REJOINDER TO HOPPE ON ISRAEL VERSUS HAMAS

Abstract

Block and Futerman argue that the classical liberal political-economic philosophy, when properly understood, strongly aligns with the Israeli perspective in their defensive war against Hamas in 2023-2024. However, Hoppe (2024) vehemently disagrees with this view and offers sharp criticism of the work by the two authors. This paper serves as our rebuttal to Hoppe's critique. We present three primary criticisms of Hoppe's essay. Firstly, we contend that he fundamentally misinterprets the conflict between Hamas and Israel by misunderstanding and distorting Israel's claims while uncritically accepting Hamas's assertions. He also overlooks the role of Hamas's hatred of Jews and Israel in originating the ongoing conflict. Secondly, despite Hoppe's esteemed contributions to Austrian economics and libertarian theory, we find his understanding in these areas to be lacking. His view of libertarianism as a conservative enterprise leads to problematic conclusions regarding property rights and social issues like homosexuality and holding alternative belief systems. Lastly, while Hoppe is a respected scholar, his use of language does not align with scholarly standards aimed at advancing knowledge and understanding. Unlike past disagreements among Austro-libertarian scholars, Hoppe's language detracts from scholarly discourse rather than facilitating meaningful dialogue. This departure from academic norms undermines the pursuit of truth and intellectual progress.