Everyone expects the Jews to be the only real Christians in this world. Other nations when they are defeated survive and recover but should Israel be defeated it would be destroyed. Had Nasser triumphed last June he would have wiped Israel off the map, and no one would have lifted a finger to save the Jews. No commitment to the Jews by any government, including our own, is worth the paper it is written on. There is a cry of outrage all over the world when people die in Vietnam or when two Negroes are executed in Rhodesia. But when Hitler slaughtered Jews no one remonstrated with him. The Swedes, who are ready to break off diplomatic relations with America because of what we do in Vietnam, did not let out a peep when Hitler was slaughtering Jews. They sent Hitler choice iron ore, and ball bearings, and serviced his troop trains to Norway.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Hoffer claims international alliances are unreliable for Israel, noting global silence during the Holocaust contrasts with outrage over other conflicts.
- In plain terms
- Countries won't really protect Israel if it falls, as shown by how the world ignored the Holocaust.
- What can you take from it?
- Never assume external powers will guarantee your survival.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- How reliable are international promises in crisis?
- Why do some tragedies draw more global attention than others?
Another view
International aid has often been critical to Jewish survival historically, contradicting absolute pessimism.
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