In April, a fire was intentionally set at the Pennsylvania governor’s mansion. The arsonist claimed it was meant as an act against Gov. Josh Shapiro, motivated by a desire to harm the Palestinian people.
Then on May 21, two young diplomats from the Israeli Embassy in Washington, D.C. were shot outside a Jewish museum. The suspect, a 30-year-old from Chicago, reportedly shouted “Free Palestine” as he was taken into custody. He later stated, “I did it for Gaza.”
Just ten days later, an Egyptian national, who was in Boulder, Colorado on an expired visa, disrupted a demonstration supporting Israeli hostages, using homemade devices to incite chaos. He was heard shouting about the deaths of civilians in Gaza—the irony of protesting violence against civilians while attempting to inflict harm himself seemed lost.
These incidents, perhaps fueled by a rise in anti-Semitic sentiment, suggest a troubling trend. Protests at universities like Cornell and George Washington University, framed as “pro-Palestinian,” are often just a cover for this escalating rhetoric and action.
This pattern isn’t new; it stems from a long history of politically motivated violence tied to the Arab-Israel conflict. Many who commit these acts seem to be mistakenly convinced that their violence aids the Palestinian cause, even though there’s little evidence to support that belief.
Historically, during the Cold War, Palestinian militants backed groups like Germany’s “city guerrillas.” There’s a connection here to the radicalization of young activists in the 1960s. One prominent figure, Michael “Bomi” Bauman, became notorious for his role in these violent movements.
With encouragement from the Palestinian struggle, Bauman and his associates shifted from petty crimes to serious acts of violence against officials. The upheavals of the Six-Day War in 1967 further fueled their anti-Zionist attitudes, a sentiment echoed by groups like the Baader-Meinhof Gang, which had links to various Arab terrorist organizations.
In the late 1960s and early 1970s, Palestinian fighters provided weapons and training to radical groups in Europe, cultivating a dangerous alliance. Notably, Bauman’s group took part in high-profile assassinations, leaving a legacy marked by violence and chaos.
Among those inspired by the Palestinian cause was Irich Ramirez Sanchez, known as Carlos the Jackal. He believed that the destruction of Israel would initiate a global revolution. Influenced by figures like George Habash, he forged connections with various far-left groups across the globe.
Ultimately, Carlos was captured, and he once claimed he had killed more people in the name of Palestinian resistance than anyone else. Bauman was also arrested in the early 1980s, following a tragic incident involving his close friend that muted his fervor for the cause.
Extremist organizations, like Hamas, perpetuate misleading narratives that vilify Israel while fostering a belief in liberation through violence—a narrative that detracts from genuine dialogue and peace efforts.
Ironically, instead of rallying support for Palestine, the recent attacks have apparently united political leaders across party lines in the U.S. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Rep. Gabe Evans both condemned anti-Semitism, emphasizing the need to counter such sentiment decisively.
The naïve belief that terrorism could somehow aid the Palestinian cause is an unfortunate legacy. As history shows, the lessons of the past are not easily forgotten, yet seem ready to repeat in new forms.
