Sickened by the Israel-Hamas war, I reached out to a highly regarded thought leader, Deborah Levine, Founder of the American Diversity Report, for her insight on a disturbing trend – upticks in war-related acts of hate aimed at Jews and Muslims in the U.S.
Terry: Hey Deborah, should I assume that your attention over the past month has been devoted, if not entirely, to the tragedies in the Middle East?
Deborah: Quite a bit. My four grandchildren live in Israel, and we have been following them on Facebook since Oct. 7. While they are safe for now, it has been traumatic for us all, especially when we talk to them on WhatsApp and hear bombing in the background. Meanwhile, I am getting many calls asking for my assistance in bridging the divisiveness that was already part of society but has now been greatly intensified.
Terry: Considering the war and its resulting increases in acts of antisemitism and Islamophobia in the US, what are your thoughts about developing something highlighting divisive/hurtful words and language that divides? For example, I’m not sure that many are familiar with the history behind the expression, “From river to sea,” and language that disparages Palestinians.
Deborah: Wow, talk about controversy! The phrase isn’t about disparagement, it is socio- political. For the Jewish people the phrase means the elimination of Israel and a replacement by a Palestinian nation. For Palestinians, I believe it means freedom from occupation. By the way, what prompted your interest in delving into this treacherous area?
Terry: Oh my, where do I start? Documented incidents of antisemitism, and islamophobia to a lesser extent, have dominated the news, even more since the October 7 attack on Israel. But most acts of hate go unreported, so we have to keep reported incidents in perspective. So to answer your question, I’ve always been interested in the complexities of socio-political history. What have you been seeing?
Deborah: We have seen a growth in antisemitism for quite some time. Incidents range from hate speech to vandalism, to bombings of Jewish sites. The Jewish community has been vigilant in trying to stop hate speech which has been rampant online before it turns into hate crimes. But now that vigilance has to reflect the present level of fear. A recent session offered to the Jewish community here in Chattanooga included local and state law enforcement and the FBI that shared how they were on the lookout for hate crimes, especially by lone wolves who are difficult to track and often influenced by what they see online. Some in the community were too afraid to show up, worried that coming together would provide a target for Jew haters.
Terry: Is it a fact that news coverage seems to be more on the side of reporting acts of antisemitism and less on acts of islamophobia? A while ago at the invitation of a Muslim friend, I visited a mosque during which I asked why they kept plywood in the lobby. I was told that it was because bricks were frequently thrown through their windows and hateful graffiti was constantly scrawled on the building and on plywood covering their windows. You rarely hear about those incidents. They were hesitant to complain fearing more acts.
Deborah: I think that it’s very difficult to tell about any bias. I don’t see data to support this one way or the other. In the midst of so much information we’re getting, personal perspectives are probably going to dictate the answer to this.
Terry: Pro-Palestinians supporters are quick to say that any criticism of Israel is unacceptable and met with claims of antisemitism which stifles free speech. What’s your response to this claim?
Deborah: Good question, and one that has been asked many times over the years. In the past, there has been space to criticize Israel without appearing to be antisemitic. But I believe that in the current situation that may not be the case. Partly it’s because the rhetoric of the past is being applied in a context that makes it closer to hate speech rather than free speech. The dividing line has been disappearing since Oct. 7.
Terry: On the Israeli-Gaza conflict, what are the top questions you would pose to challenge Panelists if you were to facilitate a debate between an Israeli and a Palestinian?
Deborah: In a newspaper column I wrote days after Oct. 7, I said that this is not the time for dialogue. Although I have had many requests for such a dialogue, I’m not sure that it’s possible to appear objective yet. In discussion with others, their attempts to appear impartial in discussions have been perceived as traitorous. For that reason, I’m more inclined to go with the written word which requires more thought and provides more time to think things through.
Terry: Okay, is there is a question or two that you hoped that I would ask, but didn’t?
Deborah: The Israel-Hamas war has far- reaching implications for us and the effect isn’t going away anytime soon. If I were asked for a resolution my first response would be that I have no idea. Then I would bring up the Middle Ages, often called the Dark Ages, as I believe that we are entering a time where violence is a norm, a balanced understanding of history is often irrelevant, and online information will only add to the divisive world that we are entering. Having said that, we must have the courage to educate, inspire and speak out and do less criticizing. I’ll leave with an old rabbinic saying, “If not me than who. If not now, then when.”
Terry: Thanks Deborah. Now here’s a quote from William Faulkner, one that brings this into the historical perspective you reference … “All of us labor in webs spun long before we were born.”
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Thanks Nancy for widening the perspective on this very complex issue. You provided facts and insights that many may not have been aware of and, I’d like to add, in a concise and very well written manner. I salute you.
I personally wish that the conflict could be discussed in a way that recognizes INNOCENT casualties on both sides. All Palestinians are not Hamas, and all Jews do not live in Israel. By painting with a wide brush, we forget about the individuals who are being lumped in with aggressors, being associated with acts of violence of which they have no part.
A lot of people don’t realize that Palestinian zones are not exclusively Hamas, and not exclusively Muslim. There are, in fact, also Palestinian Christians that live(d) in Gaza, and other parts of Israel. When two sides become pitted against each other, individuals become faceless numbers, and there is no onus to take responsibility for any acts committed by each “team.” We forget our humanity in the face of such wars.
There must be room to develop sympathy for the hardships and suffering of all people involved in such conflicts, as it is my belief that only a slim percentage of the millions of people involved are actually involved in perpetrating violence.
Finally, my heart goes out to ALL children who are involved in these attacks in any way. PTSD is the least of their worries, as they often lose their homes, their families, their limbs… There is no heartfelt argument that I can think of that involve children righteously in war.
Praying for peace for those who are not consumed by hate… and there are many. Let peace become the goal and let efforts galvanize peaceful change.