Obliged To Condemn Netanyahu’s War — The Plain Truth Of An Iranian Exile And Lifelong Ally Of Israel

-Essay-

ROME — Anyone with a modicum of conscience, looking at the images that arrive every day from Gaza, must ask the same question: How much longer can I remain silent? Will the fear of being misunderstood keep me from saying out loud that there is something profoundly wrong with this war?

We are told that speaking out has consequences. “Be careful, this is anti-Semitism in disguise.” But no, it is not. It cannot be. Because being against Benjamin Netanyahu and his ruthless war has nothing to do with prejudice against Jewish people, or opposition to a Jewish State. In fact, it is the necessary stance to help save Israel from itself.

Like everyone else, I speak from the perspective of my own particular ideas, ideals and life experiences. It’s been 46 years since, as a 20-year-old university student, I was forced to flee my homeland as it was being run over by an Islamist revolution. Ever since, my life here in Europe has been largely a battle for democracy and freedom back in Iran. But next to my own country, there has always been another wound that bleeds in the heart of the Middle East: the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

I have always believed in Israel’s right to exist as a democratic, free and secure state. And I have always maintained that peace can only come from dialogue between peoples, not from violence, not from the ideology of destruction.

I consider myself, without hesitation, an ally and defender of Israel, its democracy and its inalienable right to existence, in security and peace. That the religious and political leaders of my native country believed the opposite has only reinforced this conviction.

And more recently, I did not hesitate for a moment to raise my voice on October 8, 2023, with an article written in Persian addressed to Iranians around the world entitled “The Middle East’s 9/11,” in which I condemned in the strongest terms the barbaric terrorist attacks by Hamas.

On the first anniversary of the bloody attack on October 7, 2024, I wrote a new article, not to accuse, but to speak to the hearts of the Palestinian people.

The highest price

In both cases, I was not writing with anger, but with compassion. I was not speaking to the leaders, but to those who have paid the highest price. My appeal was not to hate, but to hope.

Let me be clear: October 7 was an unspeakable act of ruthless terrorism. The images of the celebrations in Gaza were disgusting. What Hamas did is unacceptable and must be condemned without hesitation.

But precisely for this reason, today we cannot pretend that everything is fine. We cannot turn a blind eye to a “response” that does nothing to free hostages or end terror, but razes entire neighborhoods to the ground and breeds new generations of radicalized youth.

Netanyahu, with his far-right coalition that openly flirts with racial hatred, is not just decimating Gaza. He is also decimating Israel’s reputation in the world.

So why, here in Europe, do those who criticize this war still have to justify ourselves?

Yet small signs of hope remain. While Netanyahu continues to order attacks, tens of thousands of Israeli citizens are protesting against his government. They are protesting for democracy, for freedom, for the release of the hostages. They are protesting because Netanyahu no longer represents Israel either.

So why, here in Europe, do those who criticize this war still have to justify ourselves? Why do we have to walk on eggshells to say what is obvious?

Never so alone

Israel has never been so alone. Historic allies are starting to distance themselves. International protests are multiplying. Universities, NGOs, even many Jews in the diaspora are calling for a truce, a political way out. And meanwhile the war continues. It continues without clear objectives, without results, without hope.

The result? Beyond the immeasurable horror for the people of Gaza, we also see hatred against Israelis, and Jews, growing around the world. Real anti-Semitism, which has nothing to do with politics, has always existed, and right now is spreading farther. Netanyahu says he wants to defend Israel, but is instead exposing his nation and all Jews to contempt and isolation.

If we remain silent for fear of being misunderstood, we become accomplices

No, criticizing Netanyahu is not anti-Semitism. It is civic responsibility. It is grief over dead children. It is dismay over diplomatic impotence. It is empathy for the hostages, for the families on both sides, for those who can no longer take the suffering.

Enough is enough

If we remain silent for fear of being misunderstood, we become accomplices: of those who exploit the memory of the Shoah to justify the unacceptable, of those who confuse the defense of a government with the defense of an entire people.

Anyone who truly loves Israel today should be the first to say, as we say here in Italy: “Basta.” Enough. No more bombs. No more children under rubble. No more forgotten hostages. No more governments that only think about staying in power.

Because true hope can still save us all, through the voices of those who do not hate, but can no longer stay silent.