It is often said that the Jewish people are hated in the Middle East. That is true — but it is only part of the story. 

In truth, hatred for minorities of all kinds is woven into the fabric of many regimes and societies across the region. From the Yazidis slaughtered by ISIS to the Christians driven from their ancestral homelands, from the Kurds betrayed time and again, to the Baha’i persecuted in Iran — the Middle East has long been a graveyard for its minorities.

The Druze, Assyrians, Copts, Maronites, Armenians — they have all endured massacres, exile, and systemic discrimination. In nearly every Arab or Islamic state, minorities live in fear, silence, or exile. Their houses of worship are bombed, their languages erased, their communities scattered.

But one country stands apart: Israel.

Israel, the only Jewish state, is also the only Middle Eastern country where minorities can live freely, vote, speak their language, and serve in government and the military. Israeli Druze and Christians sit in the Knesset. Arab Israelis serve on the Supreme Court. 

The Baha’i faith, banned and persecuted in its birthplace Iran, finds sanctuary and its world center in Haifa. Kurds, whose dream of independence is crushed across the region, look to Israel with admiration and solidarity.

Israel’s victory against Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran’s proxies is not just a win for the Jewish people. It is a win for every minority fighting to survive in a region dominated by oppressive majorities. Every time Israel stands strong, it sends a message: You can be a minority and not be a victim. You can be free, proud, and armed with moral clarity.

Israel’s light shines not only for the Jews — but for every people who dreams of dignity, freedom, and a future in the Middle East.