Two right-leaning opinion pieces argue world's view of Israel rests on myths
Opinion columns in The Jerusalem Post and JNS argue that accusations against Israel, notably of genocide, are widely believed falsehoods. Both reject the genocide charge; JNS links it to a long history of antisemitism.
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The story, neutrally told
Right · 1In an opinion piece in The Jerusalem Post, Sherwin Pomerantz argues that the world views Israel through a "prism" of "canards", meaning unfounded rumours or false stories, and that people accept myth over truth. The Jerusalem PostRC “If one had to choose a single word that characterizes the prism through which the world sees Israel and internalizes its feelings about us these days, that word would be “canard.”” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗ Right · 1Pomerantz cites a Michigan US Senate debate in which Democrat Abdul El-Sayed said Israel had "lobbied us to go to war with Iran"; Pomerantz calls the claim that Israel is responsible for the US attack on Iran a canard, saying Israel has urged US presidents for 40-plus years to confront Iran's nuclear programme and that President Donald Trump decided to launch military action. The Jerusalem PostRC “Our ostensible ally in Israel has lobbied us to go to war with Iran.”“it was US President Donald Trump who decided to launch military action against Iran.” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗ Right · 1He also criticises the Nobel Peace Prize Committee's award to South African jurist Navanethem Pillay, saying her belief that Israel committed genocide in Gaza tarnishes her reputation, and quotes Elisha Wiesel's Free Press op-ed saying the committee betrayed his father Elie Wiesel's legacy. The Jerusalem PostRC “By honoring Navi Pillay, who accused Israel of genocide, the committee has betrayed his legacy.” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗
Right · 1Pomerantz says Israel vaccinated over one million Gazans against polio, let in large amounts of food, and warned civilians before operations, so the genocide accusation is false; he argues instead that Hamas's October 7 attack showed genocidal intent, citing Genocide Watch and scholars and Hamas's 1988 charter, which a 2017 document revised without formally revoking the original. The Jerusalem PostRC “A truthful look at the facts will show that it is actually Hamas that was engaged in genocide against Israel given their attack on October 7”“Hamas did not formally revoke or repudiate the original charter.” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗ Right · 1In JNS, Max Blankfeld likens anti-Israel sentiment to the "popular delusions" Charles Mackay described in 1841, and says it began before the Hamas-led October 7, 2023 attack, which he says killed 1,200 people, but took on a new dimension afterwards. JNSR “The Anti-Israel Delusion has its origins well before the Hamas-led massacre of 1,200 people in southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, but after that day, it took on a new dimension.” Read at JNS ↗ Right · 1Blankfeld points to the October 17, 2023 Al-Ahli Hospital explosion, saying the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry blamed an Israeli strike that killed about 500 people while American, British and French intelligence and Human Rights Watch pointed to a failed rocket from inside Gaza, and to the early-2024 famine warning for northern Gaza, which he says a review committee later found unsupported by evidence by June. JNSR “American, British and French intelligence concluded that the likely cause was a rocket fired from inside Gaza that fell short.”“By June, the review committee of the same international system that issued the warning reported that the evidence did not show famine was taking place.” Read at JNS ↗
Right · 1Blankfeld argues that the genocide charge is part of a bigger delusion, saying armies engaged in genocide do not drop warning leaflets or permit aid convoys, and that the accusation of "settler-colonial", "apartheid" and "genocidal" is the modern form of old antisemitic libels such as the blood libel and well-poisoning accusations. JNSR “Armies engaged in such an endeavor do not drop leaflets warning civilians to seek safety, nor do they permit aid convoys to cross borders.”“It is only the latest form of a very old madness called antisemitism.” Read at JNS ↗ Right · 2Both columns end on a call or prediction: Pomerantz urges readers to "shatter the prism" that lets myths fester, while Blankfeld predicts the delusion will pass and that Israel and the Jews will still be here. The Jerusalem PostRC “Our job, the job for all of us, is to shatter the prism that enables the myths to fester and do so at every opportunity.” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗ JNSR “This delusion will pass, too.” Read at JNS ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left0 outlets
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Centre0 outlets
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Right2 outlets
- Framing
- Both opinion columns present criticism of Israel, especially the genocide charge, as a widely believed falsehood and call for correcting it; JNS ties it to antisemitism's history.
- Emphasis
- Genocide accusation, Al-Ahli Hospital, Gaza famine warning, Israel's humanitarian measures, Hamas's intent and charter, and the Iran war blame.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Neither column quotes critics' evidence for the genocide charge or engages with other views; no left or centre coverage exists here to compare.
- Charged language
- “canard”“persistent myths”“The Anti-Israel Delusion”“madness of crowds”
- For example
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“When it comes to Israel, the world too easily accepts the myth rather than seek the truth.” — The Jerusalem Post
“If Mackay were alive today, he would have a new chapter waiting for him. He could call it “The Anti-Israel Delusion.”” — JNS
What every side reports
- Both pieces are opinion columns from Israel-based right-leaning outlets.
- Both reject the accusation that Israel committed genocide in Gaza.
- Both cite Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack.
Israel place
Both columns defend Israel, saying accusations of genocide and of dragging the US into war are false and that Israel took steps to protect Gaza civilians.
“it is a canard to blame Israel for taking the US to war against Iran” — The Jerusalem Post
“The Jewish people are still here, and so is Israel.” — JNS
Antisemitism topic
JNS's columnist treats modern anti-Israel accusations as the latest form of antisemitism, linked to the blood libel and well-poisoning charges.
“It is only the latest form of a very old madness called antisemitism.” — JNS
Left0 articles
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Centre0 articles
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Right2 articles
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The Jerusalem PostRC · · Opinion
The world’s distorted view of Israel is built on persistent myths - opinion
Critical Argues the world accepts falsehoods about Israel, from Iran war blame to the genocide charge, and urges readers to counter them.
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JNSR · · Opinion
The story people want to believe
Critical Compares anti-Israel sentiment to historical mass delusions and as a modern form of antisemitism that will eventually pass.
- 13 Oct 19:04 First The Jerusalem PostRC The world’s distorted view of Israel is built on persistent myths - opinion Opinion
- 14 Oct 03:00 +7h 56m JNSR The story people want to believe Opinion
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
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