An Open Letter to the Israeli Immigration Office

I am writing to you from the Netherlands as a woman who has carried Israel in her heart for most of her life. My connection is not abstract or ideological alone. It is deeply personal, shaped by my childhood in the Middle East, where I lived in both Syria and Israel. I witnessed two worlds side by side. I saw the difference in culture, in values, and in the way people approached life, freedom, and truth. Those experiences stayed with me and guided my understanding of right and wrong long after I returned to Europe.

For years, I have been an active advocate for Israel. I spoke up in conversations, in professional settings, and through my work. I believed that in Europe, even when disagreements existed, there was still a line that people would not cross. Antisemitism existed, but it was hidden, pushed into the margins of society where it belonged. It was something people were ashamed of.

Since October 7, something has broken open. What was once whispered is now shouted. What was once hidden is now normalized. Antisemitism is no longer confined to the shadows. It is visible, loud, and increasingly accepted under the disguise of political expression. Many claim it is only anti Zionism, but those of us who experience it know the difference. The........

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)