Korean Media: Perceptions of Jews

At the beginning of this month, during a hearing before the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee on military action against Iran, a surprising statement was made by a Marine Corps veteran who had served in the Iraq War. He said: "The United States does not want its children to fight for Israel! Nobody wants to die for Israel!" The Marine was later dragged away by police and suffered a broken arm. Following this incident, protest demonstrations supporting him and condemning Israel erupted in Washington, New York, Los Angeles, and other cities.

¬ This scenario would have been unimaginable just a few years ago. In the United States, being labeled anti-Israel is tantamount to social suicide. Only two years ago, Elon Musk faced ad removals from his social media platforms after liking posts criticizing Jews; Harvard and the University of Pennsylvania's presidents were forced out simply for failing to clearly denounce antisemitism. Though Jews make up only 2.4% of the U.S. population, they wield substantial influence across political, economic, and cultural spheres. Moreover, the deeply entrenched perception that "Jews = Holocaust victims" continues to evoke widespread sympathy.

¬ However, according to a Gallup survey conducted in February of last year, 41% of Americans expressed support for Palestine, while support for Israel stood at only 36%. Three years prior, support for Israel was as high as 54%, compared to 31% for Palestine. This significant shift reflects the consequences of the Hamas terrorist attack on Israel in October 2023, which triggered the Gaza war, and the more recent conflict with Iran.

¬ The Jewish people are a nation forged through centuries of persecution. Despite comprising only 0.2% of the world’s population, they account for 22% of Nobel Prize winners. A country no larger than South Gyeongsang Province possesses formidable military and intelligence capabilities. Many were stunned by images of numerous Hezbollah fighters in Lebanon collapsing due to explosions in their pocket-sized communication devices.

¬ Yet today, criticism is mounting that Jews have crossed a moral boundary. The Gaza war has resulted in over 72,000 Palestinian civilian deaths—60 times the number of Israelis killed in the Hamas attack (1,200). After videos surfaced showing Israeli soldiers taking selfies against the backdrop of successive building explosions in Gaza, public opinion began viewing Israel not as a victim but as an aggressor. Polls indicate that among Americans under the age of 30, only 14% hold favorable views toward Israel. Countries including the UK, Spain, and Belgium have suspended free trade agreements and arms deals with Israel. The UK’s Royal Institute of International Affairs (Chatham House) warned: "Israel is jeopardizing its long-term security and international standing." It is a profound irony that the most tragic victims have now become cruel perpetrators.

Source: Dong-a Ilbo

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1860511620184076/

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.