Illustrative: A Palestinian man walks near Israeli military vehicles, during an Israeli raid in Jenin, in the West Bank, August 31, 2024. Photo: REUTERS/Ammar Awad

I’m currently in Oaxaca, a beautiful city in Southern Mexico known for its cultural festivals and distinctive cuisine.

Last weekend, Oaxaca hosted a film festival. To my surprise, it featured the movie No Other Land playing at a prominent venue in the center of town, in the most prime viewing slot both Friday and Saturday nights.

No Other Land is a documentary about the destruction of a Palestinian village in the West Bank by Israel’s armed forces in order to construct a training ground for tanks. The movie details the struggles of the village’s residents, along with an Israeli ally, to protect their homes. It features village residents frantically removing possessions as houses are destroyed, and children playing amongst the ruins.

I am not in a position to judge the accuracy of this particular movie, but unfortunately there is no question that Israel has at times violated the rights of West Bank residents. However, even if everything the movie depicts is correct, it’s bad for Israelis and Palestinians alike for it to be so widely shown.

Other than the one ally of the village, the movie portrays Israelis as violent land-grabbers who callously bring enormous suffering on the village. There is even a scene where a settler shoots a Palestinian at point blank range. The effect of seeing this will inevitably be to stir up yet more animosity towards Israelis and Jews. Considering the current torrent of antisemitic hatred we now face, anything that encourages more religious, national, or ethnic strife risks further violating the right of Jewish people to live securely, free of discrimination.

For example, in the center of Oaxaca stands the ornate and historic Santo Domingo Church, and Grand Catedral de la Asuncion stands in the central square of Mexico City. In both of these places, visitors are welcome to come view the astonishing architecture, elaborate artwork, and other treasures. I myself visited both sites — and was able to walk freely and safely.

However, on that same visit to Mexico City, I also tried to attend a synagogue on Shabbat morning. When I arrived at a shul in the Polanco neighborhood, I found it surrounded by an imposing fence and barbed wire. Numerous private guards absolutely refused to let me enter. Explaining that I was Jewish and passing through and even speaking Hebrew accomplished nothing. They were under strict orders: No one not known and vetted by the community enters the secure area inside the heavy fence.

And sadly, this is with good reason. We’ve recently seen synagogues attacked around the world and individuals merely appearing to be Jewish singled out for vicious violence. This stark difference between Jewish and Christian houses of worship gives us a simple lesson- Israel and Jews must be humanized and protected, not made the subject of yet more hate.

In his 19th century seminal work on lashon hara, or slanderous speech, the Chafetz Chaim makes clear that derogatory speech, even if it is factually true, falls squarely within the Torah’s prohibition of slander. In fact, he states that slander based on truth may even be worse than falsehoods (Chafetz Chaim negative prohibition 3:2). The reason is that all derogatory speech necessarily increases strife and anger.

Furthermore, this movie depicts a complete conflation between the two-sides. Any Jewish settler who commits an act of violence against a Palestinian civilian is seen as a murderer, and castigated by the Israeli judicial system. In the Palestinian territories, however, anyone who commits an act of violence against a Jew is seen as a heroic Martyr, and is paid a salary for life via the Palestinian Authority’s “pay-for-slay” program.

Of course, one may argue that publicizing violations of Palestinian rights is necessary as part of a constructive effort to right those wrongs. The Chafetz Chaim himself acknowledges that derogatory speech is permitted when needed to stop harm or prevent a loss — such as by giving a warning. But these warnings may not be given out of anger, intent to harm, or desire for revenge.

Maybe in Israel itself this movie could catalyze some change. But here in Mexico, what purpose does it serve? Portraying Israelis as violent, greedy land grabbers will obviously stir up yet more hatred, but how will it help the situation in the Middle East? Sadly, the movie’s creators seem to have shown no regard for the harm it may cause to Jewish communities, aiming to distribute it far and wide — and complaining bitterly that in spite of the film being nominated for an Oscar, major distributors have so far not picked it up.

To work towards a better future, we need to show the complexity of the conflict and humanize both sides. This is even more important in countries far from the Middle East, where audiences generally have less context and information upon which to base their opinions. In its zeal to help West Bank residents, this movie is only stirring up yet more anger that will hurt Jews and harden positions, making peace yet more elusive for Israelis and Palestinians alike.

Shlomo Levin is the author of the Human Rights Haggadah, and he writes about legal developments related to human rights issues of interest to the Jewish community. You can find him at https://hrhaggadah.com/.

The post How an Oscar-Nominated Movie Stirs Up Hatred of Jews first appeared on Algemeiner.com.

Pro-Israel rally in Times Square, New York City, US, Oct. 8, 2023. Photo: REUTERS/Jeenah Moon

Overwhelming majorities of American voters want Israel to permanently evict Hamas from Gaza, support Israel’s fight against the Palestinian terrorist group, and believe the Jewish state should carry out preemptive military strikes against Iran’s nuclear facilities, according to a new Harvard CAPS/Harris poll.

The poll — conducted from Feb. 19-20 among registered US voters — found that the vast majority of Americans support Israel and hope the Jewish state succeeds in its defensive military operations against Hamas. The data undermines the notion that Israel’s war against Hamas has weakened its popularity among the American people. 

A striking 78 percent of Americans believe Hamas should be permanently removed from the Gaza Strip and “not allowed to govern” the Palestinian enclave, the survey found. In comparison, just 22 percent of respondents said they believe the terrorist group should be allowed to maintain its governing role in Gaza.

The findings were consistent across political parties, with 81 percent of Republicans and 74 percent of Democrats stating that Hamas should be replaced as the governing body of Gaza. In contrast, 26 percent of Democrats and 19 percent of Republicans indicated that Hamas’s governing capabilities should not be dismantled. 

Meanwhile, 76 percent of respondents agreed that Iran’s nuclear facilities, which US and Israel officials believe are designed to build nuclear weapons, “should be destroyed.” Conversely, 24 percent believe the Iranian nuclear sites, which the regime claims are for peaceful purposes, should be kept intact.

Furthermore, 57 percent of Americans said they agree that the US “should support Israel in airstrikes to destroy Iran’s nuclear weapons facilities.” In contrast, 43 percent believe the US should not support such preemptive attacks.

The poll also found that 43 percent of Americans hold a “favorable” view of Israel, compared to 30 percent who hold an unfavorable view of the Jewish state. Hamas, the terrorist group that runs Gaza, is massively unpopular, garnering “favorable” responses from only 8 percent of respondents and “unfavorable” responses from 63 percent.

Only 13 percent of Americans hold a “favorable” opinion of the Palestinian Authority (PA) — the governing entity that runs parts of the West Bank. Around 46 percent of Americans have an “unfavorable” opinion of the PA, according to the poll. 

More than three-quarter of Americans support Israel over Hamas in the Gaza war and believe Hamas should immediately release the remaining hostages it kidnapped during its invasion of the Jewish state on Oct. 7, 2023.

Indeed, 77 percent of Americans indicated they support Israel, compared to 23 percent who support Hamas. Though both main US parties strongly support Israel, Republicans are more solidly aligned behind the Jewish state. Among Democrats, 69 percent said they support Israel and 31 percent support Hamas. Republicans displayed firmer backing of Israel, with 85 percent supporting the Jewish state and 15 percent supporting Hamas. 

Likewise, 79 percent of the American public believe Hamas “must release all remaining hostages without any conditions or face serious consequences.” About 74 percent of Democrats and 86 percent of Republicans believe that the terrorist group should hand over the remaining captives in Gaza. In contrast, 25 percent of Democrats and 14 percent of Republicans believe that Hamas should not face serious consequences for failing to release the hostages.

The post Most Americans Want Hamas Removed From Gaza, Support Strikes Against Iran’s Nuclear Facilities, Poll Finds first appeared on Algemeiner.com.

Gal Gadot on the cover of Harper’s Bazaar España’s March 2025 issue. Photo: Harper’s Bazaar España

Israeli actress Gal Gadot is on the cover of the March 2025 issue of Spanish Harper’s Bazaar, and in her cover story for the magazine, she discussed wanting an end to the Israel-Hamas war that began a year and a half ago.

The Petah Tikva native, who stars as the Evil Queen in the live-action remake of the Disney classic “Snow White” debuting next month, also told Harper’s Bazaar España she longs for a swift return of all the hostages that Hamas-led terrorists kidnapped during their deadly rampage across southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, and took back to the Gaza Strip. The mother of four and “Wonder Woman” star said she hopes for an end to the Israel-Hamas war that would result in a “diplomatic agreement that allows all parts of the table to live a good and prosperous life.”

“I know it sounds cliché, but just as they are teaching us to hate, growing antisemitism, we can also teach us to love,” said Gadot, 39. “I want to believe that love is the force that moves the world. War is a defeat for everyone. Hatred is horrible. It’s toxic to the outside and to the one who hates it.”

Gadot was then asked by the publication if her faith in love conquering all has diminished at all in light of the atrocities experienced by Israel during the war, and how it has impacted Palestinians living in the Gaza Strip under Hamas control. “We can’t afford to lose hope because, if not, what do we have left?” replied the actress, who lives in Los Angeles with her family. “They say it’s always darker before dawn, so I hope that this terrible place we are in now really leads us to the change we all seek. The light will win.”

On Wednesday, the bodies of former Hamas hostages Shiri Bibas, 32, and her two sons – Ariel, 4, and Kfir, 10 months old – were buried in Israel after being returned days earlier as part of the Gaza ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel. Gadot posted about their burial on her Instagram Story and images of Shiri and her two red-headed young boys. “Today, Shiri, Ariel and Kfir will be laid to rest,” Gadot wrote. “The heart is heavy, and the pain is unbearable.”

Gadot has spoken on social media several times about the hostages abducted by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023, including one post that highlighted 19-year-old Israeli Liri Albag. In September 2024, she talked about how her life has been impacted by the terrorist attack in October 2023.

“I feel like there’s the life until Oct. 7 and the life after Oct. 7,” Gadot said. “Oct. 7 was a turning point for the entire Jewish community around the world. No one has ever expected or thought that such a horrific thing could happen to our people — could happen in general in the world in 2024. There’s not a day that goes by without me thinking about the hostages and the fact that we’re even here now talking [while] they’re there in Gaza in the tunnels in this hellish reality. That breaks my heart.”

Gadot shared on social media in December 2024 that during the eighth month of her pregnancy last year with her forth daughter, Ori, she had to undergo emergency surgery to treat a blood clot in her brain.

The post Gal Gadot Discusses Hope for Peace in Israel, Says ‘War a Defeat for Everyone’ in Harper’s Bazaar Spain Cover Story first appeared on Algemeiner.com.