As Israel faces challenging times, marked by ongoing conflicts, shifting global opinions, and the complexities of the Israeli-Palestinian issue, it is essential to hear the voices of those who staunchly support the nation. We’ve engaged with passionate pro-Israel supporters to gain insight into their perspectives on a wide range of topics surrounding the conflict and the broader issues it raises.
These voices offer valuable insights into the multifaceted challenges faced by Israel and provide a platform to express their ideas on how to address these issues. In this piece, we interview Zoe Bermant, CEO of ZoecialMedia.
What are your thoughts on the press coverage and propaganda being circulated by the far left and pro-Palestinian groups during the ongoing conflict?
I am shocked! It doesn’t matter how much actual evidence there is, they either question the legitimacy, blatantly call it lies and propaganda, and all this while jumping on any statistic thrown at them by Hamas and the Gaza Ministry. It’s sickening.
How do you think leaders of Ivy League schools should respond or contribute to supporting Israel and promoting peace in the region?
Well, they should start by cleaning house, and making the student unions accountable for what they say and do. There should be consequences. They can also help by giving a forum to some of the key experts they have on staff to address the huge amounts of misinformation and prejudice rampant on their campuses.
It’s an emotionally challenging time. How are you personally managing your mental health and coping with the stress brought on by the current situation in Israel?
I have to be online. Every minute that I am not engaged on X or LinkedIn is another minute that someone with a voice louder than mine can spread a bad rumor, get away with blatant anti-semitism, or reach an audience that doesn’t know any better.
In your opinion, what immediate steps should the Israeli government take to address the ongoing crisis and work towards a resolution?
I am not an expert. Israel has always been damned if they do, and damned if they don’t. I would like to see our hostages returned home safely with minimal loss of life on both sides. I honestly do not know how we can do it, we have to take each day as it comes.
To prevent future conflicts, what measures should Israel implement to ensure that similar incidents do not occur again?
We need to change government post haste – Bibi and his right-wing agenda are 100% to blame for what has happened. He had his head so far up his own … that he didn’t have his head in the game. That is not acceptable.
Once we have a proper leader in place, we need to address how to empower the Palestinians to have a better life, better education, work opportunities, economic growth with consequences (financial) if they revert to violence and rewards if they embrace change.
We cannot continue to expand settlements and hope for Peace! There is plenty of land to be shared, it is not worth one life of one Israeli citizen to fight over a piece of land!
Building a united and cohesive society is vital. How do you believe Israel can bridge divides and foster unity between those with differing political perspectives, particularly the so-called left and right?
As this tragedy has proved, when we all have another agenda, we unite. We have to change agendas and make sure that this is what keeps us united. That agenda should be survival of the Jewish homeland. We owe it to our ancestors and every Jew in the rest of the world.
Educating Western civilization on the broader implications of radical Islam is crucial. What do you think should be done to convey that it’s not just an Israeli problem but an international issue? How can awareness be raised effectively?
They are doing a fine job of educating the western world without us. Every riot, every terrorist attack, every bombing. When they use violence, they do us all an education. We just have to keep holding the moral high-ground.
The role of social media has been significant in shaping public opinion. How can Israel effectively combat misinformation and disinformation on these platforms?
The same way we have a strong army, we need a strong army of experts, influencers and social media gurus. This time I think we have finally found it, and I am proud to be part of it.
As an advocate for Israel, what key message would you like to convey to those who may be less informed about the situation in the region? How can you reach out effectively to raise awareness?
There are some amazing online resources for learning about the conflict and what is happening. There is a lot of misinformation too. Sometimes doing your own research and asking yourself questions, before blindly sharing is the most important thing. I was sent an amazing “13 things you didn’t know about the Hamas attack on 10.07” to turn into an infographic for social media. I didn’t just take it at face value. If I am going to make it and disseminate it, it is my moral responsibility to fact check it and make sure that I am not culpable for spreading misinformation.
How can the Jewish diaspora and Jewish communities around the world contribute to supporting Israel and promoting a peaceful resolution to the conflict?
Speak up. Silence is deafening.
What do you believe is the most important message to convey to the world regarding Israel’s journey to peace and security amidst the ongoing challenges in the region?
Stop using words like genocide, apartheid and ethnic cleansing. You delegitimize the actual suffering of Palestinian people when you use them. You can support Palestinian freedom, most Israelis actually want that, but it starts with recognizing right from wrong.
Israel may have made some mistakes along the way, but so have the Palestinians. The bottom line is that radical terrorism is NOT THE WAY and it needs to be stopped for the good of both the Israelis and the Palestinians. Spewing tired and factually incorrect “buzz-words” in response to the atrocities taking place, does nothing to stop the flood and fix the damage, it just fuels it into a bigger tragedy both for people in the region and worldwide.
