Donald Trump's recent reelection and Iranian plot to assassinate him During the election campaign, there has been much speculation about what the new US administration will mean for the Middle East. This is of particular concern to Israel, which continues to be invaded by Iran through its terrorist proxies in Gaza, Syria, Lebanon, and Yemen. Progress towards acquiring nuclear weapons — remains an albatross hanging around the neck of the region's only democracy.
No matter what anyone thinks about Trump, my hope is that his administration will free Israel from what my former boss, United Nations Ambassador Ron Prosser, called it. “Triple Standard”.
Prosol, a veteran of Israeli diplomacy, said that while all other democracies are given carte blanche to protect themselves (and their interests) at home and abroad, Israel has shown extreme restraint. said that it is expected. On the other hand, so little is expected of a dictatorship that even the slightest display of moderation is praised.
for example, Israel military action against Tehran last month. Its targeted and precise measures are part of a strategy to destroy terrorist infrastructure across the Shiite Crescent and are an absolute prerequisite for the regional stability we all desire.
Iran's silent response to these measures was nothing more than a face-saving PR stunt. Still, many of the global and press stories Portrayed Israel as a destabilizing factor in the region He praised Iran's calm response to the military humiliation.
This is the practice of the triple standard.
Or take the narrative surrounding the broader war on terror beyond the Shiite Crescent. Since October 8 last year, Hezbollah Over 12,000 rockets Tens of thousands of civilians are being evacuated indefinitely in Israeli civilian centers. Despite this, the United Nations still refuses to label Hezbollah a terrorist or terrorist organization.Enforce Resolution 1701The 18-year-old move was supposed to require the group to retreat north of the Litani River, a full 20 miles from the Israeli border.
In recent months, Israel erased Hezbollah's military leadership and capabilities in Lebanon were once again strengthened through precise and targeted measures. But these actions have provoked more than hand-wringing from Western leaders and media outlets, who have no comparison within the context of their own national security. What do you think the United States would do if Mexico fired thousands of rockets into Texas?
But what about Gaza? No one can deny the humanitarian crisis unfolding there. At the same time, from Millions of text messages to speakers deployed on dronesIsrael frequently takes unusual steps to warn enemy fighters and warn civilians, even though it puts Israeli soldiers at risk. As a result of these policies, the ratio of combatant to civilian deaths was one of the lowest in modern war history.
According to Hamas, Approximately 43,000 people died In Gaza, this figure is likely inflated and does not distinguish between civilians and combatants. Israel claims he was killed in mid-August. At least 17,000 Hamas fighters. Combining these two numbers gives a ratio of combatant to civilian deaths of at most 1:1.5. According to John SpencerThe average ratio in modern warfare is 1.9 civilians to 1 combatant, according to West Point's chair of urban warfare research. When America liberated mosul In Iraq in 2017, the ratio was 1:2.75.
These numbers are nothing to be proud of. And they offer little solace to the people of Gaza who have lost loved ones. Zero civilian mortality should be the goal of all civilized countries.
At the same time, it is not Israel that is endangering civilians by: Hide terrorists in schools, homes, and hospitals. It's Hamas.
The triple standard masks this reality. Nevertheless, the terrorist organization is treated by the United Nations as a state actor, an ally of Qatar and Iran, and a heroic freedom movement. small group of college students I'm wearing a keffiyeh that I bought on Amazon. On the other hand, whenever Israel acts to neutralize terrorist threats, it is invariably accused of targeting civilians, or worse, civilians. genocide.
The West must stop taking a sanctimonious stance every time Israel refuses to commit suicide in the name of a sentimental and sanitary democratic liberalism that its allies never apply to themselves. Instead, we must collectively uphold a single standard that recognizes terrorism as clearly beyond common sense and empowers democracies like Israel to protect themselves.
If President Trump is serious about ending the current Middle East crisis, the triple standard needs to be abolished once and for all. Not only is it hypocritical, it is undermining the morale of the West's only democratic ally in the region and setting a dangerous precedent for how to deal with authoritarianism and terrorism around the world.
Aviva KlompasHe is a former head of speechwriting at the Mission of Israel to the United Nations.infinite israela nonprofit organization that partners with community leaders in the United States to support education and fight hate in Israel. Jewish. She is co-host of the Boundless Insights podcast.
