Leslie Roberts: Israel doesn't want sympathy. It wants the same rights as every other nation

National Post

22-07-2025

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Yet authorities fail to do very much to prevent it or to find out who's responsible. 'Let people express their views,' they say. But this isn't about views. It's about fear. It's about Jews being told to hide who they are, stay quiet, and accept that, once again, they're being blamed for a war they didn't start.
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Ask any Jew. They know the difference between protest and persecution. They know what it means to be the original targets of hate crimes. They recognize this for what it is — the same old hatred, wearing a new mask.
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And here's the twist. While all this unfolds, Israel is led by a man most Israelis don't even want. Benjamin Netanyahu is deeply unpopular. Before October 7, he was already facing widespread protests over his attempts to weaken the judiciary, while standing trial for corruption, bribery and breach of trust. Many blame him for dividing the country, for mismanaging security, and for allowing the October 7 attack to happen in the first place. Israelis protest him in the streets. They want him gone. But right now, they have no choice. He's the one in charge, and until the war is over, they're relying on him to lead, protect, and win.
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This isn't about politics anymore. It's about existence.
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Israel's strength, the kind that keeps it standing when the world turns its back, didn't come out of nowhere. The Jewish people have had to learn to survive in every kind of darkness, to rebuild in the ashes, and to grow stronger than those who tried to destroy them. That strength isn't aggression. It's resilience. It's experience. And it's what keeps Israel alive today.
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And in war, sadly, innocent victims are inevitable. No one wants that, except Israel's enemies, some of whom are willing to sacrifice their own people.
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Hamas has repeatedly shown it prioritizes its own military goals over civilian safety, often using people as shields. Israel discovered tunnels beneath hospitals and schools — including one under the European Hospital in Khan Younis, linked to the compound of senior Hamas commander Mohammed Sinwar. The group has stored weapons in civilian spaces and even positioned women and children at the front lines to deter attacks. This isn't collateral damage, it's deliberate: hostages being held in bustling residential areas further highlight how Hamas exploits civilians to mask its operations.
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