I just read your thoughts 3 months after that horrible day and all I can say is I respect your values and thoughts. What’s happening for the past 75 years and this past 3 months is also horrific and I hope for the sake of humanity it all ends now. A good book to read to get more information about the history of this conflict is “The hundred years of war on Palestine” by Rashid Khalidi and “Palestine” by Joe Sacco
The whole situation is so incredibly complex and nuanced that the worst way to approach it is in black-and-white absolutes. And yet that's exactly what lots of folks, ironically, BECAUSE of the complexity and nuance.
I appreciate you paying mind to that complexity and nuance and laying out your thoughts as such. Said it better than I could. Like you, I don't know either. Part of me thinks this was inevitable given Israel's treatment of the Palestinians, specifically in Gaza. The other part thinks that no matter of ill-treatment justifies targeting civilians like Hamas has done.
It is an awful situation on both sides. Thank you for your insight as a Jew. As a Christian, it has always looked to be a ridiculous situation from the beginning. I feel for the people on both sides, they just want to live and follow their faith in peace in the lands of their ancestors. Whilst Netanyahu is leading Israel, there will be no peace and as you said Hamas has its own agendas. There needs to be dialogue between the west and the middle east to find a solution.
The 60% POC Jews in Israel have Levantine DNA. And Jews come in literally every color because of the diaspora. The Levantine Jews are related to the Canaanites.
Thank you That expresses the ideas and thoughts of we nominal christians EXACTLY Wtf is it with these guys Did pogroms screw up all of the last millennium of world history?
My heart goes out to you and everyone who has a connection to that tormented slice of land. You have done an admirable job of setting out the irreconcilable divisions we see today. I just wanted to cry when I heard this news, knowing that the current leaders of Israel will unleash a horror show of retaliation. What in the bloody universe did Hamas imagine they would accomplish? They invaded on motorcycles; Israel will strike back with all their overwhelming US-built air power.
I’m in Jerusalem. I think the nut jobs on both sides are at fault. But after watching the news all day, and rushing to the bomb shelter 8 times this morning, you can guess whom I’m the most pissed at.
I think you did a great job writing about this. I too am not educated enough to fully understand the scope and complete history to feel confident to express an opinion or view but I feel like you approached this perfectly and I agree with you.
I get serious conflicted feelings when I read stories about Israel, ANY story.
See, I grew up the son of a U.S. diplomat in Jordan, in the ten years before the Six-day War that resulted in Israel occupying the West Bank of Jordan, an area I visited often, and all of Jerusalem. The Arabs and Israelis have never gotten along; even when I was there, we got news of cross-border snipers firing at, but rarely hitting anyone on the other side. I doubt they will ever get along. There are tribal loyalties that go back hundreds, perhaps even thousands of years. That, alone, makes reconciliation very challenging, but added to that is the factor of extreme religious intolerance and hatred of the "them" on both sides.
On the other hand, my religion is based in Israel, with its headquarters on Mount Carmel and I am enjoined to make a pilgrimage once in my life, if possible. (Because of my age and financial status, that is not likely to happen.)
So my own "loyalty" is torn between the country of my upbringing and another country I know is part of the world. None of this should be taken as accepting terrorist extremism, there or in Ukraine or in the United States.
I just read your thoughts 3 months after that horrible day and all I can say is I respect your values and thoughts. What’s happening for the past 75 years and this past 3 months is also horrific and I hope for the sake of humanity it all ends now. A good book to read to get more information about the history of this conflict is “The hundred years of war on Palestine” by Rashid Khalidi and “Palestine” by Joe Sacco
Thanks for this post and also for the recommendation of that JERUSALEM book. I just ordered it from my local indie bookstore as well as posting about your Substack over on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/debbieohi.bsky.social/post/3kbkjf3kgyb2o
I went to Jerusalem for a pilgrimage (I am Catholic). My prayers are with everyone I met.
Sidenote: why aren't we going after the Brits? It's their fault Israel even exists.
The fact that people are going after Israel Jews, it's just antisemitic rhetoric.
A Catholic named Ari? What's next - pineapple on pizza?
The irony, huh?
It is a beautiful book. I’ve never been to Israel but it took me there, you know?
Wow - you’re brave for taking a stand so explicitly on this issue. Terrible situation there...intractable.
The whole situation is so incredibly complex and nuanced that the worst way to approach it is in black-and-white absolutes. And yet that's exactly what lots of folks, ironically, BECAUSE of the complexity and nuance.
I appreciate you paying mind to that complexity and nuance and laying out your thoughts as such. Said it better than I could. Like you, I don't know either. Part of me thinks this was inevitable given Israel's treatment of the Palestinians, specifically in Gaza. The other part thinks that no matter of ill-treatment justifies targeting civilians like Hamas has done.
So...like you, I just don't know.
It is an awful situation on both sides. Thank you for your insight as a Jew. As a Christian, it has always looked to be a ridiculous situation from the beginning. I feel for the people on both sides, they just want to live and follow their faith in peace in the lands of their ancestors. Whilst Netanyahu is leading Israel, there will be no peace and as you said Hamas has its own agendas. There needs to be dialogue between the west and the middle east to find a solution.
These people have no ancestral relationship to ancient Israelites. They are European concerts.
The 60% POC Jews in Israel have Levantine DNA. And Jews come in literally every color because of the diaspora. The Levantine Jews are related to the Canaanites.
As someone of Muslim descent, it looks pretty ridiculous, too.
Thank you That expresses the ideas and thoughts of we nominal christians EXACTLY Wtf is it with these guys Did pogroms screw up all of the last millennium of world history?
My heart goes out to you and everyone who has a connection to that tormented slice of land. You have done an admirable job of setting out the irreconcilable divisions we see today. I just wanted to cry when I heard this news, knowing that the current leaders of Israel will unleash a horror show of retaliation. What in the bloody universe did Hamas imagine they would accomplish? They invaded on motorcycles; Israel will strike back with all their overwhelming US-built air power.
“Not knowing is most intimate.”
I’m in Jerusalem. I think the nut jobs on both sides are at fault. But after watching the news all day, and rushing to the bomb shelter 8 times this morning, you can guess whom I’m the most pissed at.
Beautifully articulated the same swirling thoughts in my head.
This is the best piece I’ve read so far, much appreciated!
I think you did a great job writing about this. I too am not educated enough to fully understand the scope and complete history to feel confident to express an opinion or view but I feel like you approached this perfectly and I agree with you.
I get serious conflicted feelings when I read stories about Israel, ANY story.
See, I grew up the son of a U.S. diplomat in Jordan, in the ten years before the Six-day War that resulted in Israel occupying the West Bank of Jordan, an area I visited often, and all of Jerusalem. The Arabs and Israelis have never gotten along; even when I was there, we got news of cross-border snipers firing at, but rarely hitting anyone on the other side. I doubt they will ever get along. There are tribal loyalties that go back hundreds, perhaps even thousands of years. That, alone, makes reconciliation very challenging, but added to that is the factor of extreme religious intolerance and hatred of the "them" on both sides.
On the other hand, my religion is based in Israel, with its headquarters on Mount Carmel and I am enjoined to make a pilgrimage once in my life, if possible. (Because of my age and financial status, that is not likely to happen.)
So my own "loyalty" is torn between the country of my upbringing and another country I know is part of the world. None of this should be taken as accepting terrorist extremism, there or in Ukraine or in the United States.
What does this have to do with demographics?
Over 20% of israel are arabs who can vote
Why should residents of Gaza vote in Israel elections? They have their own leaders they can vote for.
"Herding people into ghettos "
Who are herding Palestinians in ghettos? there are 0 Israelis in the gaza strip except for the people they kidnapped.
Important to remember Israel pulled out of all of Gaza in 2005