Setting the Record Straight

A Response to ‘Update on the Crisis in Palestine’

By Ethan Cantus

“Fighting ignorance can be just as important as fighting violence. Educating yourself and staying informed is always the first step to meaningful change.” These are the words that Brie Samaniego left us with in her article, “Update on the Crisis in Palestine,” in the March edition of the OCSA Evolution. I do not believe that Samaniego intended to promote anti-Semitic ideas, but the biased and misleading narrative in her article exemplifies the insidious nature of misinformation. Unfortunately, this poorly researched article was full of misinformation and misrepresented “facts” that fail to tell the whole story about what is going on in that area.

Samaniego states, “Oftentimes, anti-Zionism is conflated with anti-Semitism.” However, this statement ignores the fact that anti-Zionism, which denies Jews their right to a homeland, is anti-Semitic. In fact, on May 1st, 2024, The House of Representatives voted to expand the definition of anti-Semitism to include anti-Zionism.

The article also presented misleading maps of Palestine, credited to the University of Richmond. You need to know that the University was using these maps to show how information can be misrepresented using maps! The original map came from an anti-Israel BDS (Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions) organization, the Palestine Awareness Coalition. These maps oversimplify the complex political tensions and human experiences of the time and their use as a form of propaganda.

Samaniego claimed that “Both violent and non-violent resistance ensued, from both sides.” This quote is in the context of the period between 1922 and 1947 when many Jews returned to Palestine, their homeland—Israel. However, the Arabs who were already there tried to get rid of the Jews through violence. The violence between Arab Palestinians and Jewish Palestinians was nearly one-sided from 1920 until 1937. Only in 1936 did a Jewish extremist organization, Irgun, start employing violent tactics, which were heavily criticized by the Jewish governing body.

It is only recently that Arabs have started to employ non-violent resistance in the form of propaganda, misinformation, and “help us ads” that fail to mention the celebrations in Gaza after brutally slaughtering innocent Jewish children and babies. Before the present day, it has only been violence.

Samaniego mentioned the Nakba, or “The Catastrophe,” in 1948, stating that “The partition resulted in violent militant attacks against Palestinians living in the newly established Israel, forcing around 750,000 Palestinians to flee with thousands killed.” However, this account ignores the fact that the war started the day after Resolution 181 was passed. (November 30, 1947). On May 14, 1948, almost immediately after Israel gained its independence, five Arab countries attacked Israel. This war just happened to end with an Israeli victory. All wars result in deaths and refugees. Unlike the Palestinians, Jews do not celebrate this. After this war, Jews decided they would never again allow themselves to be slaughtered and started fighting back from their oppressors. Those included the Arabs who attacked them and any other person who directly backed their attackers. After the war, Arab nations refused to absorb Arab Palestinian refugees into their lands. However, it is important to note that the 150,000–160,000 Arabs who did not attack their Jewish neighbors were able to remain in Israel after the war and become Israeli citizens.

Samaniego’s article also perpetuated misinformation about the Israeli government’s actions, stating that they “employed tactics such as psychological and biological warfare, increased land seizure, expulsion of Palestinians, and destruction.” This is full of anti-Semitic conspiracy theories; there were no land seizures before 1948, when Israel started seizing the land from which they were being attacked. The claims of psychological and biological warfare are made without providing any evidence.

The article also mentioned Hamas, an armed resistance group founded in 1987, stating that they call for the “dismantlement of Israel.” However, this is a euphemism, as Hamas’ goals, as stated in their 1988 Covenant, include the complete obliteration of Israel and the killing of all Jews. Article 11 states, “Israel will exist and will continue to exist until Islam will obliterate it, just as it obliterated others before it.” Article 7 states, “The Day of Judgment will not come about until Moslems fight Jews and kill them. Then, the Jews will hide behind rocks and trees, and the rocks and trees will cry out: ‘O Moslem, there is a Jew hiding behind me, come and kill him.’”

Finally, the article’s account of recent events, including the October 7th breach of the Gaza-Israel fence, is complete Hamas/Palestinian propaganda. The article used “violently” to describe Israel’s response to being attacked but failed to describe the actions of the Hamas terrorist attacks in the same way. Hamas deliberately targeted small children, over 350 young people at a music festival, and civilians; Israel does not deliberately target civilians. The statement that more than 30,000 Palestinians have been killed, as well as “94 hospitals and healthcare facilities” bombed, cannot be verified by independent third-party sources and is a Hamas narrative. Though the exact number of casualties is disputed, a great number of civilians, women, and children have been tragically killed or injured. Any innocent life lost is a tragedy. Hamas’s actions have worsened the situation, and their refusal to release hostages and protect civilians has caused further suffering. We mourn all the innocent lives lost and urge the Palestinian people to demand a new government that prioritizes their well-being and safety.

This piece serves as a crucial reminder that even seemingly harmless articles can harbor hidden biases and perpetuate harmful stereotypes. Although I can’t possibly cover all the incorrect facts, it is important to know that the danger of misinformation lies in its ability to subtly sow seeds of hatred, which can germinate and grow if left unchallenged. By scrutinizing such narratives and promoting balanced perspectives, we can cultivate a more informed and empathetic understanding of complex issues, ultimately combating anti-Semitism and hate. As Samaniego said, “Educating yourself and staying informed is always the first step to meaningful change.” Meaningful change requires not only education and information but also a commitment to balanced and nuanced perspectives. Recognizing the complexities of conflict and avoiding the perpetuation of harmful biases and misinformation is crucial to achieving this goal.