My Word: From 9/11 to October 7, the dates that changed the world - opinion
Twenty-five years after the Durban Conference, there is a tidal wave of antisemitic attacks; 25 years after 9/11, Christian communities are being targeted no less than the Jews.
This column, set to appear on September 11, marks the 25th anniversary of the events of that fateful day. On that day, al-Qaeda terrorists hijacked planes and crashed them into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York, the Pentagon in Washington, and another plane was brought down in Pennsylvania before it could reach its intended target. These attacks targeted the very symbols of the United States and resulted in the loss of nearly 3,000 lives.
The recent controversy surrounding the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's (CBC) reporting guide highlights how history can be altered, but the narrative can change. A leaked memo instructed CBC journalists not to refer to "the Sept. 11 attacks as terrorist attacks" without attributing the label to an external source. Instead, they should describe hijackings leading to crashes, as if the planes crashed into their own accord and hit crucial and iconic American sites independently.
However, this incident was not the only one. Israel has its own 9/11, which occurred on October 7, 2023. Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and Gazan civilians invaded Israel in a violent assault characterized by rape, mutilation, arson, kidnapping, and murder. This event led to the deaths of 1,200 Israelis and the capture of 251 hostages in Gaza, triggering a war on seven fronts.
The CBC's memo on this matter reminded me of the BBC's reluctance to label Hamas as terrorists. The BBC argued that "terrorism is a loaded word," which people use about an outfit they disapprove of morally. They claimed it was not their job to determine who are the good and bad guys.
Palestinians celebrated the 9/11 attacks, just as they cheered Iraq's president, Saddam Hussein, for launching Scud missiles the previous decade. Another significant milestone is set to occur on September 2026, when Israel faces a wave of terrorist attacks labeled as the "Second Intifada" while simultaneously dealing with the first UN-sponsored World Conference on Racism, Xenophobia, and Related Intolerance, which turned into an anti-Israel and antisemitic hate fest.
Throughout history, the blame game has been a feature of Western society, with the word "Jews" often replaced by "Zionists" to make the blood libel more acceptable. The Islamic Republic of Iran has supported various terror proxies and launched missiles on Israel and across the Gulf states. It is crucial to consider why Iran continues to pursue nuclear capabilities and intercontinental ballistic missiles that could reach the US and Europe.
With unconventional weapons falling into the hands of terrorists dedicated to martyrdom, the threat of nuclear weapons use by Iran should not be underestimated. Those who supply weapons to terrorists in Gaza harbor no sympathy for Western nations. Attempts to appease them by singling out Israel for boycotts and sanctions may buy time but cannot guarantee safety. The world's indifference towards Islamist extremism in Africa and Asia indicates that it is not turning the other cheek; rather, it is ignoring a growing threat.
Written by urgent.news from Jerusalem Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
