Middle Israel: How Jews and Palestinians became masters of historical denial

Culture Minister Miki Zohar ignited controversy this week by suggesting that the October 7 massacre was not definitively the worst event in Israel's history, comparing it to the Yom Kippur and Six-Day Wars. During a radio interview, Zohar argued that while terrible, October 7 was comparable to past conflicts where thousands of soldiers died. He dismissed the interviewer's astonishment and anger, eventually ending the conversation abruptly.

The article contends that Zohar's remarks exemplify a spirit of denialism actively promoted by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's administration. This tendency to minimize or reframe historical events, particularly traumatic ones, is presented as a dangerous pattern with potentially catastrophic consequences. The author draws a parallel between contemporary Israeli denial and historical patterns within Jewish history, suggesting a reluctance to confront difficult truths.

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Don’t know much about history.

This historical denialism is traced back to the aftermath of failed revolts against Rome, where Jewish leaders allegedly avoided objective historical study. Instead of impartial analysis, a narrative emerged that shifted blame from political blunders to religious failings. The piece argues that this pattern of avoiding history's verdict and shifting blame has resurfaced, even in explanations of the Holocaust within ultra-Orthodox communities. The article posits that both Jews and Palestinians have elevated denial to an art form, with profound and damaging implications for understanding their past and present.

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You are dealing with nonsense!