Leftist ideology often struggles to reconcile reality with its ideals, and nowhere is this confusion more stark than in its approach to Islam—specifically, extremist Islam.
Instead of exposing radicalism, many in the Western media and political Left have unwittingly served as enablers. By amplifying the voices of extremists while silencing moderates, they have become what one could call “passive terrorists”—not because they plant bombs, but because they offer a moral fog that justifies the bloodshed, rape, and intimidation carried out by actual terrorists.
At Newsrael, our “Arab Voices” section is committed to reversing that. We amplify the brave thinkers across the Arab and Muslim world who often risk their lives simply for speaking reason and advocating peace. These individuals may not all support Israel—and that’s okay. In a truly tolerant society, disagreement is not the enemy. But promoting murder and violence to achieve one’s aims? That is the line that must never be crossed.
And this line is crossed far too often in today's Islamic world. The consequences of criticizing extremism are dire. Just consider the brutal stabbing of Nobel author Salman Rushdie for daring to question radical interpretations of Islam. His case is far from isolated—it’s emblematic of a wider pattern of fear and censorship.
Yet, despite the danger, moderate Muslim voices do exist. Many speak up for human rights, coexistence, and yes—even for Israel. They deserve to be heard—not buried by a media machine too ideologically blinded to see the difference between legitimate criticism and “Islamophobia.”
The West must stop shielding extremism with the language of tolerance. Real tolerance means standing up for voices that reject violence, not for those who sanctify it. If we don’t make that distinction clear, we are not just confused—we are complicit.