While thinking about the present desperate situation of the Jews today, Oriana Fallaci came to mind. She was much better known in Europe than here, but, in her later years, she became a formidable foe of Islam, and a stalwart defender of the Jewish people. I asked AI to write a brief piece on her:
"Oriana Fallaci’s statement “I stand with the Jews” is emblematic of her passionate, confrontational style of writing and her deep conviction in defending the values she believed were under threat in the early 21st century. As a journalist and author, Fallaci had a long career that spanned several decades, but it was in her later years—particularly after the September 11, 2001 attacks—that her views became sharply focused on the clash of civilizations between the West and radical Islam.
Historical Context
Fallaci, born in 1929 in Florence, Italy, was a war correspondent and interviewer who had covered major events around the world, from the Vietnam War to the Middle East conflicts. In her earlier years, she was known for her fearless interviews with world leaders, such as Henry Kissinger, the Ayatollah Khomeini, and Golda Meir. She had a reputation for tough, penetrating questions and for holding powerful figures accountable.
However, it was in her later years that Fallaci’s tone shifted dramatically. The turning point came after 9/11, when she witnessed the attacks on the World Trade Center from her apartment in New York. From that moment on, Fallaci became a vocal critic of what she viewed as the threat of radical Islam to Western civilization. In this context, her defense of Israel and the Jewish people took on a new significance.
Defense of Israel and the Jewish People
Fallaci’s defense of the Jews and Israel was closely tied to her broader fear of what she perceived as the decline of Western values. She saw Israel as a frontline state in the battle between democracy, freedom, and reason on one side, and the forces of totalitarianism and religious extremism on the other. She believed that the survival of Israel was crucial to the survival of the West itself.
Her support for the Jews was not just political but deeply moral. In her 2002 essay, “The Rage and The Pride,” Fallaci argued that Jews had been historically persecuted, culminating in the Holocaust, and she was horrified by what she saw as the resurgence of anti-Semitism in Europe. She blamed this resurgence on both radical Islamists and the European intellectual elite, who, in her view, were complicit in their appeasement of anti-Israel sentiments.
Her overriding concern was the survival of Israel as a democratic state, which she saw as essential in the face of growing hostility from the Arab world and Europe. She often argued that the double standards applied to Israel were a form of anti-Semitism disguised as political criticism.
"The Force of Reason"
In her 2004 book “The Force of Reason,” Fallaci expanded on her views regarding the Jews, Israel, and Europe. She was particularly scathing about what she saw as Europe’s failure to confront the rise of radical Islam and the increasing influence of Islamic immigrants in European society. Fallaci believed that European intellectuals, politicians, and media were appeasing extremists and failing to stand up for Western values.
Her defense of the Jews was part of her broader argument that the West was in danger of losing its identity and its freedom. She saw Israel as a symbolic and literal bulwark against the forces of tyranny and fanaticism that she believed were encroaching on Europe and the United States. Fallaci’s writings often returned to the theme of courage and the need to fight for one’s beliefs, and she admired the Jews for their resilience in the face of persecution.
Controversy and Criticism
Oriana Fallaci’s outspoken views made her a highly controversial figure. She was praised by some as a brave voice standing up for Western values, but she was also widely criticized for her perceived Islamophobia and inflammatory rhetoric. Some accused her of conflating Islam with terrorism and of promoting a divisive and overly simplistic view of the Muslim world. In several European countries, including her native Italy, lawsuits were brought against her for inciting racial hatred, though she continued to defend her views until her death in 2006.
Despite the controversy, Fallaci remained resolute in her support of the Jewish people and Israel. She believed that the battle for the survival of Israel was linked to the survival of freedom, democracy, and reason in the face of fanaticism. In her final years, she saw herself as a kind of Cassandra figure—one who foresaw the dangers but whose warnings were ignored by a complacent society.
Legacy
Oriana Fallaci’s legacy is complex. She is remembered as a fearless journalist and a sharp critic of totalitarianism in all its forms. Her support for the Jews, in particular, is tied to her broader belief in the values of individual freedom, secularism, and democracy. Fallaci’s writings continue to spark debate about the nature of the conflicts facing the West in the 21st century, especially regarding the relationship between Islam and the West, the role of Israel in geopolitics, and the defense of democratic values in the face of religious extremism.
Her statement “I stand with the Jews” is thus a reflection not only of her defense of Israel but also of her deeper fear for the future of the West and her belief that Jews, as a historically persecuted people, embodied the resilience of human dignity and freedom in the face of oppression."