APOLOGIA: Untangling Popular Anti-Israel Arguments: Critical Thinking about the Israel-Hamas War

March 20, 2024

Untangling Popular Anti-Israel Arguments: Critical Thinking about the Israel-Hamas War—NEW BOOK

Untangling Popular Anti-Israel Arguments: Critical Thinking about the Israel-Hamas War—NEW BOOK

By Hendrik van der Breggen

My new book Untangling Popular Anti-Israel Arguments: Critical Thinking about the Israel-Hamas War is now available at Amazon and on this blog (see Table of Contents at end of this post, or download pdf of the whole book here).

In this little book (68 pages) I assess oft-heard objections such as the following:

Israel is engaged in colonial retaliation.
Israel is committing genocide.
Israel should agree to a permanent ceasefire.
Israel’s military response is not proportional.
Israel is an oppressor.

I present reasons—evidence-based reasons—for thinking the above claims are false.

Sadly, these (and other) false claims are popular in Western discourse and media coverage and they serve as anti-Israel (and even anti-Semitic) propaganda. This short book is my attempt to speak truth into the fog of war, while realizing that innocent lives are at stake.

Whether we are followers of Jesus or not (I am a follower of Jesus), we should mourn for the innocents killed in Israel and for the innocents killed in Palestine. Also, we should pray for all who suffer and grieve. We should pray, too, that evil-doers, whether Palestinian or Israeli or Iranian—or whatever—will be stopped and that goodness will prevail.

I recently heard these wise words (roughly as follows): For goodness to prevail, one must rise up according to one’s station and engage the opposition. I am a retired philosopher, so I see it as my “station” to think carefully and do my best to discern and speak truth.

Endorsements

“Philosopher Hendrik van der Breggen’s Untangling Popular Anti-Israel Arguments is a noteworthy and terrific little book. In this time of social-media-influenced opinion and assaultive slogans it will likely not change dogmatic convictions held about the war between Israel and Gaza (Hamas). However, the book’s simplicity, depth, references and suggested resources will engender better informed conversation, in one’s own mind and with others; edifying the thoughts of those who are undecided or support Israel in the current conflict, as well as challenging the thoughts of those supportive of Hamas and the Palestinian cause. The thread of compassion woven throughout reminds us human lives have been lost and remain at risk.”

Don Hutchinson, BA, JD, DMin, pastor, lawyer, and author of Church in Society: First Century Citizenship Lessons for Twenty-First Century Christians

“In our culture, in which tempers flare easily, judgments are often based merely on social media opinions and the accused are deemed guilty with little to no evidence given. In stark contrast, Hendrik’s book provides a calm, evidence-based perspective. Untangling Popular Anti-Israel Arguments is well-researched, thoughtful, factual, and refreshingly compassionate towards the human suffering on both sides of the Israel-Gaza conflict. Whether you are pro-Palestine, pro-Israel, or undecided, this is a must-read that will help you think critically about what is unfolding in the war between Israel and Gaza. It will help you consider the nature of the actions and policies that have driven what Hamas has done to Israel (as well as to Gazans) and what Israel has done militarily in response—without losing sight of the tragedy inherent in any loss of human life, regardless of beliefs or nationality.”