October 7th Attacks Shattered Illusions of Safety, Renewed Zionist Imperative

The events of October 7th shattered a long-held Israeli illusion that antisemitism was a relic of the past and that the Jewish people could rely on the goodwill of others for their safety. The Hamas attack, which targeted Israelis regardless of their political or religious affiliations, underscored a fundamental Zionist principle: the Jewish people must be capable of defending themselves, independently, within their own state. This realization has brought the core tenets of Zionism back into sharp focus as an ongoing answer to the question of Jewish existence.

For years, particularly since the European emancipation, a debate has raged within the Jewish world about assimilation versus building an independent Jewish power. Zionism argued that mere integration and acceptance were insufficient for security, advocating for a sovereign nation with its own army rather than a vulnerable minority dependent on foreign protection. While the Holocaust tragically validated this argument, Israel's subsequent success and the globalization of culture fostered a dangerous complacency, suggesting the "Jewish problem" might be solved.

October 7th served as a stark reminder that this was not the case. The article highlights a perceived moral failing among significant portions of the Western elite following the attacks. Protests on prestigious university campuses, where Jewish students felt unsafe, and the hesitant responses of university presidents to questions about calls for genocide against Jews, are cited as examples. Intellectuals who previously championed human rights reportedly struggled to apply these principles when the victims were Jewish, sometimes framing Hamas as a "resistance movement."

This perceived betrayal has led many Jews, who saw themselves primarily as citizens of their respective nations, to re-examine their Jewish identity and sense of belonging. The article contends that 21st-century antisemitism has adapted, speaking the language of anti-colonialism and social justice, making it harder to identify. It criticizes the international community and media for shifting focus from the Hamas atrocities to Israel's response, demanding proportionality and humanitarian aid while downplaying the initial massacre and the ideology behind it.

International bodies, including the UN General Assembly and international courts, are also criticized for failing to unequivocally condemn Hamas and for focusing on Israel as the aggressor. The article concludes that while alliances and international relations are crucial, they cannot replace national responsibility for survival. The core Zionist lessons are reiterated: maintaining independent Jewish defensive power, recognizing Jewish identity as integral, and heeding the explicit threats of enemies without dismissal or rationalization. The events of October 7th, it argues, tested and reaffirmed the Zionist revolution's promise that Jews would never again be helpless.