While our soldiers are fighting for their homeland and homeland, in the south, north and east, and while the citizens of Israel are guarding the home front under attack, Israel is fighting on another front – the front of consciousness in the United States and around the world.
IDF Spokesperson: "Hamas is trying to show that it is humane, but we will continue to remind the world that it is a criminal murderous organization" // IDF Spokesperson
On this front, the "second front," we are not fighting with weapons, but with demonstrations, op-eds and media interviews. The second front is not as life-threatening as the one facing IDF soldiers in Gaza, but the struggle against it is critical to our security and even our existence.
For the past week I have been in an emergency fundraising round for United Hatzalah. Between meetings with donors, I visit Jewish communities and American campuses and give interviews to local media. I am a witness and anxious about our situation here on the media-consciousness front.
In the Jewish communities, I meet people who are still in deep shock from the events of October 7 and who have a strong desire to do everything for the State of Israel. The division between right and left has been erased as never before, and the main source of unity is the real fear of unprecedented waves of anti-Semitism.
The situation of the abductees: one of the keys in hasbara, photo: EPA
I have been told several times that American Jews have three alternatives: the first is to fight anti-Semitism by any means, including stopping donating to universities that do not publicly condemn anti-Semitism, and supporting legislation outlawing public support for Hamas; The second alternative is to try to hide, take mezuzahs off the doors and not watch the news; The third alternative is to immigrate to the State of Israel.
In media interviews, I have seen how the empathy and support we received in the wake of the atrocities of October 7 has slowly run out, replaced by exclusive and obsessive coverage of "Palestinian suffering," the destruction of hospitals by the IDF, and especially the killing of women and children. This coverage puts pressure on elected members of Congress, especially President Biden and his government, to demand from Israel not only temporary pauses, but a comprehensive ceasefire.
So far, elected officials and senior administration officials have faced this pressure, despite sanctions signed by hundreds of diplomats demanding an immediate ceasefire. But this strong stance cannot be taken for granted, and Israel, along with the American Jewish community, must give every possible backing to leaders who still oppose the ceasefire. We must cover and disseminate all those cases in which the IDF does everything in its power not to harm innocent people, and the destruction of Hamas while minimizing collateral damage.
Despite the tense situation, there is no room for despair. Yesterday, a mass rally was held in Washington, D.C., attended by hundreds of thousands of supporters of Israel, Jews and non-Jews. Unlike the pro-Palestinian demonstrators, who lit and burned Israeli and American flags, our demonstrators waved the flags side by side with dignity. This picture will further strengthen the determination of the president and his advisers to continue supporting our right to defend ourselves against the Hamas enemy.
Supporting Israel's right to defend itself, rally in Washington, D.C., yesterday, Photo: AP
Personally, I have represented Israel for many years throughout the United States as an ambassador, but I have never been granted such significant, rigorous and comprehensive security. Despite the difficulties, we, as a country, must give every possible support to our supporters in the United States and around the world who are also fighting for us on the other front. Together, I am sure, we will win.
The writer attended a rally in support of Israel in Washington.
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