A ‘progressive’ Jew feels the animosity from fellow progressives

I am a progressive Jew. I have dedicated five decades of my life to working to improve whatever community I was living in. As a young New York City worker, I led an organization over a five-year period that saved 14,000 jobs. I organized sit-ins at the U.S. Department of Labor and was arrested several times. I worked in the reproductive rights movement and was in the leadership of CARASA, the Committee for Abortion Rights and Against Sterilization Abuse. In the St. Petersburg community, I led a 4-year-long fight for campaign finance reform, where I met and friended innumerable progressives in Pinellas County.

Many on the left no longer think of me as progressive because I don't buy into their hatred for Israel. Many today use Zionist as a slur. I am a Zionist; I believe the Jewish people have a right to self-determination.

I am stunned by the alliance between dedicated progressives and radical Islamists. How can 21st-century progressives who work for human rights and social justice find a common cause with Hamas? This religiously doctrinaire terrorist group is fighting for a society governed by Shariah Islamic law. Iran is driving this radical bus, and Hamas, Hezbollah and Houthis are along for the ride.

Those who champion feminism and LGBTQ rights turn a blind eye to the horrific way women and gay people are treated by radical Islamists worldwide. Electric shock therapy is used to "cure" homosexuality. Women can't drive or leave home without a male escort. A loose hijab can lead to death.

Progressive bias is clear in the low expectations of terrorists globally as well as for various domestic groups. It reminds me of my early organizing years in 1970s New York City studying with left-wing groups that slavishly followed the USSR or Maoist China, remaining bound to the likes of Stalin, Trotsky, Mao Tse-tung and others while disassociating from their murderous dictatorial regimes. The mental gymnastics was often incomprehensible.

Gaza today is at war. There is no genocide by Israelis. One actual example of genocide occurred at Babyn Yar near Kiev during World War II. Nazis marched small groups of Jews to a ravine. They were forced to undress and were then executed and pushed into the ravine. This action occurred hundreds of times in two days, creating a mass grave at Babyn Yar. Over those two days, the Nazis genocidally massacred 33,771 Jews.

The death count in Gaza is high for three reasons: Hamas uses Palestinians as martyrs; Hamas terrorists barricade themselves among civilians; and Hamas itself famously inflates death counts.

Hamas leaders live in luxury in Qatar, sitting on billions of dollars of international aid meant to build up Gaza, which today might have been a beautiful port-side city. Tourism dollars might have sparked the proliferation of agriculture and the fishing industry. Instead, that money has been used to build a war machine with tunnels and bombs.

The manifesto of each radical group currently attacking Israel — Hamas, Hezbollah and Houthis — calls for the destruction of Israel and death to the Jews. Their aim is not peace. The Palestinian people have been offered a two-state solution many times. In their reply "From the river to the sea," what is the fate of the 9.66 million Israelis — 73% Jews, 21% Arab Israeli citizens, 6% Christians and others? Will every day be Oct. 7?

Silence among progressives regarding theocratic, autocratic laws in Middle Eastern countries, reserving their condemnation solely for Israel, the only democracy in the Middle East, is mind-boggling. This is Jew hatred — plain and simple.

In conclusion: When Hamas, Hezbollah and Houthis say they want to kill Jews and destroy Israel, I believe them. And it's time for smart people to pay attention, take a deep dive and look at the big picture: Iran is leading you around by the nose.