Your turn: Standing with Israel

In 1945, WWII was winding down and Hitler’s concentration camps were exposed. What was seen became known as the Holocaust. The world could not believe the atrocities committed against Jews and anyone Hitler declared “undesirables.”

Supreme commander of all Allied Forces, General Dwight Eisenhower, ordered photographic evidence be created of these unbelievable atrocities as he knew, as time went on, there would be unbelievers who would say it never happened. Six million Jews and 5 million undesirables were put to death and incinerated in Hitler’s death camps. Thankfully a record exists. Thanks mainly to General Eisenhower.

Following the atrocities committed by Hamas against the Israeli Jews on October 7, 2023 we now have those saying it never happened. Over 1,400 Jews were brutally murdered by Hamas and several hundred taken hostage.

Why the hatred of Israel and the Jewish people? I so wish I could understand that.

Throughout my adult life I have had many Jewish friends and associates. Good people all.

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We are told that since October 7th hatred and persecution of Jews has increased by 388%. I have no idea by what metric they came up with that percentage. Unquestionably it is high, but why?

The Jewish state and Israel were created in May 1948 following the adoption of a United Nations Resolution that divided Great Britain’s former Palestinian mandate into Jewish and Arab states.

There was significant conflict between Palestinian Jews and Palestinian Arabs and despite our Department of States endorsement of a Trusteeship, President Truman recognized the State of Israel. Accordingly significant tension between Palestine and Israel has remained.

Hamas, a violent hate group seized control of the Gaza strip in 2007. Its ultimate objective is the destruction of Israel. The strip consists of 140 square miles of land located in the southwest corner of Israel. An uneasy tolerance between Israel and Hamas has existed since Hamas came to power.

You must understand that Hamas is an organization of martyrdom and hate that wants nothing less, per their charter, than the destruction of Israel and to kill all Jews.

The horrific attack by Hamas on Israel October 7th has been compared to our own 9-11-21 and the attack on America.

The evilness and brutality by Hamas against Israel on that day would be difficult to describe in words. (video does exist) The glee shared by attackers following their cruelty can only be described as barbaric. That kind of hatred must be eradicated.

I stand proudly with my Jewish brothers and sisters.

Jim Sacia is a Pectonica resident. He served as an Illinois state representative from January 2003 to September 2013.

This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: Your turn: Standing with Israel