In the aftermath of the brutal Hamas massacre of October 7, there have been hundreds of anti-Israel protests in the United States and around the world, many featuring the same chants, slogans and images.
To be clear, in a democracy everyone has a right to express their opinion on our streets and campuses. But anyone, anywhere, who is concerned about the pain and suffering caused by this conflict needs to be wise to what is being called for at these events.
1. If you hear people chanting “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free…” here’s what it means:
This is a cry for Israel to not exist. It is calling for a Palestinian state that extends from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea – effectively erasing and destroying the entire Jewish state.
2. If you hear people calling for “resistance by any means necessary,” here’s what is being said:
This is support for terrorism. Saying “by any means necessary,” especially after October 7, indicates support, justification, and championing of violence and murder of civilians as a form of so-called resistance. Hamas’ “means” have included brutal torture and kidnapping of innocents, including babies and the elderly.
3. If you see a flyer related to Hamas’ war on Israel that features an image of a paraglider, here’s what that represents:
It’s glorifying the terrorists who used paragliders to infiltrate Israel on October 7, 2023 to massacre, kidnap, mutilate and brutalize thousands of people. There is no other meaning of these images.
4. If you hear people chanting “Globalize the intifada!” here’s what it means:
The chant is a reference to violent Palestinian uprisings against Israel, specifically acts of terrorism and indiscriminate violence against civilians by terrorist groups, including suicide bombings in buses and restaurants. This slogan has been chanted at anti-Israel rallies for years. Jews and Israelis hear this slogan as a call for indiscriminate violence against Israel, and potentially against Jews and Jewish institutions worldwide.
Let’s be clear: It is possible to care about Palestinian civilians without supporting Hamas or whitewashing their slaughter, pillaging and kidnapping. It’s possible to criticize Israeli actions and policies without calling for the eradication of the Jewish state. It’s possible for advocate for your point of view without feeding into the escalating anti-Jewish atmosphere that has engulfed so many of our campuses and big cities.
To be sure, we cannot ascribe specific intent to all those attending these demonstrations. At the same time, we can say that by joining or affiliating oneself with any such protest or slogan or chant, you are associating with its message. Those who have joined should ask themselves: am I comfortable being complicit in the negative impact of these words and the real-world harm they cause? Or do I want to be associated with efforts that are about working for peace, justice and finding a solution to this unbearable crisis?
We all want a better future for both Israelis and Palestinians, but that hope, that call, is not what you will get at these demonstrations.