Fast forward to today, and a chilling contrast emerges in the conduct of Israel’s leadership and some of its vocal supporters. Unlike the Nazis, who concealed their crimes, many Israeli leaders, politicians, and even public figures in the West openly justify—or at times even boast about—policies and actions in Gaza and the West Bank that have drawn global condemnation. Statements framing devastating bombardments as “necessary” or dismissing civilian suffering as “collateral damage” are not hidden in shadows but broadcast on international media. Instead of denial, there is a posture of defiance. In Israel's case, instead of secrecy, there is arrogance.
The Source of Arrogance
Why this stark difference? A central reason lies in the unconditional support Israel receives from the United States and many Western powers. Billions in military aid, diplomatic cover at the United Nations, and relentless political backing have created an environment where Israel rarely faces meaningful consequences for its actions. When a state knows that no matter what it does, it will be shielded from accountability, a sense of impunity takes root. What follows is arrogance—the confidence to act without fear of justice.
This is not a claim without evidence. Year after year, while humanitarian organizations warn of disproportionate attacks and collective punishment, Western governments issue little more than symbolic statements. Washington, in particular, wields its veto power at the UN to block resolutions critical of Israel. In effect, Israel has been granted a political immunity card.
The Moral Question for the West
Here lies the deeper moral crisis: Is it right for the United States and Western nations to provide unconditional support to Israel, despite mounting evidence of human rights violations? By doing so, these powers undermine their own proclaimed values of democracy, justice, and human dignity. They also send a dangerous message—that some states are above international law.
Unconditional support breeds arrogance, and arrogance sustains oppression. The result is a vicious cycle where violence escalates, civilians suffer, and peace drifts further away.
Learning from History
The silence of Nazi Germany about its crimes stemmed from fear of exposure. Israel’s lack of silence, its boldness in the face of global criticism, stems from something else: the assurance of protection. Both paths, however, converge on the same tragic outcome—innocent lives destroyed.
History demands that we recognize the danger of impunity. Just as Nazi crimes were eventually exposed despite all efforts to conceal them, no amount of arrogance today can erase the reality of civilian suffering in Palestine. But history also warns us that waiting too long to act carries unbearable costs.
Conclusion
The world is again confronted with a moral test. Will powerful nations continue to enable Israel’s unchecked arrogance, or will they finally demand accountability and justice? Supporting peace and human rights does not mean abandoning Israel, but it does mean holding its leaders to the same standards as everyone else. Anything less is not just hypocrisy—it is complicity.
Rosedi
-witness to a genocide in 2025
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