Post-Six-Day War Critique of Western Intellectuals “The Progressive Thinker Is Always on the Side of the Weak” Vintage Poster 1967

Illustration: A naïve, idealistic progressive thinker, adorned with flowers as a symbol of virtue signaling, stands opposite figures representing Arab world terror militias—who, in a moment of irony, express their gratitude toward him.

After the Six-Day War, Israel triumphed over Arab states that sought to destroy it, yet instead of supporting Israel, progressive movements around the world turned it into the “enemy.” This shift was driven by a change in Israel’s image—from a small, persecuted nation to an occupier—along with the influence of anti-colonial discourse and the Cold War.

The Soviet Union, Arab states, and Palestinian organizations promoted a narrative in which Israel was portrayed as an oppressive force while ignoring the fact that Arab states had initiated the war. The progressive left chose to focus on Israel’s control over the Palestinians rather than the existential threat that led to the war.

The irony is that just as Israel defended itself and managed to survive, much of the Western world began to perceive it as an aggressor rather than a victim. Even today, we see the same phenomenon: Israel faces terrorism and existential threats from Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran, yet instead of receiving support from the progressive world, it is perceived as the aggressor. During the Six-Day War, Arab states tried to destroy Israel, and when they failed, they shifted the narrative to the “Palestinian occupation.” Today, Hamas and other groups attack Israel, and when Israel responds, it is accused of “massacres” and “apartheid.”

Academia, radical leftist organizations, and movements like BDS continue to portray Israel as a colonial power, despite the reality being far more complex. Just like after 1967, the global left focuses on the outcome (Israeli control or military response) while ignoring the cause (attacks on Israel). The irony is that these same progressive forces, which are supposed to defend democracies and human rights, support anti-democratic and extremist entities like Hamas, which in reality trample on the very values they claim to uphold.