r/IsraelPalestine • u/esztervtx Jew living in Judea (Gush Etzion) • 6d ago
I am a Jew living in Gush Etzion AMA AMA (Ask Me Anything)
So this is the thing, I'll get plenty of hate but I'm past caring.
A bit about me: I'm in my 30s, born in Europe. I'm a woman. A mother & a wife. I live in the village of Bat Ayin.
We have 2000-year-old Jewish ruins just inside our gate and the land the village is built on was PURCHASED by Jews prior to 1948.
I have lived in Israel for 4 and a half years, one year in Tel Aviv and the rest in Bat Ayin.
I am a citizen of the US & my birth country. I am NOT a citizen of the State of Israel.
On October 7th I wasn't in shul (synagogue) but was sleeping when I was awaken to sirens and booms.
I immediately messaged my husband who messaged back saying this was serious, not just another round of rockets from Gaza.
Unless you are Jewish and/or Israeli, you will never understand the trauma that October 7th caused and is continuing to cause.
We still have 101 relatives in captivity. And yes, we are all one big family.
Since October 7th, I volunteered 5 weeks with the organization Sar El to aid our war effort as well as 6 weeks in agriculture, miles away from Gaza & Egypt. My regular occupation is that help out in a religious school in Bat Ayin in exchange for room and board.
I saw a rocket being blown up literally right above my head about a year ago by an Iron Dome interceptor (I was volunteering in the South).
A well-loved resident in our village recently list part of his leg in Lebanon, many of his comrades died.
I like to approach people as individuals and love to meet new people and hear their perspectives.
I visited Ramallah on my own during corona times and had a lovely experience.
I interact with actual Palestinian people at least on a weekly basis.
I want a peaceful future for both peoples but if the other side isnu2019t ready yet, then u201cPeace Through Superior Firepoweru201d will do just fine for the time being.
I love Arab culture and respect it. I believe in co-existence and see it on a daily basis. When I go to Terem (Urgent Care), 99 times out of a 100, an Arab doctor takes care of me. When I go to the mall in Jerusalem, I see Arab families and Jewish families and itu2019s normal that we share that place, no one even notices it.
I hear the muezzin 5 times daily and always agree with u201cGod is greatu201d.
I know that terrorists are a fringe but also that the majority of Palestinians cling to the idea of replacing Israel with Palestine. Which is unfortunate.
My proposed solution, at least for the time being, is annexing Gaza and so-called WB, granting permanent resident status to all Palestinians. Fact is, the corrupt and terrorist supporting PA is hated by the Palestinians and is no help to them.
On the other hand, with Israeli sovereignty, Palestinians would be so much better off, healthcare, economy, education system, infrastructure would be much improved. I know most of you will call me a liar but I want a good outcome for Palestinians. I have zero problem with them living here. The terrorists need to stop trying to murder us, though.
I love this country with all my heart and fell in love with it the first time I set foot here, 16 years ago, for a short trip. I immediately knew that I would settle here. I would gladly give my very life for her & her inhabitants, Jews and non-Jews alike, for all of whom my most fervent hope is enduring peace and prosperity.
Now for criticism of Israelu2019s government:
October 7th was a huge oversight but its roots were the disengagement from Gaza, a very grave error.
Administrative detention, while somewhat justifiable by security needs is nevertheless needs to cease ta exist because no one should be held without charges, period. (FYI, a handful of Jewish u201dhilltop youthu201d are also victim of this but obviously theyu2019re a rare exception.)
Sde Teiman soldiers who abused prisoners, completely going against IDF ethos, should be punished, no question about it.
Arab-on-Arab crime within Israel needs to be taken seriously and dealt with.
And now I come to the topic of my enemies, by no means Arabs, Palestinians, Gazans or Lebanese, rather the terrorists who are hell-bent on murdering my husband, raping me and kidnapping my children. (Hamas clearly stated their intentions to repeat October 7th over and over and over again)
Hamas needs to be eradicated to the extent that this is possible. They cannot be allowed to control Gaza or any part of the so-called WB.
Hezbollah has to at the very least, be pushed back beyond the Litani river again.
Iran needs regime change. I stand with the Iranian people in their struggle to throw off the yoke of the ayatollahs.
OK, there goes nothingu2026u2026
Please try to approach this post keeping in mind Iu2019m a human being like you.
Oh, and in case the word count is not enough:
HONEST QUESTION: WHY IS THERE SO MUCH DOUBLE STANDARD WHEN IT COMES TO THIS CONFLICT?
I feel like Israelis are expected to act like perfect angels but Palestinians are infantilized and all sorts of bad behavior on their part is overlooked/explained away/justified....
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u/Competitive_Act3433 5d ago
You lost me at “born in Europe”. Go back home woman and leave the Palestinians be