It's time to apply lessons you learned from the '02 LAX massacre

On July 4, 2002, Egyptian-Muslim sleeper cell jihadist, Hesham Hedayat, shot-up the LAX 
boarding of an El Al flight to Toronto, wounding 4 people and killing Vicky Hen, 25, an El Al employee and Israeli-Californian, Yaakov Aminov, father of 6 children

The past 18 months of Islamists sacrificing Gazans to vilify the Jewish state have redirected the public's perception of Islamism as deleterious to Judeo-Christian Western freedoms - to instead defensive victimhood to Jewish expansionist power. This has justified in the eyes of the press and public- resistance to Israel and Zionism in the form of violent protests and violence, such as what motivated Hesham Hedayat, Mohammed Soliman, and Loay AlNaji to murder Jews. Now it's open-season on Jews by Muslims and Marxists. What are the key themes that society should have, but failed to, learn from the LAX Massacre that we must now apply in deterrent justice towards AlNaji and Soliman - and recognition to defend against this threat?

Hesham Mohamed Hadayet, the perpetrator of the 2002 LAX Shooting, was an Egyptian national who immigrated to the US in 1992. He entered the country on a tourist visa and subsequently applied for political asylum. His asylum request was denied in 1995 but no deportation efforts were made.

The violence targeting Jews in the U.S. and abroad, including the tragic deaths of Paul Kessler in 2023 and the LAX massacre, highlight the growing urgency of confronting and understanding the dynamics of Islamist and leftist violence against Jewish communities. There are several key themes and lessons society should have learned from the LAX massacre that are essential to addressing current and future threats.

Key Themes and Lessons:

1. The Dangers of Victimhood Narratives in Political Agendas:

   • The shift in public perception where Islamism is increasingly portrayed as a victim of "Jewish expansionism" rather than as a threat to global stability has emboldened extremists. The narrative of victimhood has been manipulated to justify violence against Jews under the guise of resistance to Israeli policy. This distortion has framed violent protests, such as those led by figures like Hesham Hedayat, Mohammed Soliman, and Loay alNaji, as acts of legitimate political dissent rather than terrorism.

   • Lesson: Society must recognize that the manipulation of victimhood, especially in the context of extremism, is dangerous. It distorts facts and justifies violence. Critical thinking and media literacy are essential in distinguishing between legitimate political critique and inflammatory rhetoric that encourages violence.
     
     

2. The Role of Anti-Zionism in Fostering Anti-Semitism:

   • Anti-Zionism, which masquerades as opposition to the policies of the Israeli government, often crosses the line into classic anti-Semitism. As the LAX massacre and subsequent murders show, hostility towards the state of Israel can translate into direct violence against Jewish individuals, regardless of their stance on Israeli politics.

   • Lesson: Society must make a clear distinction between political criticism of Israel and the demonization of Jews. Efforts to delegitimize Israel often serve as a cover for anti-Semitic sentiments and violence. The failure to distinguish these can enable further violence.
     
     

3. The Need for Stronger Protection Against Radicalization: 
   
   

   

   Just weeks after Palestinians massacred >1,000 Israelis on October 7, 2023, Los Angeleno counter-protester, Paul Kessler, 69, died from being smashed backwards  by Jordanian immigrant Loay Alnaji, for bearing the flag of Israel in opposition to anti-Jewish Muslim antagonists in the L.A. suburb of Thousand Oaks. The court has allowed Alnaji's lawyer to postpone the case until at least mid-August. 

   
   

   • Individuals like Hesham Hedayat and Loay Alnaji were radicalized to the point of committing murder in the name of a distorted ideology. The LAX massacre and other such incidents should have prompted a greater emphasis on early detection and intervention strategies to prevent radicalization, particularly among those who harbor extremist views and may act on them.

   • Lesson: Society must invest in counter-radicalization programs and law enforcement efforts that can detect and deter potential terrorist activity before it leads to violence. This includes monitoring hate speech and ideologically driven violence while respecting civil liberties.
     
     

4. The Dangers of Underestimating the Threat from Both Islamist Extremists and Leftist Movements:

   • The rise of violent protests, fueled by both Islamist and left-wing extremist movements, has blurred the lines between political activism and violent extremism. Figures like Mohammed Soliman and Loay alNaji highlight the deadly consequences of such ideologies, where radical leftist and Islamist agendas intersect in their shared hatred for Israel and the Jewish people.

   • Lesson: The intersection of these ideologies must be carefully examined. Leftist movements that legitimize violent protests against Israel and Jews must not be allowed to foster environments that tolerate or encourage extremism. Society must be vigilant about the threat posed by the convergence of extremist ideologies.
     
     

5. The Need for Vigilant Security and Legal Frameworks:

   • While law enforcement has made efforts to protect Jewish communities, more needs to be done to ensure that attacks like those on Jews in the U.S. are prosecuted effectively. The justice system needs to send a clear message that attacks on Jewish individuals, regardless of ideological motivation, will not be tolerated.

   • Lesson: There must be stronger legal frameworks to combat hate crimes and terrorism, ensuring swift and fair trials for those who commit violence in the name of ideology. Loay alNaji’s upcoming trial should set a precedent for justice in these matters.
     
     

6. The Role of the Media in Shaping Public Perception:

   • The media has a critical role to play in shaping public attitudes toward violence against Jews and other communities. By framing terrorism or hate crimes as acts of "resistance" rather than what they truly are—acts of terrorism and hatred—the press indirectly fuels extremist ideologies.

   • Lesson: The media must take responsibility for its portrayal of political violence. It must avoid giving a platform to extremist ideologies that seek to justify violence in the name of political causes. Balanced, accurate reporting is essential to preventing the spread of dangerous narratives.
     
     

7. The Importance of Solidarity Among Communities:

   • The LAX massacre was not only a tragedy for the Jewish community but also a wake-up call to all communities about the interconnectedness of global threats. Solidarity between Jews, Christians, Muslims, and other groups is essential in confronting the threat of jihadist violence and defending the principles of freedom and democracy.

   • Lesson: Society must work to foster interfaith and cross-cultural solidarity to effectively combat extremism. The rise in attacks against Jews underscores the importance of unity in the face of shared threats to democratic and human values.

Moving Forward:

As society continues to confront the growing threats of Islamist terrorism and left-wing extremism, the lessons from the LAX massacre and subsequent attacks must be remembered. The deterrent justice applied to Loay alNaji and Mohammed Soliman, along with continued vigilance, can send a strong message that violence against Jews, and by extension any group, will not be tolerated. 

In addition to legal measures, it is critical that society cultivate an environment of open dialogue, education, and resistance to hate-driven ideologies. The fight against violent extremism is far from over, but only through unity, vigilance, and a commitment to justice can society hope to protect future generations from the scourge of ideological violence.