Anyone remotely interested in history knows who the Nazis were. Hitler and his demons have left a permanent scar on history, especially when it comes to Jewish history as it pertains to the loss of six million innocent victims, butchered in the death camps. Their reputations will precede them for the rest of human history. They were bloodthirsty murderers and torturers. The very word "Nazi" has pretty much been retired from everyday vocabulary, unless one wishes to describe somebody with brutal, gruesome behavior.

So, the word is carefully avoided, unless you want to demonize Israel. Then, it is freely used to describe Israeli Jews as "the New Nazis of the Middle East." Cartoons have been published–mostly in the Arab world–depicting Israelis and IDF soldiers as Nazis inflicting pain, suffering and death to innocent Palestinians. The messages sent are not subtle or implied, they are bold and equating IDF soldiers to Nazi soldiers or Netanyahu as burning Palestinians in ovens resembling those found at Auschwitz.

These cartoons and a myriad of others, are part of a global campaign of demonization and delegitimization of Israel. They set the stage for the global community to hate the Jews because, let's face it, who doesn't hate the Nazis? The question remains, "Is there any truth to the description of Israel as "the New Nazis of the Middle East?" The answer is a strong NO! Israel continues to defy the rules of engagement in conventional warfare. They go out of their way to avoid civilian casualties by dropping leaflets from the sky before attacks on terrorists.

While never a desired outcome, collateral civilian damage is a part of conventional warfare, unless of course, you are Israel. Then, you are scrutinized for every move you make, regardless of intent or context. Nobody really cares about the casualties incurred in the war between Ukraine and Russia, but in Gaza, it is reported at the single digit level. This really helps to paint the picture of Israel being the New Nazis. Allow me to look at some stats recently published, but first, a little bit of history.

Germany had a population of between 70-80 million in the mid-thirties (at the start of the Nazi era of WW2). About 10% of Germans belonged to the Nazi party, and not all of them by choice. Many joined for practical reasons related to work or survival while not sharing the lethal ideology of the party. Even if they all adhered to Hitler's program against the Jews, that would amount to 10% of all Germans.

To be fair, the numbers might be a bit higher if we consider the fact that some people harbored anti-Jewish sentiments of their own that lined up with some or all of Nazi ideology without them officially belonging to the party. At the very most, and it is highly unlikely, they would reach 30%. Incidentally, many Germans and people of other nationalities went out of their way to rescue, shelter and help the escape of Jews. They did it as they risked their own lives in the process. Later one, they became known as "Righteous Among the Nations" as they continue being recognized and honored in Israel.

Fast forward to today in the Middle East, and the numbers are quite different. A recent survey by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research yielded some very concerning stats. To the question "Do you support or oppose the disarmament of Hamas in the Gaza Strip in order to stop the war in Gaza?" a total of 77% of all Palestinians responded that they opposed the disarmament. In other words, they favor Hamas retaining armed control. Additionally, to the question " Do you support or oppose the expulsion of some Hamas military leaders from the Gaza Strip if this is a condition for stopping the war on Gaza?", 65% opposed the expulsion. In other words, they have no issue with Hamas leadership still being in place.

This explains why since October 7, 2023, there has not been one Palestinian helping the hostages in Gaza in a fashion that might remind us of WW2 rescuers. Up to 77% of "Palestinians" are pro-Hamas. That is the official number, and in reality, it could even be higher. The situation for Jews might now be worse than in the 1930s and 40s

Who are the New Nazis of the Middle East NOW? Why is the narrative turned on its head, but more importantly, why is the world buying that propaganda, lest they truly hate Israel and the Jews? Ignoring the guilt of a particular person or group is bad enough, but shifting the blame on another group and accusing them of starvation, genocide and occupation is pure evil.

One more set of numbers needs to be considered. according to the ADL, 46% of all adults in the world harbor some sort of anti-Jewish sentiment. That is almost half and that lines up with Zechariah 12:3, "But it will be in that day, that I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples; all who heave it up will be severely injured. And all the nations of the earth will be gathered against it."

This prophecy is being fulfilled in our lifetime in front of our very eyes, and this is why we must boldly proclaim the Good News to our Jewish friends now, because the time is short. The Gospel is the most important message to be shared, and beyond that, we must also search our hearts to see how we can avoid being bystanders when our Jewish friends need us to have their back more than ever before. Ask the Lord to show you how to be a 21st Century Oskar Schindler or Corrie Ten Boom.

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