We mourn the murder, maiming, and abduction of hundreds of Israeli civilians and soldiers during an unprovoked attack by Hamas terrorists. As stated in its founding document, the Hamas Charter, Hamas is committed to waging Jihad, or holy war, in order “to raise the banner of Allah over every inch of Palestine.” Its stated goal is to eliminate the Jewish state and kill Jews. That is precisely what it has set out to do, and has been doing, in its present savage campaign of mass slaughter.
Any justification for Hamas - which we are already seeing offline and online in our research - must be condemned for what it is, a justification for the indiscriminate murder of Jews. We call on decent people everywhere, including on social media platforms, to help reduce the accelerating and dangerous hatred of Jews and Israel.
Now is the time to stand in solidarity with Israel and the Jewish people. Please join us in doing so by speaking out against the horrors still underway.
Best,
Alvin H. Rosenfeld
Professor of English and Jewish Studies
Irving M. Glazer Chair in Jewish Studies
Director, Institute for the Study of Contemporary Antisemitism
Borns Jewish Studies Program
Indiana University
Günther Jikeli
Günther Jikeli
Erna B. Rosenfeld Associate Professor
Institute for the Study of Contemporary Antisemitism
Borns Jewish Studies Program | Germanic Studies
Indiana University
The College of Arts