Parade of the Defeated 

The 60th annual parade in support of Israel was held in New York City. More than 60,000 people participated in the parade, together with those who came to express solidarity, about 100,000. In the past, parades have represented a celebration of the accomplishments of Israel and the Jewish community in America, an expression of the opportunity to be free and equal in one’s country. But this year the mood was different. 

The parade was held under the slogan “Bring them home”. For 8 months now, terrorists have been holding hostages, Israel is under intense pressure to prevent the destruction of Hamas, and anti-Semitism has taken on global proportions. 

The situation American Jews find themselves in today is evidenced by the unprecedented presence of police, intelligence agencies, private security, fences and detectors, surveillance from helicopters and drones to prevent violence and terrorist attacks. Anti-Israel groups were pushed out into the neighborhood streets. The police did their job admirably, but given that there has been nothing like this in previous years, and other parades and demonstrations have been held without the need to resort to such stringent security measures, the Jewish community is far from well off. 

Jewish organizations, schools, synagogues, representatives of federal and city officials, the Israeli government and Knesset, and family members of the hostages participated in the parade. 

“We have become a different people. After October 7, we live with a heavy heart,” said Eric Goldstein, head of the United Jewish Federation. 

New York Mayor Eric Adams, a strong defender of Israel and the New York Jewish community, spoke of Israel’s undeniable right to “destroy Hamas, bring back the hostages.” 

The new atmosphere in the Jewish community is evidenced by the reaction to Senator Chuck Schumer, who has recently shown his true colors and whom he serves. Schumer an enforcer of the Obamo-Biden policy he imposes on Jews, a seasoned demagogue, is used to long applause, but when he said, “We know who is responsible for the atrocity,” he heard the response, “You.” 

There is little reason for optimism today. After the heinous crime of the Palestinians, most countries of the world and international organizations have come to their defense or are trying to equalize the responsibility of Israel and the terrorists. The civilized world has once again capitulated to barbarism, encouraging terrorists to commit more crimes without even thinking of its own values and security. 

The UN, which for decades has taken an anti-Israeli stance, demands a halt to hostilities, but is unable to offer any real alternative to rescuing hostages and ensuring Israel’s security. Three-quarters of U.N. member states have recognized the terrorist state. The International Court of Justice in The Hague equates the leadership of Israel with the leaders of Hamas. 

Massive military and financial support to Hamas from Iran, many Arab countries continues. US and European aid is falling into the hands of terrorists. 

Western democracies are now confirming that the terrorists’ strategy works: the more casualties and destruction, the more sympathy and support for them. 

The anti-Semites have dropped their masks, openly display hatred of Jews, a desire to destroy the Jewish state, and have found the support of the streets and governments, ignorant philistines and intellectuals. Attacks, threats, insults against Jews have become daily.  Words and actions unacceptable to other groups are normalized towards Jews. The new demography works against the Jews. 

Anti-Semitic sentiments are much more inherent in the youth than in the older generation, which determines an even bleaker future for the Jews. The time is not far off when progressives, for whom Jews are a privileged caste, will oust the old guard of Democrats from politics, education, media and culture.

What is happening today did not arise out of the blue; October 7 only brought to light the reality of the situation. Natan Shcharansky, Soviet human rights activist and political prisoner, former minister in the Israeli government, head of international Jewish organizations, was invited on a lecture tour to universities in the United States and Canada 20 years ago. The impression even then is one of shock. Frightened Jews support the anti-Semites or remain silent. Israel is demonized, colonization and exploitation of Palestinians is attributed to it. The mythology of Jewish control of government, press and finance prevails, and those who protest are harassed and ostracized. The Holocaust and Israel’s right to exist are denied, and Hitler is glorified. 

Liberal Jews told Shcharansky that Israel had better not exist and that it was responsible for horrific crimes against the Palestinians. Shcharanskybelieves the origins of current anti-Semitism are in the universities, but there are many more reasons. Centuries of hatred never went away, even if Jews didn’t want to see or understand it. Leftists, liberals, and racial minorities are more susceptible to anti-Semitism than any other social group, but Jews help promote them globally. There are forces in the West that are not interested in peace in the Middle East, which would mean losing the dependence of countries in the region and weakening the ability to pressure them for their own interests.

After the terrorist attack on America on September 11, 2001, the world community supported America’s actions morally and politically, a powerful military coalition was formed, allied troops were sent to nations thousands of miles from American borders, trillions were spent, hundreds of thousands of civilians died, and more than 40 million became refugees. 

In proportion to population, Israel lost 20 times as many civilians after the terrorist attack on Oct. 7 as America did on Sept. 11. But with respect to the Jewish state, the norms, judges and verdicts are different. 

Any sane person realizes that Hamas, Hezbollah, Islamic Jihad and their patron Iran are no less dangerous than Al Qaeda, ISIS, the Taliban, the Houthis. But the attitude towards Israel’s enemies is different, they negotiate with them, are ready to reach agreements and provide all possible assistance. 

America has abandoned those who cooperated with U.S. troops in the wars against terrorists. But now the Biden government is preparing to admit tens of thousands more Palestinians, overwhelmingly pro-Hamas, into the country in a severe immigration crisis. 

Although America has been defeated in all recent foreign wars and has allowed its adversaries to strengthen themselves, apart from the huge financial losses, this has had little effect on its way of life and security. But Israel’s defeat is an existential threat to the existence of the Jewish state, opening the gates of hell for Jews everywhere. 

Nevertheless, the plans to end the war promoted by the Biden government, contrary to empty assurances, ensure the preservation of the criminal regime and the possibility of continuing terrorist activities. This is radically contrary not only to the interests of Israel but also of the American people. America has enormous geopolitical and economic interests in the Middle East, and the defeat of its staunchest ally in the region would greatly strengthen forces hostile to America. 

More than 70% of Americans support Israel, but it seems that the interests and voices of the Jewish state’s enemies dominate. Nearly 100 leading American military leaders published an appeal in the New York Times, “Support Israel against the barbarians…. Against Iran, terrorists in Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Yemen…. These forces are also enemies of the United States and everything we stand for…. Israel is on the front line of the struggle for civilization.” Who knows about this document? But expressions of pro-Palestinian support from PR-seeking politicians and celebrities are always in the spotlight.

Professor Eugene Kantorovich writes in “The Disgusting Lessons of October 7” (The Tablet): “U.S. support has produced brilliant results for Palestinian diplomacy….. Recognizing a Palestinian state has now become a priority of American policy.” 

With all the necessary legal and moral justification and the necessary resources, America missed the opportunity to eradicate a cancer on the body of civilization and allowed the preservation of forces that will always be hostile to it. 

But neither has Israel found an adequate understanding of its place in the world, its relations with allies and hostile neighbors, and its internal conditions and contradictions. The October 7 catastrophe cannot be explained solely by terrorist perfidy. Israel has not identified a winning strategy in urban warfare, in confronting external pressures, international isolation and discrimination. Israel has not found a way to overcome the deep political and religious chaos and division, the struggle of private interests and ambitions. Israel lost the propaganda war and the battle for public opinion. The country has been defeated on the diplomatic front. Its allies are moving further and further away from Israel’s interests and toward its adversaries.

Jews in the Diaspora believed that democracy and legislation, integration, assimilation and contribution to the public welfare would provide them with equal rights and security. The shock reaction has not yet been fully realized. Nor has its own contribution to the situation been realized. Perhaps if the effort and resources spent fighting Trump, collaborating with his haters in hopes of reeducating them, supporting social groups that now deny support for Israel and Jews, had been directed toward protecting their own interests, Jews would not have reached a life like this. 

This year’s Israeli parade might seem an impressive event if not compared to the 1,500 demonstrations in New York after October 7, 90% of which were anti-Israel. Many members of other ethnic, religious, cultural groups and associations participate in pro-Palestinian events, but only a few participate in pro-Israeli ones, and even then, mostly out of obligation. 

Perhaps the parade will have some psychotherapeutic effect, but it cannot determine the course of events and prospects.