Title: American Author Bethany Mandel Criticizes Students Blaming Israel for Hamas’ Deadly Attack
Subtitle: Mandel condemns student groups supporting Hamas and accuses them of holocaust revisionism
Date: October 14, 2023
By Fiona Connor, Senior Reporter for Dailymail.com
American author Bethany Mandel, known for her book on ‘wokeism poisoning young brains,’ has strongly criticized student groups at Ivy League schools for blaming Israel for Hamas’ deadly attack. Mandel co-wrote the book Stolen Youth: How Radicals Are Erasing Innocence and Indoctrinating a Generation, which addresses the issue of young people being influenced by extremist ideologies.
The University of Washington, Harvard, and Georgetown University have seen scores of students rally this week in support of Hamas, accusing Israel of responsibility for the deadly attack that killed 1,300 Israelis and escalated tensions in the region. Mandel expressed her concern over the growing number of anti-Semitic remarks echoed across college campuses, referring to them as “holocaust revisionism.”
During an interview on Fox and Friends, Mandel discussed footage from a pro-Palestinian protest at Baruch College, where a student defended Hamas’ violence by emphasizing the occupation Palestinians have endured for decades. Mandel argued that these students are failing to understand the gravity of the situation and are disregarding the lives lost on the Israeli side.
Mandel criticized the education system and university campuses for allowing such narratives to prevail. She pointed out that the evidence of the tragedy is readily available, with foreign journalists and the President of the United States independently confirming the casualties. The author expressed frustration, stating, “If they’re not able to process information, I don’t know how to prove it to them.”
While acknowledging the role universities may play in shaping students’ perspectives, Mandel ultimately held the individuals themselves responsible. She emphasized the need for personal responsibility and critical thinking, asserting that these students have the ability to access information and form their own opinions.
Mandel also identified the influence of Marxist ideologies among these student groups. She criticized what she referred to as the “idiot Marxist, leftist students” who fail to acknowledge the responsibility of Hamas in the conflict. The author argued that it is possible to denounce civilian casualties on both sides but emphasized that Hamas bears initial responsibility for the violence.
Harvard University recently released a statement assigning blame to Israel for the ongoing violence, drawing condemnation from former US Treasury Secretary Larry Summers, who expressed deep disillusionment with the university. The statement from Harvard drew attention to the ongoing struggle for justice and pointed out the media’s tendency to portray oppressed peoples as “perfect victims.”
Similar sentiments were echoed by student organizations from Columbia University and Northwestern University, who emphasized the injustices faced by the Palestinian people and criticized the portrayal of Israel as the victim.
In response to these developments, Republican Josh Hawley has called for an investigation into pro-Palestinian student groups on college campuses by the Department of Justice, citing concerns over anti-Israel protests.
Bethany Mandel’s critique highlights the divide among students regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the influence of social and political ideologies on college campuses. As the debate continues, it remains crucial to foster open and informed discussions while promoting critical thinking and empathy.