Dear Editor,

Perhaps mostly because I have no Jewish heritage, thus experience, I never expected the level of anti-Semitic attacks in the West, notably in the US and Canada, I’ve observed since the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel.

For one thing, the Jewish people in Israel and especially around the world must not be collectively vilified, let alone physically attacked, for the acts of Israel’s Government and military however one may feel about the latter’s current brutality in Gaza.

It’s blatantly immoral for these Jews to be mistreated, if not terrorised, as though they were responsible for what is happening there. And it should go without saying that diaspora Palestinians and Western Muslims, similarly, must not be collectively blamed and attacked for the violent acts of Hamas in Israel or Islamic extremist attacks outside the Middle East.

Also concerning is: What do young Jewish or Palestinian children think and feel when they hear such misdirected, vile hatred towards their fundamental identity? The real possibility that such public outpour of blind hatred may lead some young children to feel ashamed of their heritage, however misplaced it may be, is quite scary.

And then there’s the ugly external politics of polarisation, perhaps, in part, for its own sake. Particularly with the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, current and past, one can observe widespread ideological/political partisanship via news and commentary. Within social media the polarised views are especially amplified, including those of non-Jews and non-Palestinians.

While the conflict can and does arouse a spectator sport effect or mentality, many contemptible news trolls residing outside the region actively decide which ‘side’ they hate less thus ‘support’ via politicised commentary/posts. I doubt many actually keep track of the bloody match by checking the day’s-end death toll.

Frank Sterle Jr

Canada

fgsjr2013@gmail.com