Commentary: Israelis are killed in their homes and college students rally for Hamas

“If Hamas put down their weapons, there would be peace. If Israel put down their weapons, there would be no Israel.” That was a tweet shared by Arkansas U.S. Senator Tom Cotton. I’m not sure if he originated it, because it's been repeated without attribution all over the place. But, it is a worthy statement to consider during current cries for a complete cease-fire in the Israeli-Hamas war.

I’m confused by what's happening in America right now. Not by our government who, with the exception of a couple terrorist sympathizers, has been largely supportive of Israel, but by “activists.” The spike in antisemitism in the wake of this war is dumbfounding to me.

I want to try to understand this. An internationally recognized terrorist organization kills 1,400 innocent Israeli civilians, rapes women and forces parents to watch them torture children and pets and that causes a RISE in anti-Jewish sentiment? A RISE in hate crimes against Jews, not Hamas sympathizers?

Yes, I understand that innocent Palestinians have been killed in this war. Yes, that is tragic. But is it not also unavoidable for the statement noted above? Yes, I know the history, and the Israeli government hasn't always done right by Palestinians when it comes to land. But does that warrant what Hamas did on October 7th? No. Does it mean Israel can’t defend itself from a gruesome attack and slaughter? No. Hamas brought this on to the very people they claim to be representing. Why not blame them? Hamas is hiding amongst refugee camps and hospitals and civilian areas, deliberately using innocent civilians as human shields. Deliberately. They are hoarding food and humanitarian aid and not letting the civilians have proper access to it so they can go on TV and say how Palestinians are starving and dying and blame Israel and the United States for it, when it is they who are responsible for the suffering of the Palestinian people. Is Israel supposed to lay down its weapons when the terrorists won’t?

Response here in the U.S.? Our college campuses are being overrun with antisemites feeling comfortable vocalizing their hatred of Jews. Official organizations at some of our alleged most illustrious institutions of learning are writing letters in support of Hamas and criticizing Israel. I saw a video of a Jewish student walking through campus being surrounded by pro-Palestinian students holding flags and refusing him passage to just walk across campus. “Kidnapped” posters depicting hostages missing and still held by Hamas are being ripped down in cities and on college campuses across the nation. Why? You support Hamas kidnapping innocent men, women and children? What other reason would you want them removed? Because it doesn’t fit your narrative if people are visually reminded of what Hamas is actually doing? That’s it.

Speaking of narrative, don’t pay attention to the one on TikTok. Apparently, the videos, likes, etc. are overwhelmingly pro-Palestine vs. pro-Israel. Great way to target young people to take the wrong side, China. Ya, China.

We have approximately 170,000 Palestinian Americans in the United States. I completely understand that community and others want to rally for the Palestinian citizens going through hell right now. I understand they want rallies and marches and even that they want an immediate cease-fire and don't see it my way, as noted above. But that can’t turn into hate and violence toward Jews in the United States. There is no place where political violence should be accepted. Not on our streets and certainly not on our college campuses. That goes in both directions. Anti-Muslim incidents are also on the rise. A 6-year-old boy in Illinois was stabbed to death last month by his landlord screaming “you Muslims have to die.” According to The Council on American-Islamic Relations, reports of bias incidents from Muslims have increased 182% from this same time last year. This is equally unacceptable and must stop.

What I don’t see, however, is college campuses being flooded with anti-Muslim rallies and violence and letters attacking Islam, as we see happening against Jews. I don’t see fights breaking out in American city streets in attacks against Muslims. I don’t want to see any of that.

I simply don’t understand the tone, particularly by young people with no connection to the Middle East. Is it a lack of education? Lack of information? Unrealistic global pacifism? A need to simply always take the “other side” with whatever America is supporting or doing? Getting their “news” from TikTok? I don’t understand it. I don’t like it. And, sadly, there is nothing I can do about it. Can you?

Alicia Preston Xanthopoulos is a former political consultant and member of the media. She’s a native of Hampton Beach where she lives with her family and two poodles. Write to her at PrestonPerspective@gmail.com.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Commentary: US college students cheering Hamas have lost their minds