On July 27th, 2024, a rocket fired from Lebanon by Hezbollah killed twelve children playing soccer in a field at Majdal Shams. Normally when children are killed in war, they are identified as children. The outrage of civilian deaths in war is bad enough; when it is children, it is especially brutal. Unless the kids are Israelis.
Some of the headlines are shameful proof that many news outlets are completely biased. For example, DW News had the headline:
Ten People Killed as Rocket Hits Football Pitch in Israel-Occupied Golan. This tells me that Germany isn’t quite over their Jew-hatred. Another headline, by Al Jazeera, said: At Least 11 Killed in Rocket Attack in Israeli-Occupied Golan Heights. I wouldn’t expect unbiased reporting from Al Jazeera, when it comes to Israel or Jews. Many other headlines are similar, some word-for-word copies of these headlines. This hints at plagiarism, or at these outlets being fed their headlines so they don’t have to check the facts.
First, these were all children. Twelve children who were playing soccer. They were not just Twelve People; they were kids. Where they were isn’t really important. The claim that the region is “Israeli-occupied” is false, but commonly asserted. And honestly, it doesn’t matter. You don’t just kill a bunch of kids, even if they’re in some contested area.
Israel took quick action to retaliate. They targeted some leaders of Hezbollah and killed them. Of course there were calls for Israel not to “escalate” the situation. Their response should be “proportionate.” I suppose that means that Israel should kill twelve kids in retaliation. In effect they were being asked to accept the murder of twelve children and not overreact to it. I challenge anyone to tell me that their country would quietly accept the murder of twelve of their children. It wouldn’t happen, and no one would think a country would take the murders calmly. Unless the country was Israel.
Well, Israel didn’t kill twelve kids. They did kill a couple of terrorists who had often called for the death of Israel and the Jews. These deaths were against military leaders, and not children. Still, some are condemning the response.
Time and again Israel is condemned for defending herself against vicious, unnecessary attacks, while the attackers are given support regardless of the atrocities they commit.
When I was coming up, I’d sometimes hear something about Israel being treated unfairly. I didn’t really see it, at first. But honestly, much of the world just hates Israel and the Jews.
I was often told that I am not an American. I am a Jew from America. I thought that was kind of silly. Not any more. I don’t know why Jew-hating is becoming more popular, but I’m finding myself in a country where antisemitism is widely accepted. I’m realizing that I’m an outsider here.
My grandfather came from Ukraine, where pogroms were not uncommon. During more peaceful times, Jews were more or less tolerated, but it was clear they weren’t welcomed. Now I’m getting an idea of what my grandfather experienced.
Missile Strike Kills Twelve Children
On July 27th, 2024, a rocket fired from Lebanon by Hezbollah killed twelve children playing soccer in a field at Majdal Shams. Normally when children are killed in war, they are identified as children. The outrage of civilian deaths in war is bad enough; when it is children, it is especially brutal. Unless the kids are Israelis.
Some of the headlines are shameful proof that many news outlets are completely biased. For example, DW News had the headline:
Ten People Killed as Rocket Hits Football Pitch in Israel-Occupied Golan. This tells me that Germany isn’t quite over their Jew-hatred. Another headline, by Al Jazeera, said: At Least 11 Killed in Rocket Attack in Israeli-Occupied Golan Heights. I wouldn’t expect unbiased reporting from Al Jazeera, when it comes to Israel or Jews. Many other headlines are similar, some word-for-word copies of these headlines. This hints at plagiarism, or at these outlets being fed their headlines so they don’t have to check the facts.
First, these were all children. Twelve children who were playing soccer. They were not just Twelve People; they were kids. Where they were isn’t really important. The claim that the region is “Israeli-occupied” is false, but commonly asserted. And honestly, it doesn’t matter. You don’t just kill a bunch of kids, even if they’re in some contested area.
Israel took quick action to retaliate. They targeted some leaders of Hezbollah and killed them. Of course there were calls for Israel not to “escalate” the situation. Their response should be “proportionate.” I suppose that means that Israel should kill twelve kids in retaliation. In effect they were being asked to accept the murder of twelve children and not overreact to it. I challenge anyone to tell me that their country would quietly accept the murder of twelve of their children. It wouldn’t happen, and no one would think a country would take the murders calmly. Unless the country was Israel.
Well, Israel didn’t kill twelve kids. They did kill a couple of terrorists who had often called for the death of Israel and the Jews. These deaths were against military leaders, and not children. Still, some are condemning the response.
Time and again Israel is condemned for defending herself against vicious, unnecessary attacks, while the attackers are given support regardless of the atrocities they commit.
When I was coming up, I’d sometimes hear something about Israel being treated unfairly. I didn’t really see it, at first. But honestly, much of the world just hates Israel and the Jews.
I was often told that I am not an American. I am a Jew from America. I thought that was kind of silly. Not any more. I don’t know why Jew-hating is becoming more popular, but I’m finding myself in a country where antisemitism is widely accepted. I’m realizing that I’m an outsider here.
My grandfather came from Ukraine, where pogroms were not uncommon. During more peaceful times, Jews were more or less tolerated, but it was clear they weren’t welcomed. Now I’m getting an idea of what my grandfather experienced.