It seems strange that organizations such as Black Lives Matter, Harvard
University student groups, and La Raza (open border advocates) would broadcast
their support or tolerance for Hamas while sharply condemning Israel for its
response to October 7.
What could be their motivations? One could defend their support by citing
the Left’s claimed sympathy for the underdog (Hamas in this instance) or
ignorance of the details of the massacre.
But more likely, it's mostly ideological based on hostility to principles
of modern democratic Western civilization: individual freedom, including the
rights of free speech, respect for different points of view and religious
tolerance. The Left and its various
subgroups are united in that perspective. Their sympathy for the cause of
fellow leftists is shared.
In most respects Israel practices these principles and they are all
anathema to the far left in America and elsewhere. [(so-called
"progressives")]
Think of the collection of attitudes on the left which in shorthand are
known as “woke”. The holder of anti-leftists views is subject to
"cancellation"; those expressing approved sentiments are granted
access to "safe spaces" free from disagreement. Those uttering
proscribed points of view are prevented, sometimes by force, from expressing
themselves.
Israel may indeed be a special case due to the prevalence of anti-Semitism
in the world which has existed for at least three millennia. But more important, maybe the key is that it
is an island of Western civilization in a sea of antagonism. The left would condemn
it for that reason alone.
Consider the matter of homosexuality:
Support for it is seemingly mandatory in left-wing circles in the West
and accepted in Israel. But its practice is a capital offense in most of the
Muslim world. That fact does not mitigate leftist opposition to Israel however.
Same scenario exists for other topics as well: A woman's rights? Same attitude. Attacking
those same Western values is more important. Democracy lives in Israel. Hamas
killed it in Gaza
Those critical of the US stance on the Jewish state might be termed
"anti-American". What America wants, they oppose. But I suggest that
is too restrictive. The left can be seen as opposed to American policy when it
promotes and protects Western values. Thus, pro-Israel nations such as Britain
and France have also incurred the wrath of Hamas and its supporters.
