Maulana Karenga has demonstrated, time and again, a profound lack of understanding of the complexities of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. This has not changed as we near the one-year anniversary of the Hamas massacre on Israelis on Oct. 7, 2023.
In his Sept. 4 Sentinel column, Karenga implored readers to consider the importance of all having a seat at the table, invoking American voting and women’s rights activist Nana Fannie Lou Hamer.
Yet it begs the question – just how big is that table really? Given Karenga’s track record, there doesn’t appear to be a seat for Israel or its supporters.
When it comes to the Middle East, Karenga plays a blame game where Israel always comes out the loser.
He speciously labels Israel’s military tactics as an act of genocide. At the same time, Karenga fails to address the fact that Hamas, the genocidal terrorist organization whose very charter includes the destruction of Israel and the murder of all the world’s Jews, hides among the very people killed in Israel’s retaliatory strikes, and ignores the fact that Israel has a right to defend itself, like any other nation.
Hamas also hides in Gaza’s churches, mosques, hospitals, schools and homes, and steals or destroys humanitarian aid, thousands of tons of which are brought into Gaza daily by the Israel Defense Forces, preventing those who need it most from accessing it.
Those like Karenga, who reflexively fault Israel for everything tied to this war, place a premium on negotiating with terrorists over destroying their genocidal regime, while seeking to cut off vital aid to Israel. That is absurd on its face.
If the United States were to halt all aid to Israel, that would leave Israel vulnerable to attack by Iran’s proxies—Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and the Houthis in Yemen. Let’s bear in mind that 21% of the Israeli population are Palestinian Arabs. In an attack against Israel, they would die too.
I’d like to think even for Karenga that is too steep a price to pay. Yet, there are too many people who are quick to condemn Israel and say nothing about the atrocities committed by Hamas, including on Oct. 7 when 1,200 men, women, children, and babies were ruthlessly slaughtered and more than 250 were kidnapped.
There are still 101 hostages being held in Gaza. Yet, their freedom is not demanded by many pro-Palestinian activists. When you mention the depravity of Hamas, the sound of crickets soon follows.
What Karenga and others who share his beliefs should do is visit the Nova Exhibit, which has been thoughtfully and painstakingly organized and brought to Los Angeles to highlight one of the worst atrocities of Oct. 7.
Look into the bright, beautiful faces of the young people who came together near the Gaza border at the Nova Music Festival in the name of peace, to dance and listen to music. After Hamas attacked, 364 people lay dead with others brutalized, raped, and taken hostage.
At the exhibit you can come face to face with the survivors of the attack and hear their testimonies. Only then will you truly be able to understand the dire need to eradicate Hamas.
I would be pleased to accompany Karenga on a walk through the exhibit. Consider it an open invitation to hear the truth.
Alissa Bernstein is Assistant Director of the American Jewish Committee office in Los Angeles.
