In late October 2023, Benjamin Netanyahu referred to the Old Testament in characterizing Hamas as “Amalek,” a tribe that was the nemesis of the ancient Israelite. “Attack the Amaleks. … Put to death men and women, children and infants, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys,”. Though Netanyahu’s staff later claimed he was speaking only of Hamas and not Palestine, his call to slaughter the enemy as if they were beasts does two things. Firstly, it follows a historical pattern of Israeli leaders such as the late Prime Minister Menach…