BACKGROUND – TALKING POINTS – DISPELLING FALSEHOODS – ACTIONS – STORIES
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Ignorance about Israel and its ongoing struggle to confront terrorist regimes on all of its borders is simply staggering. The hatred and violence directed against Israel is largely fed by perverse narratives online and in the classroom, biased journalism and social media disinformation. Knowledge and critical thinking are the only weapons that can defend against this assault on facts that has led to open warfare and public opinion skewed in support of terror. The stakes are high for Israel’s very survival – and American lives are on the line, too. Now is the time to reject lies and propaganda by promoting the facts and actual history of Israel and the Jewish people.
Iran’s Multi-Front War of Annihilation Intensifies: ‘Israel needs to win’
Terrorists and authoritarian regimes in Gaza, Lebanon, Yemen and Iran – the puppet master behind all of them – are targeting Israelis with deadly rockets, missiles, drones and cyber-attacks. Iran, and terror groups operating in the West Bank, Syria and Iraq are also targeting Israel. Iran and its proxies continue to attack Americans around the world. In response to Iran’s continuing aggression, the U.S. is sending a missile defense battery to Israel and 100 troops to operate it. Another concern is close collaboration between Russian and Iranian leaders. Iran is providing weapons to Russia in its war against Ukraine and there are growing concerns that Russia is helping Iran with its nuclear weapons program – a threat to America and Israel.
Bret Stephens recently wrote in The New York Times that the world should hope for Israel’s victory against Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran because its success is essential for regional stability. Hamas and Hezbollah “brutalize” Palestinians and the Lebanese, who will never be able to enjoy peace and freedom under dictatorships. An Israeli victory makes peace with Arab neighbors more likely and would lead to the expansion of the Abraham Accords – especially with Saudi Arabia.
Stephens emphasized that the “American people had better hope Israel wins,” citing past attacks against Americans. He cited a litany of deadly Iranian assaults against the U.S., including the embassy in Tehran, diplomats in Lebanon, troops in Iraq, Americans taken prisoner in Iran and the two Navy SEALs who died in January trying to secure commercial shipping near Yemen. Iran-backed Hamas also killed 43 Americans on 10/7 and took eight hostage.
New Book Promotes Anti-Israel Lies
Acclaimed African American author Ta-Nehisi Coates recently published a book that included a section based on travels to meet Palestinians in the West Bank, drawing baseless parallels between Palestinians and the experience of Black Americans under Jim Crow segregation. He condemned Israel – without ever mentioning Hamas or other Iran-backed terrorist groups – and denied the Jewish connection to Israel. His writing presents a completely one-sided narrative. Coates felt that racism in Israel and the West Bank was stronger than he felt in America. A prominent Black American Jew rejected the book’s false claims and omissions.
The book was thrust into the spotlight following Coates’ interview with a Jewish CBS News anchor who challenged its premise: “reads like the work of an extremist.” Some staffers were angered by the interview, leading network executives to state that the interview did not meet editorial standards. The anchor was forced to apologize, but was defended by the network’s chief legal correspondent: “He prevented a one-sided account from being broadcast on our network.” Another CBS employee: “There is a huge difference between how all ethnic or minority groups are treated and how Jews and Jewish issues are treated.”
News Bias and Social Media: Pervasive Anti-Israel Narrative
The New York Times recently published a guest essay based on the testimony of medical professionals in Gaza. The author is an outspoken advocate against Israel and previously referred to Israel’s actions against Hamas as a ‘genocide.’ He and the other professionals criticized Israel without placing any blame on Hamas. The story included x-ray images of fully intact bullets that have been debunked by experts.
Bill Maher, host of HBO’s Real Time, recently addressed the importance of educating younger generations about the Middle East, with an emphasis on critical thinking. He criticized the influence of TikTok on Gen Z with biased information, particularly regarding Israel’s war against Hamas. He refuted common misconceptions, such as labeling Jews as ‘colonizers’ in Israel and stressing that young people need to understand that Jews have always lived in the Land of Israel. He urged informed perspectives on these complex issues rather than relying on social media.
Bill Maher on HBO’s Real Time addressing singer Chappell Roan:
A. Use this content to help educate others: Use information from this edition to help provide your family, friends and coworkers with a deeper understanding of the complexities of the Iranian-backed war against America and Israel. Conversations are an opportunity to educate and inform.
B. Verify what you read, see and hear: Do not blindly trust sources of information that might be written or influenced by biased individuals and organizations engaged in their own war against America and Israel. This may even include journalists who should be adhering to factual reporting, ensuring balanced and accurate coverage. When you come across misinformation in the news, consider correcting it via a letter to the editor of a newspaper or by tagging organization on social media. Media reporting watchdogs HonestReporting and CAMERA (Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting and Analysis).
C. Stay informed and educated:
American Jewish News sources
Israeli News Sources (in English)
American Jews and Zionists Blamed for Deadly Hurricanes
Far-right extremists promoted conspiracy theories about Jews controlling the weather and demonized Jewish officials for their response to the recent natural disasters. Hurricanes Helene and Milton caused a few dozen deaths and billions of dollars in damage.
Far-right and white supremacists are promoting propaganda that the Jewish community has advanced “technology” to “weaponize weather” and are blaming hurricane relief on funding for Israel’s defense. Asheville, NC, Mayor Esther Manheimer was called a “lying Jew” for her handling of Hurricane Helene’s aftermath.
The increasingly vocal far-right fringe continues to spread lies and grow in numbers. Recently, U.S. Rep. Ritchie Torres introduced a resolution blasting Tucker Carlson for promoting Holocaust revisionism.
Stories Impacting American Jews
Stories Impacting the U.S. and Israel
Stories From Around the World
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This content is developed by The Focus Project in partnership with MERCAZ USA. The Focus Project distributes weekly news and talking points on timely issues concerning Israel and the Jewish people, including antisemitism, anti-Zionism and the delegitimization of Israel. It represents a consensus view across a spectrum of major American Jewish organizations. MERCAZ USA recognizes and respects the diversity of views on these issues among its readers and the community at large.