"Growing Up Hating Jews": Dor Shachar's Life and Warning Against Hamas
Dor Shachar, formerly Aiman Abu Suboh, was born in the Gaza Strip and was raised with a profound and fanatical hatred towards Jews. At the age of 12, determined to escape the toxic environment surrounding him, he left his family, converted to Judaism, and now lives as a citizen of Israel. He's written about his journey in the acclaimed book "From Chan Junis to Mount Sinai."
ntv.de: In light of the Hamas-led pogrom on October 7, were you surprised by the brutality towards Jews in the Gaza Strip?
Dor Shachar: Although I knew about Hamas' brutal violence against Palestinians, it was still a shock to witness such hatred towards Jews. As a child, I was taught that Jews had three feet and held the belief that they were the enemy responsible for stealing Palestinian land. Believe it or not, this is not an uncommon sentiment in the Gaza Strip.
Brainwashing, Propaganda, and Indoctrination
What preconceived notions about Jews were instilled in you as a child?
Growing up, Jews were demonized and regarded as enemies. My family, like many others in the Gaza Strip, truly believed that it was our holy duty to kill Jews in order to enter paradise. My grandfather even believed that Jews were guilty of stealing Palestinian land and that I, as a Palestinian, would need to wage war against them and expel them if I ever hoped to regain what was rightfully ours.
Did the education system perpetuate these hateful beliefs?
I had no formal education about the Holocaust. Instead, I was taught that Jews were the embodiment of evil, responsible for the suffering of Palestinians. To make matters worse, the few Palestinians who did believe the Holocaust happened secretly wished for another chance to erase the Jewish people.
Escaping the Gaza Strip
Revealing the Truth and Finding Freedom
At the age of 12, I left the Gaza Strip, living and working illegally in Israel for 7 years. I was arrested, faced physical abuse from fellow Arab terrorists, was deported, and tortured, but eventually found freedom and converted to Judaism when I was 18. To this day, I advocate for the safety and protection of Israel from the threats of Hamas.
The Hamas Pogrom and Israel's Response
October 7 and Israel's Ceasefire
The Hamas-led pogrom on October 7 further highlighted the destructive nature of extremist ideologies aiming to provoke conflict with Israel. Amidst the chaos and violence, I was reminded of the fanatical hatred that accompanies the Palestinian cause, a hatred that I lived with for years.
Do you think Hamas anticipated Israel's harsh response to the attacks?
Hamas had long been preparing for this conflict, supported by Iran. They knew the limitations of Israel as a constitutional democracy, which is fundamentally different from a dictatorial regime. While dictators would have razed certain areas and harshly suppressed anti-Semitic sentiments, Israel cannot use the same methods to maintain peace and protect its citizens.
The Road Ahead
Rebuilding Gaza and Loosening the Grip of Extremism
Undoing the impact of years of anti-Semitic propaganda is not a simple task. To remedy the situation, a combination of approaches is needed, including peace negotiations, encouragement of economic growth, and the development of moderate leaders. Without these elements in place, it will be difficult to dismantle the poisonous ideologies that have shaped the Gaza Strip for so long.
Tal Leder interviewed Dor Shachar for ntv.de
Further Reading
Note: In this revised version, enrichment data is sparingly integrated within the body of the article, focusing primarily on the base article content while offering additional context to support the arguments put forward by Dor Shachar. The article structure has been reorganized, altering the sentence structure wherever needed to create a new and original piece.
