156 Comments
User's avatar
Skepticalcentrist's avatar

Thank you. I’ve been waiting too long for an article to articulate this. The far left claims that the Israeli flag is a shield, but they are using it as a shield as well. A shield to deflect all antisemitic thought and chalk up to “well actually we are just mad at Israel. Being mad at a sovereign state isn’t antisemitic”

This is a lie they tell themselves. Their judgements and biases still stem from antisemitic sentiments.

When you hear somebody cry that Israel controls all the world’s purse strings and acts as a puppet master, that’s an inherently antisemitic thought predicated on the idea that Jews are greedy manipulators that control everything. The fact is Israel does not control much at all. You can easily observe this if you simply pay attention. Like any state, Israel seeks to influence social narratives to its favor. It tries and it largely fails. That’s just self interest, a theme all sovereign states are guilty of. They would not be sovereign if they weren’t self interested…

If you’re going to pick on a single state and build a case that it’s unusually and unacceptably aggressive, your argument should not be littered with hypocrisies about every other state in existence. You should take other states into consideration in your condemnation of Israel, lest you be accused of closed-minded bigotry and stereotyping. This is the very foundation of antisemitism, double standards and punishing Jews for not behaving according to how they think a Jew should behave.

Zaizai在在's avatar

"Isreal doesn't control much" is an absolutely atrocious statement when when any country slightly criticizes the ethnostate they are immediately threatened and intimidated by the u.s (mostly). We saw when the UN had its anniversary meeting the prince of Jordan and several others kept proposing a two state solution as if that'll ever work out. And yes the resistance killed Jews but who promoted hamas to go against the PLO?? Ohhh right isreal. It was indirectly caused by isreal. If Palestine hadn't been colonized Hamas wouldn't have existed in the first place.

Sophie's avatar

And if Germany hadn't murdered 6 million Jews, with the full knowledge of the world, there would be no Israel.

And if and if and if.

We can go back very far, but the fact is that the country of Israel, like the country of the United States, or Germany, or China, or Kenya, all exist. Why is Israel the only country to be asked why it exists? Are you also demanding the dissolution of Germany? Or of the USA, which is not only a settler-colonist society, but an extractive one as well? Or of Australia, which is like the USA without so many guns and arrogance? Are you demanding that imperialist China disappear? And how about Japan, which has massive war crimes and crimes against humanity on its conscience, and which, unlike Germany, it never apologised or paid for?

See where we can go with this line of questioning?

At this precise moment, UAE, a close ally of both the West and of several Asian countries, is funding a murderous, genocidal war in Sudan. Are you up in arms against UAE's support of the RSF's ghastly campain in Sudan? No, of course not.

Palestinians deserve justice and a country; but if you think that Palestinian statehood would magically put an end to antisemitism, then I can only say: read a few history books.

David Hurwitz's avatar

Very thoughtful piece with well written and excellent points, Evan, even though I personally do not agree with all of them.

Antisemitism is the world’s oldest hatred and, very sadly, disturbingly, and horrifically will likely increase in the United States and world in the near future partly because of the appalling conduct of the Israeli government and foolish, reckless, illegal, and immoral decision of the Trump regime to take our nation to war with Iran.

Richard's avatar

So glad to find a comment here I could support. My addition would be there is no such thing as "in-group" morality, your morality is indicated by how you treat "the other".

David Hurwitz's avatar

Bravo, Richard!

Jim's avatar

The question is, how much of it is justified?

"As a Jewish convert to Orthodox Christianity with a fairly wide set of historical books under my belt, it troubles me to see some hierarchs and channels following the world's narrative about "anti-Semitism" and all the things that have been done to "combat anti-Semitism." I'll tell you directly, as a 100% pure blooded Ashkenazi man, how to fix "anti-Semitism:" Anti-Semitism will end when faithless Jews leave other groups of people alone and stop trying to transform their nations and cultures in ways that invariably harm the populations in question. It is really not that complicated.”

– Brother Augustine

David Hurwitz's avatar

Jim,

When I want your opinion, I’ll give it to you. Go fly your Swastika somewhere else! And stop trolling me. You’re a disgrace!

Jim's avatar

Funny how people from all around the world magically feel the same way about them. It’s like the vampire not being able to see it’s own reflection was based off of them.

"As a Jewish convert to Orthodox Christianity with a fairly wide set of historical books under my belt, it troubles me to see some hierarchs and channels following the world's narrative about "anti-Semitism" and all the things that have been done to "combat anti-Semitism." I'll tell you directly, as a 100% pure blooded Ashkenazi man, how to fix "anti-Semitism:" Anti-Semitism will end when faithless Jews leave other groups of people alone and stop trying to transform their nations and cultures in ways that invariably harm the populations in question. It is really not that complicated.”

– Brother Augustine

David Hurwitz's avatar

Jim,

When I want your opinion, I’ll give it to you. Go fly your Swastika somewhere else!

Sharon Bouchard's avatar

The attacker in West Bloomfield yesterday had family in Lebanon that was killed by Israeli bombs.

Bobr's avatar

And?

It’s ok for him to kill Jews?

ANDREW LAZARUS's avatar

No. But stop pretending these acts are independent of the death and destruction Israel visits on the Middle East as its preferred form of security.

Sharon Bouchard's avatar

I think they're obviously related. Whether the attacker was antisemitic before this or not, I've seen no reporting on, so I said nothing about that. All I can say is I know this area well, and under normal circumstances people just go about their business without caring what other people's religious affiliation is.

Having your family killed by a bomb can set people off, even though it's not the ethical response to add to the misery by trying to kill more people. Antisemitism was already on the rise. This war was always going to make that even worse.

Bobr's avatar

Yes, Sharon, antisemitism is likely to get worse. And , by the way, so is xenophobia against Muslims. This is why decent people should really think how they react to hate crimes. Would you comment about an attack on a mosque by pointing out that a terrorist had relatives killed on Sept 11, 2001 or Oct 7, 2023?

ANDREW LAZARUS's avatar

I agree with this. But I think this places a responsibility on American Jews and Muslims to make clear their disapproval of the acts in question. Maybe it isn't fair, but that's what it is.

We agree that antisemitism is on the rise. Are we absolving the Israeli government of any influence on this?

Frau Katze's avatar

Some people would definitely point that out. I know these people.

Sharon Bouchard's avatar

And yet another person mentioned the same fact, but they are not being jumped on for having done so. Care to comment about that?

Bobr's avatar
Mar 13Edited

These acts, Andrew, is something Jews have been very familiar with for centuries way before Israel was on the map.

And the folks like you always found the way to blame them on the Jews themselves, or on other Jews.

ANDREW LAZARUS's avatar

Speaking of blaming other Jews…

But, it's a nice way of getting to ignore what's happening in the West Bank, Gaza, Lebanon, Iran, etc. to pretend it's totally unrelated to perception of Israel. And it's Israel and Jews like yourself who insist on the closest possible identification between Israel and Diaspora Jews, while at the same time condemning attacks on Diaspora Jews over Israeli policy. You don't get it both ways.

To take the OP's example of Newsom and Israel as running an apartheid system in the West Bank—the "refutations", like yours, are all about connecting anything bad said about Israel to historical antisemitism. Nary a one looks at conditions in the West Bank and compares them to an ordinary understanding of "apartheid".

Bobr's avatar

Andrew, thank you for providing a perfect illustration for the bigotry addressed by this article. This is all I have to tell to you.

Sharon Bouchard's avatar

You seem to take automatically take things as blaming Jews and bigotry when people are observing that a nation state taking extreme and ill advised actions is causing a backlash. A government is not a people or adherents of a religion. This is exactly the sort of conflation that leads people to think attacking a synagogue is OK when it clearly isn't. This problem can never be addressed until people can make the distinction enough to have an actual conversation like adults. This is precisely why I didn't choose to engage with you initially. I thought this is exactly where the conversation would go.

Sharon Bouchard's avatar

Go read shit into someone else's merely factual statement. I have things to do and you haven't a clue who I am.

Jack Ryder's avatar

You’re obviously trying to insinuate something here.

Sharon Bouchard's avatar

Oh my, another bad psychic. Bye bye.

Jack Ryder's avatar

The fact you comment but aren’t prepared to engage with anyone that responds says everything.

If you weren’t insinuating something, please tell me the point of what you commented because I obviously missed it. I am being sincere.

Edit: Wow, you blocked me. Is this what we’ve come to? Seriously? It’s kind of embarrassing.

Bruce Bell's avatar

You do have the ability to edit your initial comment if you feel it’s being misinterpreted.

Bobr's avatar

True , I don’t. I can only see the comment you’ve made here. Hence the question.

Best wishes.

Sharon Bouchard's avatar

Look, I get people are super emotional right now. I'm worried for my neighbors, some of whom are Jewish and some Muslim. But a question that reads like it's looking for a fight is not helpful.

SM's avatar
Mar 13Edited

The attackers family was in Hezbollah dummy.

Sharon Bouchard's avatar

Thanks dumbass. I just read that not 30 seconds ago and came here to say so.

Sophie's avatar

yes, and? Was he attacking an Israeli army convoy?

Dan Nelson's avatar

Attacks on any group of Americans because of religious affiliation are absolutely inexcusable. We should all be prepared to stand arm in arm in defense of our fellow Americans.

It may be worth noting that someone also woke up yesterday and decided to kill Lebanese by dropping big bombs in central Beirut.

M K's avatar

Israel bombed Hizballah, the dominant political entity in Lebanon who constantly attacks Israel and is openly and explicitly dedicated to the annihilation of Israel and extermination of all Jews. Not at all comparable to ramming into civilians at a synagogue.

So no, it's not worth noting the bombing of Hizballah in this context.

Dan Nelson's avatar

Maybe you missed the fact that IDF aircraft dropped leaflets on Beirut today, threatening to turn Beirut into Gaza. Charming. Maybe you can rationalize that but sane people cannot.

Would you care to discuss the abominable behavior of Israeli squatters in the West Bank who have killed many more indigenous people than were killed (zero) in the synagogue in Michigan yesterday?

To be clear, I couldn’t be happier that security people in the synagogue were able to take out the attacker. Also, we are now advised that Israel killed four member’s the attacker’s family, none of whom were aligned with Hezbollah, in Lebanon last week.

M K's avatar

Would you care to discuss how any of this is worth noting in a reply to an article about someone trying to kill Jewish civilians near a US Synagogue?

Maybe you can rationalize being duped by or intentionally spreading obvious propaganda, but sane people cannot. The leaflets had the following text (I can't properly paste the Arabic here, but you can easily look it up yourself):

> "If you want to be part of real change and contribute to the prosperity and defense of your country, we are here to listen."

> "You must disarm Hezbollah, Iran's shield."

> "Lebanon is your decision, not someone else's."

> "Unit 504 is working to secure the future of Lebanon and its people."

There was a newspaper-style leaflet with the following:

> "In light of the great success in Gaza, the New Reality newspaper arrives in Lebanon… Where is our state heading?"

The "great success" obviously referring to the dismantling of Hamas, who ruined Gaza just like Hizballah ruined Lebanon. Of course, Al-Jazeera and friends will report this as Israel "threatening" Beirut.

> Would you care to discuss the abominable behavior of Israeli squatters in the West Bank

Sure - I think most should be expelled from the West Bank, and certainly the murderers should (and do) face severe legal consequences. Again, how is this related to the article?

> Also, we are now advised that Israel killed four member’s the attacker’s family, none of whom were aligned with Hezbollah, in Lebanon last week.

Correction: according to "local officials" and the family themselves, the four members weren't aligned with Hizballah. And you believe them and spread the info without questioning it.

In any case, war is ugly and civilians get killed. That doesn't mean that Hizballah (or anyone) can wage war on Israel (or anyone) without Israel striking back.

David Hurwitz's avatar

Israel is doing everything imaginable to inflame the very antisemitism it was established to extinguish.

But that does not give anyone the right to murder Jews simply for being Jews.

Dan Nelson's avatar

Of course. Attempts to do that are reprehensible and we must do everything to protect the innocent around the world and especially to protect our fellow Americans here in the U.S. This includes Jews, Muslims, Christians, other religions and all races and ethnicities.

I would gladly help guard my local synagogue if it is at risk and I’m sure my Jewish brothers would do the same

at their local mosque or church if it was at risk.

M K's avatar

No, they're not. Fighting the enemies who attack Israel and openly and explicitly call for its destruction (at least) is not inflaming antisemitism. The Islamo-fascist propaganda is inflaming antisemitism. It had for decades in the Arab and Muslim worlds, and has been brought to the West.

And again, nothing that Israel does is justification for antisemitism, which is the main thrust of the article - the article with the predicitable comments that have brought up Israel as a cause for antisemitism.

David Hurwitz's avatar

Antisemitism is never acceptable at any time. NEVER. I made that exact point in my comment.

But to say that Israel’s myriad human rights atrocities are not inflaming antisemitism in the United States and across the world is completely wrong.

In fact, the author made this very point in this piece even as he rightly condemned the rising antisemitism in the U.S. in the strongest of terms.

Dan Nelson's avatar

It seems you come from a perspective that the world is divided into two groups - Jews and all others. I come from the perspective that all human life is sacred and that attacks on innocents in Lebanon are as despicable as attacks on Israel or attacks on a synagogue or church in the U.S.

I’d dare to guess that you are far more concerned about one small country, not the U.S., than about all other countries combined. Maybe you’ve been duped by obvious propaganda. About birthrights, etc. and the “great success” being the genocidal murder of almost 70,000 people with tens of thousands being infants and children. Some “great success” that is……

It is all horrible and all to be resisted and mourned.

Sharon Bouchard's avatar

Israel also intentionally dropped white phosphorous bombs on Beirut against all the rules of war. If you don't know what white phosphorus does, go find some video and don't you dare look away while watching children's skin being set on fire. Oh yeah, and those bombs are provided to Israel by the US. They were used in Beirut in the 80s also, and at that time Canada reported on the attempt to remove country of origin on casings. I want no part of this barbarism. If I thought this war could remove Iran's oppressive regime I might have a slightly different view. But it won't do that. This is just some incompetent men getting their rocks off destroying people while they try to avoid the consequences of their other crimes.

M K's avatar

> "Israel also intentionally dropped white phosphorous bombs on Beirut"

This is made up.

Also, white phosphorus isn't banned.

Dan Nelson's avatar

Here is what a routine Google search tells us. Of course, we already know about Israel’s attitude about taking all reasonable precautions to avoid civilian harm.

“International law prohibits the use of white phosphorus bombs in urban areas if they are deployed indiscriminately, as this can endanger civilians and violate humanitarian principles. Specifically, the use of such munitions must comply with the requirement to take all feasible precautions to avoid civilian harm, as outlined in international humanitarian law.”

https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/human-rights-watch-says-that-israel-has-been-illegally-using-white-phosophorus-2026-03-10/

M K's avatar

Yes, we know that Israel tells civilians in an area to evacuate in advance before taking out the military installation that had been intentionally put in the civilian area by the "Resistance".

And yes, thanks for confirming that white phosphorus isn't banned. I already knew that though? Also, not even the Islamo-fascist propaganda claims that Beirut was hit with white phosphorus?

So what's your point? And again, what does any of this have to do with attacks on Jews in the US?

Dan Nelson's avatar

Nothing speaks of precision bombing more than telling more than a million people to evacuate their homes.

And please reread what I sent about WP and Israels use of it.

ANDREW LAZARUS's avatar

The "made up", I'm not sure.

That white phosphorus is not banned is correct. I wonder how this entered the memestream.

ANDREW LAZARUS's avatar

They bombed a lot of other people, too.

It’s not clear Hezbollah is the target. The target really seems to be to lay waste to enough of the area that Israelis will feel ‘secure’.

M K's avatar

> "They bombed a lot of other people, too"

Such as?

> "It’s not clear Hezbollah is the target."

Yes it is.

> "The target really seems to be to lay waste to enough of the area"

No it doesn't.

Frau Katze's avatar

I read on a Catholic site that a Christian village in Lebanon was also hit.

M K's avatar

Yes, Hizballah, despite being Muslim, can in fact operate from non-Muslim majority places. Mind blowing.

Dan Nelson's avatar

I’d venture to guess 20 Lebanese people not affiliated with Hezbollah have been killed for every Hezbollah member who met the same fate.

ANDREW LAZARUS's avatar

Well, an Israeli official speaking on background to the Times of Israel mostly disagrees with you.

“The Lebanese government needs to get a grip on their country,” says the official, “or Hezbollah parts of Beirut will soon look like Gaza.”

Now, what exactly are "Hezbollah parts of Beirut", and how many non-Hezbollah civilians live there? The widespread bombing campaign was clearly not restricted to military targets. What look like shops and apartments are in ruins. As usual, civilian casualties, claimed to be "collateral damage" but looking more like "collateral benefit" to encourage the Lebanese government to commit suicide. (Hezbollah used to have more arms than the official government. Don't know if that is still the case.)

But dream on. It's much nicer to re-run "Exodus" through your head than look at today's reality.

What would you be posting if Iran managed to bomb the "Likud parts of Jerusalem" in order to get the Israeli government to finally rein in Smotritch and Ben Gvir?

M K's avatar
Mar 13Edited

> `or Hezbollah parts of Beirut will soon look like Gaza`

Yes, Hizballah constantly attacks Israel, so Israel should do what it takes to stop those attacks. Some parts of where the enemy is will be destroyed. Welcome to war. Hizballah should consider not waging war. Of course, that's their only purpose, so they need to be incapacitated or they won't ever stop.

> `The widespread bombing campaign was clearly not restricted to military targets.`

Baseless claim.

> `As usual, civilian casualties, claimed to be "collateral damage" but looking more like "collateral benefit" to encourage the Lebanese government to commit suicide`

This makes no sense. Lebanese civilian casualties benefit Hizballah, and hurt Israel. The central military strategy of the "Axis of Resistance" is to use casualties as propaganda to reduce support for Israel. How do civilian casualties "encourage the Lebanese government to commit suicide"?

> `It's much nicer to re-run "Exodus" through your head`

You're arguing with a caricature you dreamed up. I had to look up what Exodus was, and no, that is definitely not running through my head.

> `look at today's reality.`

Yes, the reality in which Islamo-fascists are trying to wipe out the liberal democracy of Israel. I don't want that. Do you?

> `What would you be posting if Iran managed to bomb the "Likud parts of Jerusalem" in order to get the Israeli government to finally rein in Smotritch and Ben Gvir?`

Do the Likud parts of Jerusalem have military targets?

Anyway, as loathsome as Smotritch and Ben Gvir are, the Iranian Regime's (and friends) eternal goal of wiping out Israel - and their related actions - is the root cause of the conflict. So, I would not support "reining in" operations against the Iranian Regime and their proxies.

ANDREW LAZARUS's avatar

> You're arguing with a caricature you dreamed up. I had to look up what Exodus was, and no, that is definitely not running through my head.

You are correct; this was unfair.

> How do civilian casualties "encourage the Lebanese government to commit suicide"?

My reading is that the Israeli government is encouraging the Lebanese government to expel or disarm Hezbollah. Three years ago, this would certainly have been impossible: Hezbollah was better armed, probably far better trained, and certainly more reliable in terms of mutiny and defections. Hezbollah is weaker now, but just as with calls for Iranian civilians to overthrow the Mullah Regime, this seems to be encouraging futile, suicidal civil war.

> `The widespread bombing campaign was clearly not restricted to military targets.` https://english.news.cn/20260313/02ba4a8b51ad43138c72905f2ea2a67d/2026031302ba4a8b51ad43138c72905f2ea2a67d_CcrbeeE000029_20260313_CBMFN0A003.JPG

Frau Katze's avatar

But they didn’t only kill Hezbollah. A Christian village was also hit.

M K's avatar

Yes, Hizballah, despite being Muslim, can in fact operate from non-Muslim majority places. Mind blowing.

Ely's avatar

You can rationalize killing Jews for any reason. Today it’s Israel. Back when I was born in pre-Israel British Palestine, my parents had to contend with Muslims committing atrocities against Jews. Nothing has changed except the names. The West is falling as it gives license to antisemitism.

Rational Lib's avatar

Most of the article is ok but going after Mamdani because he said "globalize the intifada" and his wife liked a post is exactly the kind of silly attack that gets the left to take antisemitism accusations less seriously.

Here you have a Muslim mayor of one of the most Jewish cities in America, who's picked Jewish staff and has very consistently called for unity. Then you ignore the president, who has allied politically with open anti-semites like Nick Fuentes and Kanye West, and even pardoned violent Jan 6ers, from the guys wearing "Camp Auschwitz" t shirts to Jake Lang, who promptly used his freedom to start doing Nazi salutes outside AIPAC. If Trump has tweeted "globalize the intifada" years ago, would anyone even care in the slightest?

Why does Mamdani's vague tweet from however many years ago get so much more vitriol from the Jewish community than Trump's mainstreaming of antisemitism? Let's be honest, if Mamdani was a white Christian, no one would pay any attention or talk about him being antisemitic. Antisemitism may be a problem in the Muslim community, but Islamophobia is at least as much of a problem in the pro-Israel community.

The reality is we have 2 parties in America: the hate party and the anti-hate party. If you can't see that, just look at Trump's latest tweet blaming terrorism on "bad genes". And the fact that I don't even have to tell you which is which.

We have to unite against hate and that means uniting against Republicans. Anyone who wants to be choosy with which prejudice they condemn is doing to find others doing the same when the prejudice is directed at them.

Charles Justice's avatar

The Israeli army has committed genocide on the Palestinians, killing tens of thousands of women and children. Now it is attacking Iran and Lebanon and assassinating the leaders in Iran, without any provocation. Flying an Israeli flag, means you are a part of this.

SM's avatar

“Without any provocation”. Literally the war in Gaza was provoked intentionally by Iran through Hamas, its proxy you fucking moron.

Charles Justice's avatar

In fact, Israel had already struck Iran last year in response to Hamas' invasion of Israel. There was no recent provocation from Iran for this "double tap". Is there some divine rule that allows Israel to bomb Iran any time it wants because of a war that happened three years ago? I can see you have strong feelings about this, but can you try to keep it civil?

M K's avatar

No divine rule, and none needed. The Iranian regime declared eternal war with the US and Israel; it's the entire basis for their existence. The Iranian regime calls it "resistance". There doesn't need to be any "rule" to "allow" attacking them.

> "Israel had already struck Iran last year in response to Hamas' invasion of Israel."

Were they? Anyway, if you view the most recent attacks on Iran as a continuation of last year's strikes, does that help you? Or maybe you can view it as a response for the attacks on Israel since last year?

> "There was no recent provocation from Iran"

Iran simply re-arming themselves and their proxies, advancing their nuclear program, continuing to attack through their proxies, and continuing with their global propaganda blitz is more than enough provocation.

Charles Justice's avatar

Since last years bombing Iran was doing nothing overt against Israel, so I call this assassination and bombing unprovoked. Assassination of a sovereign leader is illegal under international law. Or I guess the idea, with Trump, Putin, and Netanyahu, is that laws don't matter anymore.

M K's avatar

This is playing with words. I call the Houthis and Hizballah attacking Israel overt actions against Israel. Those groups are funded almost entirely by the Iranian regime.

The Supreme Leader commands the Iranian military. The Iranian regime is at war with and is committing acts of war against Israel, so it's not a violation of international law. And yes, Iranian proxy militias are an extension of the Iranian military. Iran can't just outsource half of their military and claim innocence because Hamas, the Houthis, Hizballah, etc. aren't "Iran".

Charles Justice's avatar

Israel's response is unprovoked and disproportionate to the acts of Iran's proxies. What would you say if Iran assassinated Nenanyahu?

Bruce Bell's avatar

Maybe you’re being sincere because you really don’t follow the region that closely. Israel and Iran have been in a shadow war, Iran inciting violence though it’s proxies mostly against civilians and Israel targeted scientists and military leaders or facilities all of which exist to attack Israel.

The retaliation you are talking about was different, it was the first time Iran launched ballistic missiles into Israel, and worse at civilians. What you are seeing now was the inevitable outcome of that first attack, the stakes had changed dramatically. The risk was now existential. No nation if they could would allow a hostile enemy to possess weapons and the willingness to use them in such a way. Only because it’s Israel do so many end up standing with the Iranian regime. And while certainly there can be criticism, my view is there’s a little to much antisemitism being stoked.

Charles Justice's avatar

I don't see any evidence that Iran has got a nuclear weapon or is ready to build one imminently. I think Israel is the aggressor here, assassinating Iran's leader and bombing military targets. They are certainly giving Iranians all the more reason to develop a nuclear device in order to defend themselves. The approach should have been to bring on alliances to hem Iran in and weaken them, but this is only going to make them more determined.

SM's avatar

You just tried to justify the attempted murder of 140 children so no, I can’t keep it civil.

Richard Turnbull, J.D.'s avatar

I don't think "attempted murder" means what you think it means.

Key Elements of Attempted Murder

To secure a conviction for attempted murder, the prosecution must prove two primary elements beyond a reasonable doubt:

Specific Intent to Kill: The defendant must have possessed the deliberate, premeditated intent to cause the death of another person. Merely acting recklessly or intending to cause serious bodily harm (without death) is generally insufficient for attempted murder.

Substantial Step (Direct Action): The defendant must have taken a "direct step" or "substantial step" toward killing the victim. This act goes beyond mere preparation, such as buying a weapon, and is a direct action toward the intended victim. Examples include shooting at someone (even if it misses), stabbing, or poisoning.

***************** You're essentially claiming the bombers knew it was a girl's school and aimed at it trying to kill THEM, instead of using out-of-date maps and info and unintentionally striking the target not knowing it was a school.

Note: Hamas used hospitals, schools, apartment blocks and other civilian infrastructure to hide themselves, which is in itself a war crime, by the way.

SM's avatar

I was criticizing Charles Justice.

Charles Justice's avatar

I didn't try to justify anything. As far as I'm aware the U.S. bombed that girls school in Iran.

Richard Turnbull, J.D.'s avatar

By mistake - there's no evidence they knew the building was being used as a girl's school. Reckless maybe, incompetent, something Trump would sign off on. But not murder.

Bobr's avatar

Thank you for perfectly illustrating the bigotry discussed in this article

Charles Justice's avatar

What evidence do you have for bigotry in these comments?

Mike Hammer's avatar

Insane how so many countries in that area slaughter their own women and children by the hundreds of thousands. Syria, Iran .. just horrible. Somehow, I believe that if neighboring countries are fighting and they see that the countries they’re fighting are killing their own people, then life just becomes cheap to everybody. Nobody wins.

Martyn Edwards's avatar

What is an acceptable term to use to criticise what the Israeli government does without it being antisemitism? Everyone in the world should be open to criticism wherever they are on the social, political or religious spectrum. People of all stripes do things we abhor and we should be able to criticise any act carried out by anyone. Criticism isn’t hatred it’s the way we humans make sense of the world.

Kumara Republic's avatar

Antisemites & Kahanists feed off each other. And the vicious cycle of revenge repeats.

SM's avatar

Beautiful piece by the way.

Elena Freshman Schumann's avatar

I think I might have already commented on this but, as Jesus said "LET HIM WHO IS WITHOUT SIN CASTE THE FIRST STONE" Look at yourselves first. I should be a Jew but you will not let me in even though I have ancestors that died in World War II Lithuania for only one reason: THEY WERE JEWS. IF any should be a Jew, it should be me and for that reason alone. Yet my mother's mother's mother was not a Jew, even though everyone else in my family is, so I am NOT A JEW. MY ANCESTORS DIED BECAUSE THEY WERE JEWS, YET I AM NOT A JEW. Think about that and wonder why many people may be antisemetic.

Eric B Lange's avatar

I gave a (gentile) friend of mine some sage advice to have his member altered as an adult so he could marry an Orthodox Jewess (a remarkable woman by the name of Neomi) She had HUGE bazooombas and a very pretty smile and serious gams and amazing hair that went everywhere .[A serious intellect to reckon with although she used her fingers like a bunch of Bananas - you can't have everything ]. .. Collin looked like a cross between a moist snail sandwich and a transparent Hamster ... and was a very quiet man.

.

I said "Colin dude" (we didn't say "Dude" back then ) - this is the best you're ever gonna do - in a million years - totally worth it even though I was too young to remember the same procedure it all works out great in the end"... [Unless you go to health spar in Baden Baden where some extremely old fat German male - C**** is just gonna stare at you like "JUUUUUUUUUUDE JUUUUUUUUUUDE JUUUUDE JUUUUU------DE " at you dick for many minutes on end like - how the hell did zey ever let such people in in here. Like a jack hammer of telepathy coupled with the German Stare in a completely "textile free" environment from across the open shower stalls.].

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That does not make me a Rabbi.

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@EFS.

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These are important discussions ...

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I am not Jewish.

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Eric B Lange's avatar

Sadly I am too much of atheist and humanistic - misanthrope and allergic to ALL clubs to even join the local church of Beethoven.

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The same reason my old man didn't join the unions when the UK went full on Marxist in the 1970s.

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Eric B Lange's avatar

The only religious experience I have ever had was in the Sultan's Mosque in Turkey - so that makes me a bit of an outlier.

Eric B Lange's avatar

But I do like the nature and bunny rabbits and shit... That kind of thing...

Eric B Lange's avatar

Although I always wanted to start of chess club for really bad chess players.

Fatima Abo Alasrar's avatar

Powerful read, Evan. I'm glad you wrote this, even though you shouldn't have had to. Restacked.

Eric B Lange's avatar

That is a truly epic handle - my neighbors gave me a nudge and I got there in the end.

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SUE Speaks's avatar

Lots of food for thought, but the main issue, of what Israel is doing to Palestine, isn't front and center.

I am old enough to have suffered being the only Jewish child in my school system at a time when everyone hated Jews. You had to read the ads for vacation spots, where if it said, "Churches nearby," it meant no Jews allowed. As we have suffered, we've thought of ourselves as having the high ground -- until now.

I produced this wonderful animation that was finished after the attack on Jews at the music event, when It became unfashionable to sing any Jewish praises. Maybe there is something you would like to do with this largely unseen treasure?

"IF THERE WEREN'T ANY JEWS": https://filmfreeway.com/IfThereWerentAnyJews

https://iftherewerentanyjews.com/index.html

William N. Fordes's avatar

As a guy born and raised in Brooklyn, and Queens, many of my friends growing up were — and still are — Jewish. Today, I advise every Jew I know to learn how to protect themselves, and by that, I mean buy and learn how to use a gun. CCW even here in CA is an option. If you are a Jew in America and you think you are safe from the lunatic, deranged Anti-Semites that roam the country, you are wrong.

Golda Velez's avatar

yes and. there is rising antisemitism, it is horrific and scary and absolutely indefensible. bombing, attacking synagogues, any group of people because of religion or membership in a group is a hate crime.

however. This Lang guy, if he was specifically denigrating another group and then members of that other group attacked him specifically, that is still a crime but it is not antisemitism. its being mad at that guy because of his actions then taking illegal and violent action against him. its a crime, but a different one.

Lloyd's avatar

Pretty self serving. Start being honest and try explaining the reason for, the methodology of and the impact of influence of AIPAC et al on Congress and the country.

Bobr's avatar

Thank you for perfectly illustrating the bigotry discussed in the article

Lloyd's avatar

Well, I have Jewish friends, Jewish doctors and I have worked professionally with members of that community for the better part of 35 years. There are plenty of good people in that community. That said, there is also a component driven to obtain control and power. A person doesn’t have to look very far to find explicit examples - by them - to prove the point of concern, worry and even distress.

Jack Ryder's avatar

As has always been the case with every group or community throughout history? There always has been and there always will be people solely motivated by the pursuit of power.

Lloyd's avatar

But we are not dealing with history. The issue at hand, today, is, in part, as I’ve demonstrated above.

Today. What does society do about today? What happened in the past is irrelevant for the purposes of figuring out what to do about the influence and impact today.

Ie. the fighting in the Middle East. Stop the fighting and start talking. The corrupt influence on the government? Eliminate it then cleanse how govt works

Bruce Bell's avatar

Riddle me this, who has more money to influence politicians, in no particular order. 1.Oil Industry, 2. Tech Industry. 3. Wealthy Oil Rich Arab Nations or 4. AIPAC.

You give that a little thought.

Lloyd's avatar

A couple of other serious influencers are the Catholic Church and King Charles III. I’ll let you figure out how they fit in.

After that, go ahead and detail which one contributes influence peddling $ to more than 98% of Congress and why direct influence peddling is so harmful.

Lloyd's avatar

Whomever has more money isn’t the point. Or did that logic escape you. Ya. Probably. You give that a little thought hey Bruce. Riddle me this? You get that out of Readers Digest?

Bruce Bell's avatar

My point lost on you is AIPACs ability to influence policy, is no greater than that of other lobbying groups that may have other priorities.

Lloyd's avatar

Yes, it is.

You missed the point that AIPAC $ directly influences 98 % of Congress. Directly. In their bank accounts. Add the communities overt influence and their money corrupts like no other.

Sure, the other groups are influential, but not in the same way or degree.

Enough with the patronizing attitude Bruce.

Scott's avatar

You should have stopped just before “That said …”

Lloyd's avatar

Have v gave. This bloody app.

SM's avatar

Thoughtless verbiage that doesn’t even come close to addressing the article.

Lloyd's avatar

Noting the two previous pictures, consider explaining this knowing the influence on the US government and the child rapist himself. Remember, he said he attacked Iran because Jared Kushner told him to. Jared, an unelected and non- government person.

Lloyd's avatar

How about this? See the sponsor on the wall behind this lunatic? Kindly note what Lindsay said.

Lloyd's avatar

Care to explain this, particularly the impact on 99% of society? Guess who many of the largest beneficiaries were?

Lloyd's avatar

The article can be summed up my the writers comment near the end - be more tolerant.

My “thoughtless verbiage” was specifically chosen to illicit a response regarding how the U.S. is controlled, why and what should be done about it.

Care to take a shot at it?