The poem by German Lutheran theologian Martin Niemoller, “First they came …,” is often quoted in recent times by Israeli left-wing and human rights activists. They adopted the poem about the cowardice of German intellectuals who failed to speak up against the Nazis to describe the silent majority in the bitter war of cultures being waged in Israel. Following the vicious ''mole'' campaign by the right-wing Im Tirtzu organization and the accusations of treason against activists and supporters of the Breaking the Silence and B’Tselem human rights groups, Niemoller’s protest, written more than 70 years ago, has become a modern-day anthem of those persecuted for protesting the silence of the majority.

The opening lines to one of the poem's versions go like this: ''First they came for the Communists/ and I didn’t speak up/ because I wasn’t a Communist/ Then they came for the Jews/ and I didn’t speak up/ because I wasn’t a Jew.''

Niemoller, who fought courageously against the Nazi regime in Germany, listed all the silent segments of society: Protestants, Catholics and trade unionists who thought they would never be targeted. He continued, “Then they came for me — and there was no one left to speak for me.” This week, too, these words were quoted in the context of Israel’s latest public uproar.

An April 5 expose on Israel Radio revealed that some hospitals separate Jewish women and Arab women in maternity wards. Knesset member Bezalel Smotrich of HaBayit HaYehudi took to Twitter to express support for the segregation. He wrote, “My wife is totally not a racist, but after giving birth, she wants to rest without the mass celebrations that are traditional in Arab families.”