FAQ: Standing Against Antisemitism

The facts: Jews are vastly overrepresented in conspiracy theories about "controlling" institutions, but the reality is far more mundane. Some Jewish people work in media and finance—just as people of all backgrounds do. Success in any field doesn't equal "control."

Why this conspiracy theory is dangerous: It's been used for centuries to scapegoat Jewish people for society's problems. The Nazis used it. Modern antisemites use it. When something goes wrong, blaming "Jewish control" is an easy—and false—answer.

The truth: Media companies are owned by diverse shareholders and conglomerates. Banks are regulated institutions with boards of directors from many backgrounds. No ethnic or religious group "controls" these industries.

You can be Jewish without being religious. The Nazis didn't ask if Jews believed in God—they murdered them for their ancestry. Antisemitism targets Jews as a people, not just as practitioners of a religion.

You'll find it on the far-right (white supremacists), the far-left (disguised as anti-Israel activism), and in certain religious extremist groups. No ideology has a monopoly on hate.

The facts: Jews have maintained a continuous presence in the land of Israel for over 3,000 years. Archaeological and historical evidence is overwhelming—this is where Judaism originated.

Jewish diversity: While some Israeli Jews have European ancestry (Ashkenazi), about half of Israeli Jews are Mizrahi (from Middle Eastern and North African countries) or Sephardi (from Spain, Portugal, and Mediterranean regions). There are also Ethiopian Jews, Indian Jews, and converts from many backgrounds.

Why this myth is harmful: It erases Jewish indigenous history and the diversity of the Jewish people. It also ignores that many Israeli Jews are refugees or descendants of refugees expelled from Arab countries.

Historical fact: Jesus was executed by the Roman Empire. Romans crucified thousands of people—it was their standard punishment for sedition.

What the Church says now: In 1965, the Catholic Church officially rejected the idea that Jewish people were collectively responsible for Jesus' death (Second Vatican Council, Nostra Aetate). Most Christian denominations have followed suit.

Why this matters: The "Christ-killer" accusation was used for centuries to justify pogroms, expulsions, and the Holocaust. Blaming all Jewish people for events 2,000 years ago is both historically false and morally wrong.

Also remember: Jesus himself was Jewish, as were his disciples and the early Christians.

The diversity of Jewish people:

• Ashkenazi Jews — European ancestry (often perceived as white, though historically treated as non-white)
• Mizrahi Jews — Middle Eastern and North African ancestry (Iraq, Iran, Yemen, Morocco, etc.)
• Sephardi Jews — Spanish, Portuguese, and Mediterranean ancestry
• Ethiopian Jews — Black African Jews with ancient traditions
• Indian Jews — Communities in India dating back thousands of years
• Chinese Jews — Historic Jewish community in Kaifeng, China
• Latin American Jews — Mix of backgrounds across Latin America
• Converts — People of every race who have chosen to become Jewish

Why this myth is harmful: It erases the majority of Jewish people who aren't white. It also ignores that even Ashkenazi Jews were historically not considered "white" in Europe or America—they were seen as a separate, inferior race.

The bottom line: Judaism is a religion and ethnicity, not a race. Jews come in every skin color.

The numbers:

• Arab citizens of Israel: About 2 million people (roughly 21% of Israel's population)
• Muslims: Approximately 1.7 million (about 18% of population)
• Christians: About 185,000 (2% of population), mostly Arab Christians
• Druze: Approximately 150,000 (1.6% of population)
• Other minorities: Baha'i, Circassians, and others

Religious freedom in Israel:

• All religions have freedom of worship protected by law
• Each religious community controls its own holy sites
• Christian, Muslim, and Druze communities have their own religious courts for personal status matters
• Arabic is an official language alongside Hebrew
• Non-Jewish citizens serve in government, including the Knesset (parliament) and Supreme Court

Christian population growth: Israel is one of the few places in the Middle East where the Christian population has actually grown, not declined. Christians face persecution in many neighboring countries but live freely in Israel.

Context matters: Yes, Israel has challenges with minority rights—like many democracies. Arab citizens face discrimination in some areas. But "persecution" implies systematic oppression, which doesn't match the reality of religious minorities voting, serving in government, practicing their faiths freely, and having legal protections.

Compare the region: Israel is the only Middle Eastern country where Christians, Baha'i, and other minorities can practice openly without fear of violence. Try being Christian in Saudi Arabia or Baha'i in Iran.

What happened in 2005:

• Complete withdrawal: Israel removed every single soldier, settler, and military installation from Gaza
• Forced evacuation: All 21 Israeli settlements were dismantled—approximately 9,000 Israeli civilians were forcibly evacuated from their homes
• Synagogues demolished: Israel destroyed its own synagogues in Gaza to prevent their desecration
• Infrastructure left behind: Israel left behind greenhouses, agricultural infrastructure, and other facilities to help Gaza's economy
• Hope for peace: The withdrawal was meant to be a step toward peace—giving Palestinians full control of Gaza

What happened after Israel left:

• 2006: Palestinians held elections in Gaza
• 2007: Hamas violently seized control, killing Fatah members and throwing opponents off rooftops
• Hamas's charter: Explicitly calls for the destruction of Israel and death of Jews
• Thousands of rockets: Hamas has fired over 20,000 rockets at Israeli civilians since taking control
• Greenhouses destroyed: The agricultural infrastructure Israel left was looted and destroyed within hours
• Terror tunnels: Instead of building infrastructure, Hamas spent resources on tunnels to attack Israel

What about the blockade? Egypt and Israel imposed a blockade in 2007—after Hamas took over and started firing rockets. The blockade restricts weapons and dual-use materials that Hamas uses for terrorism, not humanitarian aid. Thousands of trucks with food, medicine, and supplies enter Gaza regularly.

Why Gaza isn't occupied: Israel doesn't have troops in Gaza, doesn't govern Gaza, and doesn't control what happens inside Gaza. Hamas governs Gaza completely. By international law, occupation requires physical presence and control—Israel has neither.

The painful irony: Israel gave Gaza full independence as a gesture of peace. In return, it got rockets, terror tunnels, and attacks on civilians. Yet Israel is still blamed for "occupying" the territory it left nearly 20 years ago.

The historical record:

1948 War of Independence:

• What happened: The day after Israel declared independence, five Arab armies (Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Iraq, Lebanon) invaded to destroy the new state
• Arab League Secretary-General Azzam Pasha: "This will be a war of extermination and momentous massacre"
• Result: Israel survived but lost 1% of its entire population (6,000 people)
• Who started it: Arab armies attacked Israel, not the other way around

1967 Six-Day War:

• Buildup: Egypt expelled UN peacekeepers, blockaded Israeli shipping (an act of war), and massed troops on Israel's border
• Egyptian President Nasser: "Our basic objective will be the destruction of Israel"
• Syria and Jordan: Joined Egypt's military pact, surrounding Israel on three sides
• Result: Israel launched a preemptive strike and won in six days
• Who started it: Egypt's blockade was an act of war; Israel acted in self-defense against an imminent invasion

1973 Yom Kippur War:

• What happened: Egypt and Syria launched a surprise attack on Yom Kippur, Judaism's holiest day
• Timing: Specifically chosen when Israelis would be fasting and in synagogue
• Nearly succeeded: Israel was caught off guard and almost lost
• Who started it: Egypt and Syria attacked Israel without provocation

1982 Lebanon War:

• Background: PLO used southern Lebanon to launch constant rocket attacks and terror raids into Israel
• The trigger: PLO attempted to assassinate Israeli ambassador in London
• Goal: Remove PLO terrorist infrastructure from Israel's northern border
• Who started it: Years of PLO attacks from Lebanon preceded Israeli response

2006 Lebanon War:

• What happened: Hezbollah crossed into Israel, killed soldiers, and kidnapped two others
• Result: Israel responded with military operation to stop rocket attacks
• Who started it: Hezbollah attacked first

Gaza Wars (2008-09, 2012, 2014, 2021, 2023-24):

• Pattern: Hamas fires rockets at Israeli civilians → Israel responds to stop the attacks
• 2023 October 7: Hamas invaded Israel, massacred 1,200 civilians (worst attack on Jews since the Holocaust), kidnapped 250 hostages
• Who starts it: Hamas initiates by attacking Israeli civilians

The pattern:

• Israel's neighbors have repeatedly stated their goal is Israel's destruction
• Israel has been attacked on its holiest days (Yom Kippur, Passover)
• When Israel wins defensive wars, it's blamed for "aggression"
• Israel has signed peace treaties with Egypt and Jordan—proving it prefers peace to war

The uncomfortable truth: If Israel's enemies put down their weapons, there would be peace. If Israel put down its weapons, there would be no Israel. Israel fights because it's attacked, not because it seeks conflict.

Who actually started the war:

• October 7, 2023: Hamas invaded Israel, massacred 1,200 civilians in their homes, at a music festival, in bomb shelters
• Worst attack on Jews since the Holocaust: Families burned alive, babies murdered, women raped, elderly kidnapped
• 240+ hostages taken: Including babies, children, elderly, and Holocaust survivors dragged into Gaza
• Israel's response: Defensive war to stop Hamas and rescue hostages

About the casualty numbers:

• Source of numbers: Hamas-run Gaza "Health Ministry"—the same organization that is literally part of Hamas
• Credibility problem: Hamas has been caught lying about casualty figures repeatedly, including blaming Israel for a hospital explosion that was actually caused by Islamic Jihad rocket
• No verification: These numbers cannot be independently verified. Hamas counts all deaths as "civilian" and doesn't distinguish between Hamas fighters and civilians
• The claimed 60,000 children: This number has no factual basis. Even Hamas's own inflated figures don't claim anything close to this

The reality of urban warfare:

• Hamas's strategy: Uses schools, hospitals, mosques, and homes as military bases. Stores weapons in children's bedrooms. Builds tunnels under civilian areas
• Human shields: Hamas deliberately operates from civilian areas to maximize Palestinian casualties for propaganda
• Warnings: Israel drops leaflets, makes phone calls, sends text messages, and uses "roof knocking" (warning shots) before strikes—no other military does this
• Civilian ratio: Despite urban warfare in one of the most densely populated areas on earth, military experts note Israel's civilian-to-combatant ratio is lower than most modern urban conflicts

What Hamas admits:

• Hamas leaders have stated they want Palestinian civilians to die for their cause
• Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh: "We need the blood of women, children, and the elderly... to awaken revolutionary spirit"
• Hamas prevents civilians from fleeing, shoots at them trying to evacuate, and steals humanitarian aid

Questions to ask when you see these claims:

• Where did this number come from? (Usually: Hamas)
• Has it been independently verified? (Usually: No)
• Does it mention that Hamas started the war by massacring 1,200 Israelis? (Usually: No)
• Does it mention that Hamas uses civilians as human shields? (Usually: No)
• Does it mention that Hamas could end the war today by surrendering and releasing hostages? (Usually: No)

The propaganda playbook: Inflated, unverified casualty numbers (especially involving children) are designed to delegitimize Israel's right to defend itself. When Hamas massacres Israeli children, that's ignored. When Hamas uses Palestinian children as human shields and they die, Israel is blamed. This double standard is itself antisemitic.

The truth: Every civilian death is tragic. War is horrific. But Hamas started this war, refuses to surrender, refuses to release hostages, and deliberately maximizes Palestinian casualties for propaganda. Israel didn't start this war and takes extraordinary measures to minimize civilian casualties—measures no other military takes.