I subscribed to this newsletter because I wanted to understand the Israeli point of view - because how could regular citizens let their government and military get away with what they are doing to the Palestinian people. I was hoping to find humanity. It’s become clear to me that not only do you get completely different news than we get on social media in other countries, but that you have also been brain washed to see Palestinian lives are worthless. As you have written so openly here. Because of course you have, yourve accepted this occupation by living in Israel. You accept the continuous oppression of the Palestinians. Do you see the videos of IOF soldiers running over Palestinian children in their vehicles? While they are still alive? Snipers murdering women and children holding up white flags? Making disgusting racist jokes while they blow up entire neighbourhoods? Desecrating graves? Urinating on Palestinian bodies? Nothing I have seen from Hamas is as brutal and full of hate as the actions of these so called brave soldiers. Don’t you wonder why thousands all over the world take to the streets every week calling for a ceasefire? Israel’s reputation amoungst those who were uneducated before is now completely changed. The flag of Israel has become synonymous with the far-right, facism and hate. And please, this has nothing to do with religion. You may have the support of governments in the west but the people will never ever forgive and they will never forget.
One other question- who is the people? Are you Palestinians? Why do you care about this and not the 500,000 Syrians that Assad killed, or the million Yemeni that Saudi Arabia killed. I am not asking this as Whatsapism. I care about the Palestinians because they will always be my neighbors, but right now they are not friendly neighbors. Why do you care especially about them.
Brave and kind journalists like Motaz Azaiza and Bisan have really shown the reality that we never saw before. The way that western media lies to us and dehumanises Arabs has become apparent to me through Palestine. Also that Palestinians are asking us to stand up for them, they are filming their most vulnerable and awful moments in hopes that we will help them. I think a lot of people have been really radicalised against imperialism and colonialist powers. Im a New Zealander living in Germany and have been arrested for attending a candle lit vigil for the children of Gaza. I did nothing violent. My favourite cultural institution has lost its funding because they held an event for Jews in solidarity with Palestine. I’ve never seen so much repression against people particularly immigrant and Jewish voices that are being silenced. It scares me. The afd party(the nazi party) has the most support it’s ever had in its most recent polling. Because they’ve fear mongered people into believing that anti-semitism is an imported issue from the Middle East, and not a deep rooted issue in Germany. The German news papers are calling ceasefire protestors as “Jew hater demos”. So no I’m not Palestinian, but it effects me and I believe that if we can’t collectively liberate Palestine then we’re heading into a very scary future.
I am an Australian Jew who regularly visits Israel, presently sitting in NZ, and I wonder if I can offer my perspective?
Like Marc and indeed most of my Jewish and Israeli friends, I would love nothing more than a two state solution.
I regard the occupation as corrosive of Israel’s soul.
But the problem is getting there.
In 2008, then Israeli PM Ehud Olmert proposed a complete withdrawal from the West Bank (Israel having withdrawn from Gaza two years earlier).
This would have required some border adjustments with some of the Israeli settlements being absorbed into Israel and the West Bank to get compensating land from Israel and the rest of the settlements being scrapped.
As former UK guardian correspondent to the Middle East Ian Black wrote in his excellent if somewhat pro-Arab book “Enemies and Neighbours” the problem Olmert faced was Palestinian leader Abbas simply refused to engage. This was despite the plan including an offer by Israel to build a tunnel linking Gaza with Ramallah.
The two intractable problems that those in Israel seeking peace and an end to occupation are:
1) an absence of constructive leadership in the occupied territories. This is compounded by their lack of legitimacy and interest in democratic norms. This week for example sees Abbas commence the 20th year of his first four year term!
2) the impossibility for Israel to live with anything other than a fully demilitarized Palestinian neighbour. One thing Hamas has proven is that this is now a non-negotiable aspect of any future peace agreement.
Finally, I must rebut some of the more absurd claims you make in respect of Israel’s conduct of the present war. The destruction and loss of life in Gaza is tragic, but your claims about the way the war is being conducted are for the most part simply false. It does the cause of peace no good to repeat them.
I don't think we see Palestinians lives as worthless. I have no doubt that occupations are terrible I have believed that for 40+ years since I was a young soldier serving briefly both in Gaza and the West Bank. On the other hand as a historian I know the history of the conflict, and not once in the conflict going back to the 1930's have the Palestinian been willing to compromise. At any time 1935, 1947 1967, 2000 and 2008 if they had been willing to compromise there would have been a Palestinian State and an end to the occupation. I wish to end the occupation, however I do not know how to do it and ensure our security. I do not diminish the humanity of the Palestinians but I know they hate us, and that a significant portion of them will kill us given the choice. So I am not sure what you expect from us. We were not the ones who started this war, and please don't tell me that nothing you have seen of Hamas is bad as what are soldiers do. The raped young women before killing them, killed parents in front of children and the reverse beheaded a few people and much more. We have some bad apples but there is no comparison. I wish there was a better way to wage a war, but I do not know of it.
So genocide is the only option? These wars are what create resistance fighters in the first place, most of them are orphans. I do not believe the agenda is to retrieve the hostages or even to destroy Hamas. I’ve seen soldiers flatten entire neighbourhoods. They've destroyed some of the oldest holy sites in the world. They are making Gaza inhabitable and turning all their cultural institutes into rubble. Israeli officials are already asking counties in Africa to take the remaining people, making them refugees once again. And then Israel will take Gaza to mine for oil. I believe the only solution is a 1 state solution - Palestine. Those who want to stay can become Palestinian citizens with equal rights and protection and those who refuse can leave.(I understand a lot of Israelis are dual citizens). I hope the charge of genocide from South Africa will finally hold Israel accountable and begin the path towards liberation and peace.
What you are calling for is genocide of the Jewish people. This is our home Jews have been here through the ages. There is no genocide in Gaza, Genocide is the annihilation of a nation. If Israel wanted to commit genocide it could. I am sad about the death of civilians, you might argue the Israel has committed war crimes I would argue not, it was Hamas who continuously engage in war crimes, both what they did on October 7th and by hiding among civilians. You really show you hand when you call for our elimination. There are 37 Arab/Muslim nations there is only one Jewish state and you are calling for it to cease to exist.
Please don’t twist my intentions. I absolutely am not calling for the genocide of Jewish people. That is a horrific statement to make but it does not surprise me that you resort to these attacks. Anyone who questions the legitimacy of Israel is met with the same ridiculous claims. I don’t believe in ethnostates, what I was saying is that I want to see the people living together in peace with equal rights under the native name of the land Palestine. Maybe it’s idealistic and naive, but it is not genocidal. Palestinian I’ve spoken to do not wish any harm on Israelis, they want the right to return to their homeland and to live in peace and liberation. What you say about Hamas being responsible to the murder of their own civilians is also disgusting and very illogical. A Hamas fighter hiding in a residential block or hospital should absolutely never be a good reason to blow the whole entire building. The IOF makes that decision to kill civilians not Hamas, even killing their own civilians on October the 7th.
Very glad to hear that Idan Amedi's condition has improved and he will live.
I'm on your side RE reserving your tears for the Israelis who have been killed and injured portecting their fellow citizens. Completely understandable.
I subscribed to this newsletter because I wanted to understand the Israeli point of view - because how could regular citizens let their government and military get away with what they are doing to the Palestinian people. I was hoping to find humanity. It’s become clear to me that not only do you get completely different news than we get on social media in other countries, but that you have also been brain washed to see Palestinian lives are worthless. As you have written so openly here. Because of course you have, yourve accepted this occupation by living in Israel. You accept the continuous oppression of the Palestinians. Do you see the videos of IOF soldiers running over Palestinian children in their vehicles? While they are still alive? Snipers murdering women and children holding up white flags? Making disgusting racist jokes while they blow up entire neighbourhoods? Desecrating graves? Urinating on Palestinian bodies? Nothing I have seen from Hamas is as brutal and full of hate as the actions of these so called brave soldiers. Don’t you wonder why thousands all over the world take to the streets every week calling for a ceasefire? Israel’s reputation amoungst those who were uneducated before is now completely changed. The flag of Israel has become synonymous with the far-right, facism and hate. And please, this has nothing to do with religion. You may have the support of governments in the west but the people will never ever forgive and they will never forget.
One other question- who is the people? Are you Palestinians? Why do you care about this and not the 500,000 Syrians that Assad killed, or the million Yemeni that Saudi Arabia killed. I am not asking this as Whatsapism. I care about the Palestinians because they will always be my neighbors, but right now they are not friendly neighbors. Why do you care especially about them.
Brave and kind journalists like Motaz Azaiza and Bisan have really shown the reality that we never saw before. The way that western media lies to us and dehumanises Arabs has become apparent to me through Palestine. Also that Palestinians are asking us to stand up for them, they are filming their most vulnerable and awful moments in hopes that we will help them. I think a lot of people have been really radicalised against imperialism and colonialist powers. Im a New Zealander living in Germany and have been arrested for attending a candle lit vigil for the children of Gaza. I did nothing violent. My favourite cultural institution has lost its funding because they held an event for Jews in solidarity with Palestine. I’ve never seen so much repression against people particularly immigrant and Jewish voices that are being silenced. It scares me. The afd party(the nazi party) has the most support it’s ever had in its most recent polling. Because they’ve fear mongered people into believing that anti-semitism is an imported issue from the Middle East, and not a deep rooted issue in Germany. The German news papers are calling ceasefire protestors as “Jew hater demos”. So no I’m not Palestinian, but it effects me and I believe that if we can’t collectively liberate Palestine then we’re heading into a very scary future.
I am an Australian Jew who regularly visits Israel, presently sitting in NZ, and I wonder if I can offer my perspective?
Like Marc and indeed most of my Jewish and Israeli friends, I would love nothing more than a two state solution.
I regard the occupation as corrosive of Israel’s soul.
But the problem is getting there.
In 2008, then Israeli PM Ehud Olmert proposed a complete withdrawal from the West Bank (Israel having withdrawn from Gaza two years earlier).
This would have required some border adjustments with some of the Israeli settlements being absorbed into Israel and the West Bank to get compensating land from Israel and the rest of the settlements being scrapped.
As former UK guardian correspondent to the Middle East Ian Black wrote in his excellent if somewhat pro-Arab book “Enemies and Neighbours” the problem Olmert faced was Palestinian leader Abbas simply refused to engage. This was despite the plan including an offer by Israel to build a tunnel linking Gaza with Ramallah.
The two intractable problems that those in Israel seeking peace and an end to occupation are:
1) an absence of constructive leadership in the occupied territories. This is compounded by their lack of legitimacy and interest in democratic norms. This week for example sees Abbas commence the 20th year of his first four year term!
2) the impossibility for Israel to live with anything other than a fully demilitarized Palestinian neighbour. One thing Hamas has proven is that this is now a non-negotiable aspect of any future peace agreement.
Finally, I must rebut some of the more absurd claims you make in respect of Israel’s conduct of the present war. The destruction and loss of life in Gaza is tragic, but your claims about the way the war is being conducted are for the most part simply false. It does the cause of peace no good to repeat them.
I don't think we see Palestinians lives as worthless. I have no doubt that occupations are terrible I have believed that for 40+ years since I was a young soldier serving briefly both in Gaza and the West Bank. On the other hand as a historian I know the history of the conflict, and not once in the conflict going back to the 1930's have the Palestinian been willing to compromise. At any time 1935, 1947 1967, 2000 and 2008 if they had been willing to compromise there would have been a Palestinian State and an end to the occupation. I wish to end the occupation, however I do not know how to do it and ensure our security. I do not diminish the humanity of the Palestinians but I know they hate us, and that a significant portion of them will kill us given the choice. So I am not sure what you expect from us. We were not the ones who started this war, and please don't tell me that nothing you have seen of Hamas is bad as what are soldiers do. The raped young women before killing them, killed parents in front of children and the reverse beheaded a few people and much more. We have some bad apples but there is no comparison. I wish there was a better way to wage a war, but I do not know of it.
So genocide is the only option? These wars are what create resistance fighters in the first place, most of them are orphans. I do not believe the agenda is to retrieve the hostages or even to destroy Hamas. I’ve seen soldiers flatten entire neighbourhoods. They've destroyed some of the oldest holy sites in the world. They are making Gaza inhabitable and turning all their cultural institutes into rubble. Israeli officials are already asking counties in Africa to take the remaining people, making them refugees once again. And then Israel will take Gaza to mine for oil. I believe the only solution is a 1 state solution - Palestine. Those who want to stay can become Palestinian citizens with equal rights and protection and those who refuse can leave.(I understand a lot of Israelis are dual citizens). I hope the charge of genocide from South Africa will finally hold Israel accountable and begin the path towards liberation and peace.
What you are calling for is genocide of the Jewish people. This is our home Jews have been here through the ages. There is no genocide in Gaza, Genocide is the annihilation of a nation. If Israel wanted to commit genocide it could. I am sad about the death of civilians, you might argue the Israel has committed war crimes I would argue not, it was Hamas who continuously engage in war crimes, both what they did on October 7th and by hiding among civilians. You really show you hand when you call for our elimination. There are 37 Arab/Muslim nations there is only one Jewish state and you are calling for it to cease to exist.
Please don’t twist my intentions. I absolutely am not calling for the genocide of Jewish people. That is a horrific statement to make but it does not surprise me that you resort to these attacks. Anyone who questions the legitimacy of Israel is met with the same ridiculous claims. I don’t believe in ethnostates, what I was saying is that I want to see the people living together in peace with equal rights under the native name of the land Palestine. Maybe it’s idealistic and naive, but it is not genocidal. Palestinian I’ve spoken to do not wish any harm on Israelis, they want the right to return to their homeland and to live in peace and liberation. What you say about Hamas being responsible to the murder of their own civilians is also disgusting and very illogical. A Hamas fighter hiding in a residential block or hospital should absolutely never be a good reason to blow the whole entire building. The IOF makes that decision to kill civilians not Hamas, even killing their own civilians on October the 7th.
Very glad to hear that Idan Amedi's condition has improved and he will live.
I'm on your side RE reserving your tears for the Israelis who have been killed and injured portecting their fellow citizens. Completely understandable.