It’s not clear why people are making distinctions between the younger & the older Elie Wiesel. By his own admission, he tried to join the Irgun terrorist group in 1946 at the age of 18, inspired by their treacherous bombing of the King David Hotel in Jerusalem. Two years later, he was translating for them in Paris.

He didn’t try too hard to join Irgun. He said “I got no further than the janitor who asked: “What do you want?” I said, “I would like to join the underground.” He threw me out.” A more committed terrorist wouldn’t be deterred by the janitor.

You can claim that it took him years to morph into hateful all you like, but to some it looks like a straight shot from admiring the bombing of a hotel packed with travelers to defending the bombing of civilians in Gaza.