I am writing in response to the opinion piece in the September 2025 Observer called "a path to peace in Gaza…an open conversation on the Jewish community", since it invited discussion.
The authors of this piece miss several key facts in their effort to critique Israel in its war with Hamas.
1) Nowhere in the opinion piece do the authors demand Hamas release the hostages. Why is that not the focus? Rather the author’s focus on criticizing how Israel’s prosecution of its war with Hamas endangers peace, yet provide no specifics to what they find objectionable, nor any recommendations.
2) Criticizing the “current Israeli government” is by definition criticizing “all of Israel” since Israel currently has a unity government.
3) The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s definition of antisemitism is “applying double standards by requiring of Israel a behavior not expected or demanded of any other democratic nation…" There are dozens of active wars in the world right now, but the authors are singularly focused on Israel being the perpetrator of the devastation in Gaza during its fight with Hamas - who are brutal terrorists and murderers - to both Israelis as well as their own civilian population. Israel has provided tons of aid to Gaza – all while fighting an enemy which hides behind civilians, who steals aid from its own people, who lie about civilian deaths, and who brutally mistreats the Israeli hostages it has taken. Israel warns the population before making attacks to minimize civilian casualties. Israel is prosecuting the war in the most moral manner it is able. Making an emotional appeal to “Jewish Values" does not remove the double standard in the criticism.
4) Lastly, the authors misplace the audience for their requested conversation - it should be with Hamas who is holding 48 Israeli hostages and has the power at any minute to end the war - not their fellow Jews in Nashville.
The conversation needed is simple:
Hamas must surrender and free the living hostages as well as return all bodies of murdered hostages to Israel.
History has shown that defeating an enemy and having them surrender is how wars successfully end, and peace begins.
Respectfully,
Michael Hershey
Lebanon TN
615-308-3085
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