurance. They run away.
Insurance Lawyers and litigation combined with brain dead juries and judges drive up prices of everything including car repairs. One has to learn to do most car repair yourself. Car prices are driven up by new safety regulations. Bottom
Line: The elites around the World want us out of cars, living in high density housing within their factories. It is about control and power.
somehistory says
James, I don’t understand it either. Lately, cars speeding, come over in ‘my’ lane; I move over, they continue to come; I slow down and they get in front of me.
If I honk my horn in warning, they honk back.
That is not the way I learned to ‘pass’ when taking driver’s ed.
and they pay no attention to amber and red lights…speeding up instead of what the law says.
It’s insane.
James Lincoln says
somehistory,
Same where I live.
Decades ago, particularly in “small town” America, the overwhelming majority of drivers were considerate. “Road rage” was practically nonexistent.
Now, if someone actually appropriately “yields”, it’s an anomaly.
Thanks for your reply – and I hope that you’re doing well.
somehistory says
thank you, James, for your response.
Yesterday, there were a lot of out-of-town bikers. Weaving in and out in groups and getting in passing lanes and when the turn signal came on, they jumped over to the next lane and went straight through the red light.
It’s scary if a signal light goes out and everyone is supposed to stop, yield to those already stopped, and proceed when safe.
I’m doing as well as my best. If I could just throw off all of the autoimmune things…Thanks for asking, and I hope you and your family are well.
James Lincoln says
We are all well, somehistory – and thank you for asking.
carpediadem says
They think it’s a war crime for Israel to exist, let alone defend itself.
Hopefully their Judeophobic rage will cause them to spontaneously combust.
somehistory says
Rage often causes heart attacks, stroke and the bursting of blood vessels.
Walter Sieruk says
The heading of this article along which is “Israel accused of the crime of defending itself.” shows just how absurd nonsensical and unreasonable some terrible can be.
What should be and needs to be remembered and heeded is the wisdom spoken in a speech given by the former US President, James Monroe , who in a speech , rightly, declared ” The right of self -defense never ceases . It is among the most sacred , and alike necessary to nations and to individuals .”
Walter Sieruk says
The duty of any good responsible government is to protect the security safely and lives of the people who are its citizens.
Therefore, the State of Israel has every right and duty to use the might of military force against those malicious and murderous jihad terror entities as Hamas , Hezbollah and other similar Islamic death and destruction Islamic terrorist “organizations,”
For example ,Israel had and has every right for striking out against Hamas , after its brutal cruel kidnapping and murdering invasion on October 7th. 2023 is the right thing for Israel to do . Therefore Israel did not commit a “crime” by any valid genuine definition of that word,
tgusa says
Israel has two choices, defend themselves or be killed. Coincidentally, you cant defend yourself after you are dead.
gravenimage says
Israel Accused of the Crime of Defending Itself
………………………………………..
How *dare* Infidels–especially Jews–defend themselves against Jihadists?
abu taleb says
In fact, the Jews and other infidels should be grateful when the jihadists butcher them because it will shorten their torturing time in hell by reducing their sins caused by the shortening life on earth.
abu taleb says
The indifferent attitude of the man on the picture looking at the wounded Hezbollah member tells us how the Lebanese think about tHezbollah.
However, to stop Hezbollah, the Lebanese need more action than simply being pasive.
SC says
Islam as currenly interpreted intimidates it’s adherents against anything other than either passive acceptance or even lying to protect the jihadi.
Frank Anderson says
I have been studying and paying attention to the legal issues of self-defense for a long time, more than 50 years. Self-defense is not only a RIGHT. It is a DUTY. The statement, “I carry a firearm because carrying a policeman is too heavy” has both merit and meaning. In fact, under US law, the police have NO duty to protect any individual. They are free to stand and watch our being murdered. according to the DC Court of Appeals.
Self-defense has been accepted as a RIGHT the entire time communities and civilization have existed UNTIL RECENTLY. One place that change is apparent was Nazi Germany where people were legally required to submit to assault, torture and murder by the legal process. Any act of resistance to the SA and later the SS was punishable by DEATH. Sophie Scholl should be remembered for being killed not for planting bombs but passing anti-war leaflets in Nazi Germany. The UK put an old man in prison for defending himself in his home from burglars who beat him and threatened his life. So, what is new at this time when Israel acts in what USED to be lawful self-defense? Outrage from, those who seek the extermination of all Jews and other Infidels worldwide. Changes are needed.
James Lincoln says
An excellent and informative post, Frank.
somehistory says
Newsweek reports
“Lebanon-based militant and political group Hezbollah launched a large-scale attack into parts of northern Israel overnight, the Israeli military said, as long-running tensions at the border threaten to spill over into a broader war.
“During the night and the morning hours, approximately 150 rockets, cruise missiles, and UAVs [uncrewed aerial vehicles] were launched toward Israeli territory, most of them aimed at northern Israel,” the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement on Sunday.”
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/hezbollah-retaliates-with-major-missile-strikes-on-israel/ar-AA1qZsRN?ocid=msedgntp&pc=HCTS&cvid=3d4d00c67bca44e499bc96f345ead16c&ei=58
Troybeam says
Israel has done so much for the world and yet the world goes against Israel, any other nation that is attacked by another is expected to defend itself except for Israel.
Israel has every right to defend itself.