OPINION: New York Post displays a callous disregard for human life and the truth

By Lisa McCormick

I am deeply dismayed and outraged at the recent column penned by David Kaufman in the New York Post, which not only grossly misrepresents the concerns of those advocating for a ceasefire in Gaza but also stoops to a level of rhetoric that is both inflammatory and dangerous.

Kaufman’s column demonstrates a shocking disregard for the gravity of the situation in Gaza, where innocent civilians, including women and children, are being subjected to unspeakable violence at the hands of the ultra-right-wing coalition government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

By characterizing those who call for an end to this violence as “terror-loving terrors,” Kaufman savagely displays a callous disregard for human life, perpetuating a toxic narrative that seeks to silence dissent and demonize legitimate criticism of government policies.

Furthermore, Kaufman’s attempt to equate calls for accountability for alleged human rights abuses with support for terrorism is not only intellectually dishonest but also deeply offensive. It is entirely possible to condemn violence against innocent civilians while also advocating for justice and demanding accountability from the Hamas criminals involved in the October 7 atrocities. By conflating these distinct issues, Kaufman not only lies to his readers but also perpetuates harmful stereotypes and misinformation.

Kaufman’s column fails to acknowledge the horrifying parallels between the actions of the Netanyahu government and some of the darkest chapters in human history.

By failing to reckon with the fact that over 30,000 Palestinians, including a disproportionate number of women and children, have been killed by Israeli forces, Kaufman effectively whitewashes the brutality of the Israeli retaliation and undermines efforts to hold the perpetrators accountable for their actions.

I do not lightly compare the Netanyahu government’s actions to Nazi barbarism. However, the deliberate targeting of innocent civilians, including children, and the wanton disregard for human life displayed by the Israeli military cannot be ignored or excused. Just as the Nazis viewed their victims as “parasitic vermin” worthy only of eradication, so too does the Netanyahu government seem to regard Palestinian lives as expendable in pursuit of its own political goals.

One key difference is that when World War II ended in 1945, six million European Jews were dead of whom more than one million of the victims were children. In Palestine, about half of those killed by Netanyahu’s military were children.

Americans have a responsibility to hold journalists and columnists accountable for their words, just as citizens must make politicians accountable for their actions. Kaufman’s column not only fails to meet the most basic standards of journalistic integrity but also contributes to a climate of fear and hostility that has no place in civil society.

As the only democracy in the Middle East, Israel is a valuable ally of the United States but citizens of both nations must resist the lure of demagoguery. Our political system is susceptible to subversion and perversion, so Americans must rise to the responsibility of citizenship! Our cousins in Israel should understand why it is so important to reject fascism. None of us are immune to panic, fear, or hatred.

I urge the New York Post to issue a retraction and apology for publishing such inflammatory and irresponsible content and to commit to more responsible reporting in the future.

Lisa McCormick was a candidate for the U.S. Senate who earned four of ten votes cast in New Jersey’s 2018 Democratic primary election.