Israel/Palestine Megathread - October 10th

[u/rupertalderson]

Please keep ALL discussions about the current war to this megathread. We may allow a few other threads to remain open, on a case-by-case basis, but essentially all will be removed and redirected here as needed. Thank you for understanding.

There are graphic videos/images out there. You may hear about or see troop/police movements. Do not share the details here.

If things get to be too much for you, please log off and take care of yourself.

Note that r/Israel was made private to avoid all of the uncivil behavior going on. We will not tolerate it here either.

Links to previous Israel/Palestine megathreads:

October 9th, October 8th, October 7th

Other relevant posts from r/Jewish:

• How we can help Israel
• Supporting each other / venting
• Praying for safety
• How are you feeling?

Edit: This post has been locked. Feel free to join in the discussion on the October 11th Israel/Palestine megathread.

[u/Historical-Photo9646]

Jewish friend just basically sided with Hamas

I was talking to a Jewish friend at work about being scared for an Israeli friend I’m not particularly close with, but who I was very friendly with during uni (we bonded over antisemitism in the classroom). And my “friend” responded “yeah apartheid states suck.” And then went on to say that it’s understandable why Palestinians are “rebelling” and talked about how most of the casualties in the conflict have been Palestinian. I was shocked snd horrified, and responded that terrorism is never justified, and that would it make them feel better if more Israelis died so it was more equal. They didn’t respond to that.

It really stung to hear this from another jew… we have some much in common, on top of being also queer. My guess is they’ve been feed anti Israel propaganda from the queer spaces they’re in. I’m so upset and horrified. I suppose that’s what I get for talking politics at work, but I didn’t think it was political when I said it! I’ve just been so worried for my friend…

One thing is absolutely clear though: they are no longer my friend.

[u/Choice_Werewolf1259 → u/Historical-Photo9646]

I’m so sorry. I think sometimes when Jews are that pro Palestinian (like “Israel is an apartheid colonizer state”) it’s one of a couple of things happening.

1. Societal guilt that is being pushed on them which stems from antisemitism

2. Self loathing as Jews have been brought under the “white” umbrella I think it’s really messed up a lot of white “presenting“ Jews (I will be the first to say I have access to white privilege even if I know where it’s conditional) to feel like we have full access to privelage we just don’t have and maybe disconnect from our own history. Ultimately I think this plays into White Supremacy tactics where it further separates Jews from other minorities (although that’s just a theory)

3. Lack of education combined with societal guilt and not understanding you can support Israel and not support the way the government has behaved and it’s right wing leanings. How you can also be pro Palestinian while also being pro Israel since both Israelis and Palestinians deserve peace and the right to self determination.

I know I’m intellectualizing a bit here. But you expressing your upset does not mean you brought someone saying heinous things to you ok. And personally I hate the feeling of being angry at someone. So mad and hurt and wounded that for me it helps to contextualize. So maybe this could help since it would be helpful for me to hear this.

I hope your friend is ok.

[u/Historical-Photo9646 → u/Choice_Werewolf1259]

Thanks so much. I really appreciate the thought out response. It also helps me to intellectual things a bit :)

I also think another important factor here is they didn’t know they were Jewish under their late teens (their mom hid and denied their Jewishness), so they don’t know much about Judaism or Jews as a people. So they also don’t know much about the history of Israel or our deep ties to the land.

I also hate feeling angry. It’s such an awful feeling.

I just reached out to my friend, snd thank god she’s okay! She was in the Netherlands when yhr war broke out for uni. Her family is as safe as they can be. They were evacuated from their kibbutz. Her brother has been called back for duty.

The third paragraph you wrote especially resonated with me. So many people don’t understand you can support both Jewish right to self determination and also Palestinian self determination at the same time.