(RepublicanJournal.org) – Rage Against The Machine guitarist Tom Morello has just accused the Israeli government of “horrific war crimes” against the people of Gaza. Like his fellow band members, Morello is well known for his far-left political views, but this is a new level even for him. While he also condemned some pro-Palestinian activists, he’s made grave allegations against the Jewish state.
What Did Morello Say?
In a November 13 post to X (formerly Twitter) Morello, a 59-year-old from Harlem, New York, told his followers that the “horrific war crimes in Gaza” weren’t being committed by “the Jews.” Instead, he claimed, the culprit was “a particular murderous right-wing Israeli administration.” He went on to say many Jews around the world condemn what Israel’s government is doing, and ended with “Our fight is against oppression. No room for antisemitism.”
It’s refreshing to see an anti-Israel activist condemn anti-Semitism, but the real point of Morello’s message is his allegation that Israel is committing war crimes. So far there’s no real evidence that this is true. Yes, much of what’s happening in Gaza is horrific, but that’s the nature of war. The fact something is lethal and ugly doesn’t mean it’s a crime under the laws that govern warfare, and so far Israel seems to have been following those laws to the letter.
An Activist Band
Musicians have political views like anyone else, and many of them are only too happy to let us know what they are. Rage Against The Machine has gone a step further, though, and political activism is a key part of their image — even their name suggests opposition to our system of government. The band openly supports the Zapatista Army of National Liberation (EZLN), a far-left Mexican rebel group. They called for the Bush administration to be tried for war crimes and shot. They campaigned for the release of Mumia Abu-Jabal, a Black Panther jailed for the 1981 murder of a Philadelphia police officer. It stands to reason that, like most other far-left activists, they would also support Palestinian violence.
As for Morello’s condemnation of anti-Semitism, it needs some context. While he’s blaming the Netanyahu government for Israel’s alleged “war crimes,” he’s been outspokenly opposed to the Jewish state before now. In 2015 he said he was “in no hurry” to play in Israel, and referred to “boycott” and “picket lines” on musicians performing there. In 2021 the band condemned “decades of Israel’s brutal apartheid and violent occupation of Palestine.” So while Morello at least spoke out against hatred of Jews in his recent post, his hatred of Israel is pretty obvious.
Copyright 2023, RepublicanJournal.org
