Last January, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) released the results of its Global Survey on anti-Semitic sentiments.
In Southeast Asia, Indonesia registered the highest level of anti-Semitic views at a staggering 96 percent. Malaysia followed with 60 percent, while Singapore and Thailand recorded lower levels at 20 percent and 13 percent, respectively. The Philippines, by contrast, reported one of the lowest levels of anti-Semitic sentiments in the world at just three percent. As the lone Southeast Asian nation that has historically supported Israel, this three percent figure has remained consistent since 2014.
However, a more recent survey conducted in June revealed a drastic shift. While levels in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand remained largely unchanged, anti-Semitic sentiments in the Philippines surged to an alarming 46 percent.
The sharp increase is widely attributed to the proliferation of anti-Israel and pro-Palestinian narratives online. It reflects Israel’s apparent failure to communicate its side with the same intensity and frequency as those who oppose her. The data suggest that Israel is losing the war of public opinion.
The many ‘truths’
Anti-Semitic sentiments are expected to intensify anew in the aftermath of Operation Rising Lion as social media platforms have become saturated with images of dead and suffering Iranians – images designed to evoke public sympathy. Anti-Semitic groups have accused Israel of committing genocide, echoing the same false narratives circulated during the Gaza conflict.
Others say that Israel’s successive, multi-front wars stem from its ambition to dominate West Asia. It underscores Israel’s intention to wield its influence over the region’s economy and resources.
Some conspiracy theorists claim that Israel used Operation Rising Lion to covertly install nuclear weapons inside Iranian territory (via sabotage or disguised air strikes). Rising Lion’s true goal is to provoke a regional war that would give Israel the pretext to dominate the region. This plays into the long-standing theory that the Jewish people are fabricating conflict for self-gain.
Critics further argue that Israel’s use of biblical symbolism – specifically the reference to the Lion of Judah – confirms that Israel is indeed a Zionist regime driven by a sense of divine entitlement and superiority. They contend that Operation Rising Lion is motivated not by security concerns, but by a deeper ideological agenda.
A darker theory suggests that the operation may be choreographed to provoke Iranian retaliation to justify the genocide in Gaza.
These are just some of the many “truths” that people have subscribed to.
The truth, as I understand it
It is no secret that the Islamic Republic of Iran, under the leadership of Rahbar Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has one overarching mission: the annihilation of the Jewish race.
The Ayatollah said it himself, and I quote: “This barbaric, wolf-like & infanticidal regime of Israel, which spares no crime, has no cure but to be annihilated.” He also said: “Israel is a cancerous tumor that must be eliminated.” These statements correspond to the Iranian nationalist chant: “Death to Israel, Death to United States.” The intentions of the Ayatollah regime could not be clearer.
Last May 31, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported a rapid increase of Iran’s near-weapons-grade uranium stockpile (at 60 percent enrichment). The stockpile of enriched uranium surged from 275 kg in February to 408.6 kg in May. This could theoretically yield nine nuclear weapons if the uranium is further enriched to 90 percent.
The Mossad, Israel’s intelligence agency, collaborated the IAEA’s findings. Iran was indeed weeks away from realizing its nuclear weapon.
The Iranian regime violated the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) and the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). The latter is an agreement between Iran and world powers aimed at limiting Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief. The violation of the NPT and JCPOA is a clear indication that diplomatic interventions failed.
The advanced state of Iran’s nuclear program poses a clear and present danger to Israel. Given the regime’s long-standing hostility toward the Jewish state, it is reasonable to assume that the use of a nuclear weapon against Israel would be on top of the Ayatollah’s strategic agenda.
Israel did what any responsible nation would do – quash Iran’s nuclear capabilities through precision strikes. Israel first destroyed Iran’s air defense systems. It proceeded to neutralize Iran’s military leadership and its lead nuclear scientist. Then it attacked Iran’s military installations, particularly those where rocket launchers are located.
During the operation, it was discovered that Iran had already developed the capacity to produce 100 ballistic missiles per month and was on track to triple that number. Its missiles had sufficient range to strike both Israel and parts of Europe. The Ayatollah’s regime aimed to stockpile 10,000 ballistic missiles – an arsenal that would elevate Iran to the status of a regional military superpower. Such a stockpile clearly exceeds any legitimate defensive need, suggesting preparations for initiating conflict or leveraging military force to destabilize other nations. Fortunately, Iran’s ballistic missile production infrastructure was successfully dismantled by Israel.
Finally, Israel attacked Iran’s known nuclear facilities in Tehran, Natanz, Isfahan and Fordo. America, recognizing the existential danger of a nuclear bomb in the Ayatollah’s hands, assisted in the operation by deploying its GBU-57A/B bunker-buster bombs to blast Iran’s underground nuclear facilities.
President Trump claimed that America’s strike destroyed Iran’s critical infrastructure and rendered its uranium enrichment facility inoperable. US Pentagon leaks claim the damage was not fatal. Regardless, the point is, Israel saved itself from a nuclear attack and America saved the world from a wily regime that could hold the global community hostage with its nuclear weapons.
The Jewish people and the world at large can sleep safely tonight knowing that Iran’s nuclear program was foiled. For this, we owe Israel and America our gratitude, not our accusations and conspiracy theories.
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Email: andrew_rs6@yahoo.com. Follow him on Twitter @aj_masigan
