Misconceptions About Israel

There are a number of misconceptions about the current situation in Israel, being fed by a media that is determined to present a certain popular angle. Here are some facts, which are important to spread:

Sheikh Jarrah

The situation with the Sheikh Jarrah houses is extremely complicated. It's certainly not "settlers driving Palestinians out of their homes" (though it also cannot be dismissed as just "Palestinian squatters being evicted from Jewish homes that they stole"). There are multiple reasonable perspectives. But even if there is a legitimate grievance here against disparate treatment of Arabs, does this justify the deliberate targeting of Jewish civilians for violence and murder? Many in the West are talking as though it does.

Al-Aqsa

The popular Palestinian narrative is that Al-Aqsa was "under attack." This is false. As photos show, Palestinians had used their Holy Site to stockpile rocks and other weapons, for hurling down on Jewish worshipers below., along with other rioting. The security forces moved in to try to protect innocent civilians from being hurt or killed. Ironically, the only people whose rights are curtailed in their holy place are Jews, who are not allowed to pray on Temple Mount. Arabs are fed a steady stream of disinformation and incitement by their leaders, including a denial that the Temple ever existed, which is ignored or distorted in the Western media.

Gaza

The situation in Gaza is distorted in much of the Western media, but is actually extremely straightforward: Hamas has fired hundreds of deadly missiles, targeting civilian towns. The only reason why there haven't been massive Israeli casualties is that Israelis take refuge in bomb shelters, and are helped by Iron Dome. The IDF, in a necessary effort to stop Hamas from firing these rockets, has attacked military targets in Gaza, with the inevitable result of civilian casualties, since Hamas operates from civilian areas. Those who protest the "disproportionate" deaths on the Gaza side should be challenged as to the offensiveness of expecting Israel to simply absorb hundreds of incoming rockets without doing its best to protect its citizens. And a "proportionate response" is one that stops the attacks against civilians - which has not yet been achieved.

Lod

Incredibly, many people outside of Israel are simply unaware that there was a pogrom in the city of Lod. Jews and Arabs have lived here for decades, with much investment in peaceful coexistence. But yesterday, hundreds of Arabs rioted through the city, setting fire to synagogues, schools, residential buildings and cars, while the Jewish residents had to barricade themselves in their homes, in fear for their lives. You can be sure that this will not make the international news until Israel responds. Violence against Jews is not deemed newsworthy; only Jews responding to it.

The Future

The current situation - and the media coverage of it - makes certain things clear. However terrible the occupation is, any realistic alternative is only going to be worse. Full Palestinian independence in the West Bank would result in the stockpiling and eventually firing of rockets. Israel would be pressured against taking necessary defensive measures, due to the inevitability of civilian casualties.

Long-term peace is only possible when people are held responsible for their actions. Otherwise, the West is simply motivating the Palestinians to incite wars and fire rockets, due to the political capital that is gained.