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Never Again: A Call for Courageous Leadership Against Antisemitism
The bodies of people, some of them elderly, lie on a street after they were killed during a mass-infiltration by Hamas gunmen from the Gaza Strip, in Sderot, southern Israel, Oct. 7, 2023. Photo: REUTERS/Ammar Awad
My great-grandmother’s grave was desecrated last week. Her name was Gitale Bernhold. She was a Holocaust survivor from Charleroi, Belgium, and her headstone was one of 85 in the Jewish section of a Marcinelle cemetery that had their Stars of David wrenched off and thrown in the trash.
I didn’t have the chance to know her, but I will share her story. She came to Belgium from Poland in the early 1920s to escape the pogroms — violent antisemitic riots to which the authorities turned a blind eye.
Once she arrived, she considered Belgium her home country. She was proud to learn French and integrate into her new nation’s culture. She was grateful to Belgium for providing refuge from the dangers she faced in Poland.
Her life could begin again; others were not so lucky. The Nazis arrested two of my great-grandfathers in Charleroi and sent them to Auschwitz-Birkenau. They never returned.
My grandmother survived the Holocaust thanks to a family that hid her, putting their own lives at risk to do the right thing. In 1995, they were honored as Righteous Among the Nations by Yad Vashem.
My grandfather was saved by an entire village, along with his brother and their mother, whose grave was also desecrated last week. He often speaks about how — even though everyone in his village knew he was Jewish — he was not afraid when the Nazis came, because he knew no one would reveal him. And across three years of occupation, no one did.
These stories reinforce my belief that local leaders are key to fighting antisemitism, especially in terms of building resilience against hatred over the long term. These stories also show the importance of being on the right side of history; the people who saved my family chose to be Upstanders rather than Bystanders, and we remember their names.
Two months after the October 7 massacre, with antisemitism rising and Hamas still holding approximately 130 Israelis hostage, we all — individuals, organizations, and elected leaders — find ourselves asking questions: Where did we fail? What is our responsibility? What have we missed?
We have the duty to pause and review our strategy, adapt to this new reality, and ensure that “never again” really is now. That’s only possible if we put our differences aside and protect our democracies from hatred and bigotry — after all, persecution that starts by targeting Jews inevitably targets others.
Along with many other Jews, I hoped that antisemitic atrocities like those perpetrated by Hamas belonged to the past. If we can’t vow to prevent such brutality in the future, we have forgotten the lessons of the past, and failed as a society.
We cannot afford to fail, and that requires us to confront uncomfortable realities.
When Hitler shared his vision for the Jews, the world didn’t listen. When Hamas shared its vision, we didn’t listen. We hoped slogans like “From the River to the Sea, Palestine will be free” were just campaign rhetoric, not declarations of intent. Many thought the Hamas charter was so cartoonishly hateful that no one could really support it. We were wrong.
My children — Ari, 4, and Daniella, 2 — live between the river and the sea. What do you think Hamas has planned for them?
Ari and Daniella spent the past eight weeks running to our bomb shelter every day, several times a day. Each grabs their favorite toy and runs to the bomb shelter. That’s what it is to be a Jewish child these days.
From now on, we will listen — and act.
Jewish businesses, schools, synagogues, and institutions are under threat. My Holocaust survivor grandfather, who is my personal hero, had to witness the events of October 7 and accompanying antisemitic demonstrations in the streets of Europe and America.
By not preventing it, I feel that I failed him personally, and it tears me apart. Never again.
Our world has failed Jews on many occasions, yet the righteous have always won out in the end. We can build a world of respect and acceptance by fighting antisemitism and extremism. This demands leadership, not just nationally but locally, driven by leaders who have a daily connection to their constituents.
If you are a local leader, don’t underestimate your power. If you are a national leader, choose to use it for good. If you are a person who is willing to stand up for your Jewish neighbors, you belong in our movement.
History will remember. Please join us in this fight.
Sacha Roytman Dratwa is Chief Executive Director of the Combat Antisemitism Movement.
The post Never Again: A Call for Courageous Leadership Against Antisemitism first appeared on Algemeiner.com.
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US Reportedly Shares Intelligence with New Syrian Leadership to Counter ISIS Threats
Syria’s de facto leader Ahmed al-Sharaa, also known as Abu Mohammed al-Golani, waits to welcome the senior Ukrainian delegation led by Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, after the ousting of Syria’s Bashar al-Assad, in Damascus, Syria, Dec. 30, 2024. Photo: REUTERS/Khalil Ashawi
i24 News – The United States has begun sharing classified intelligence with Syria’s new leadership, led by Hayʼat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), an Islamist group formerly designated as a terrorist organization, reports the Washington Post.
This unexpected collaboration comes in the wake of HTS overthrowing the Assad regime last month and reflects heightened US concerns about a potential resurgence of the Islamic State (ISIS).
According to sources, US intelligence recently helped thwart a planned ISIS attack on a prominent Shiite shrine near Damascus.
Despite this cooperation, US officials stress that the intelligence-sharing arrangement does not signify full support for HTS, which has a controversial history of extremism.
HTS leader Ahmed al-Sharaa, previously known by his militant alias Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, has made efforts to project a more moderate image, pledging to protect Syria’s religious minorities and stabilize the country.
However, skepticism remains about HTS’s ability to govern effectively and sustain efforts against ISIS.
The Biden administration, before leaving office, maintained HTS’s terrorist designation while easing sanctions on Syria to facilitate humanitarian aid. As the new US administration under President Donald Trump takes shape, questions loom about the future of American involvement in Syria and the ongoing military presence aimed at preventing an ISIS comeback.
The post US Reportedly Shares Intelligence with New Syrian Leadership to Counter ISIS Threats first appeared on Algemeiner.com.
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Hostages Missing from Hamas’ Release List
A birthday cake for Kfir Bibas, who is a hostage in Hamas captivity. Thursday, January 18, 2024. (Photo: Debbie Weiss)
i24 News – The second phase of hostage releases between Israel and Hamas has sparked deep frustration and grief among the families of those still held captive.
Two hostages—Arbel Yahud and Agam Berger—were notably excluded from the list of those to be freed on Saturday, despite earlier agreements prioritizing the return of civilians.
Arbel Yahud, 29, and Agam Berger, 20, both captives since the October 7 attack, were not included in the list of four hostages expected to be released.
Yahud, from Kibbutz Nir Oz, was taken along with her partner, Ariel Cunio, whose family was freed in November. Yahud’s brother, Dolev, was later found dead in June after he was killed while trying to aid the wounded. Agam Berger, from Holon, was captured while stationed at Nahal Oz. Her family identified her in a video released by Hamas, showing her in pajamas being taken away in a vehicle after she called her father to alert him of the gunfire.
The omission of these two hostages has led to heightened concerns and calls for action from Israeli authorities, who are now exerting pressure on Hamas and mediators to honor the terms of the release agreement. Israeli officials reaffirmed their commitment to continue with the broader agreement, but warned that the failure to meet the agreed terms could harm future releases.
Adding to the grief, the Bibas family expressed their devastation when they learned that Shiri Bibas and her children, who were abducted from their Nir Oz home on October 7, were also absent from the second release list. In a heartfelt message shared on Saturday, the Bibas family shared their anguish: “Even though we were prepared for it, we were hoping to see Shiri and the children on the list that was supposed to be the civilian list.” The family voiced concerns over their loved one’s safety and questioned why, despite grave fears for their lives, their relatives were not included among the civilians due to be returned.
The Bibas family’s message emphasized their belief that the public must continue to demand answers, adding, “Thank you, dear supporters, for not giving up, for continuing to pray, to hope and to demand answers.
The post Hostages Missing from Hamas’ Release List first appeared on Algemeiner.com.
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Liri Albag, Karina Ariev, Naama Levi, and Daniela Gilboa Return to Israel After 477 Days of Captivity
A combination picture shows Israeli hostages Karina Ariev, Naama Levy, Liri Albag, and Daniela Gilboa, soldiers who were seized from their army base in southern Israel during the deadly Oct. 7, 2023 attack by Hamas, in these undated handout pictures. Photo: Courtesy of Bring Them Home Now/Handout via REUTERS
i24 News – After 477 harrowing days in captivity, four young Israeli women—Liri Albag, Karina Ariev, Naama Levi, and Daniela Gilboa—have finally returned home.
The release took place Saturday morning in Gaza’s Palestine Square, under a carefully staged scene orchestrated by Hamas.
The four women, who served in a military observation unit in Nahal Oz, were handed over to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). Before their release, they were made to wear uniforms provided by Hamas and were paraded on a platform in front of a crowd of activists. Forced to smile and wave, the women endured the ordeal under the watchful eyes of Hamas fighters.
Once the formalities concluded, the women walked to waiting ICRC vehicles, accompanied by representatives of the organization. Upon reaching Israeli forces, IDF medical teams immediately conducted examinations. At the meeting point, the first female officers who greeted them informed the women that their families were watching live. Overcome with emotion, the former hostages smiled at the cameras, sending heartfelt gestures to their loved ones.
Footage later released by the IDF captured a poignant moment: the four women removing the uniforms given to them by Hamas and embracing Israeli officers. These emotional scenes underscored the end of a long and grueling chapter in their lives.
The women were transported to the Reim reception center, where their families eagerly awaited them. After 477 days of separation, the reunions were deeply moving, marking a moment of relief and joy.
However, the release was not without complications. A fifth military observer, Agam Berger, remains in captivity, and Hamas failed to uphold its agreement to release civilian hostage Arbel Yahud, who was originally included in the liberation group. The breach of terms has drawn widespread condemnation, intensifying efforts to secure the release of those who remain captive.
This momentous event brings a mix of celebration and determination, as Israel continues to work tirelessly for the freedom of all hostages still held in Gaza.
The post Liri Albag, Karina Ariev, Naama Levi, and Daniela Gilboa Return to Israel After 477 Days of Captivity first appeared on Algemeiner.com.
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