I’ve been grateful for your info sharing these past 7 months, and I’m down for reading longer pieces. But mostly came here to say thank you so much for saying the trees were what broke you, because same! The fucking trees omg
The anti-Zionist path is winding and heart-shattering at every turn (those trees 😭) and so, so worth it. Thank you for this - it really helps with the loneliness of it all 💚
I appreciate your perspective. However, this was tough to swallow: "Generally people are happy to be corrected because they don’t want to fall for misinformation, they aren’t antisemitic and they certainly don’t want to hurt their cause." Clearly, you're not spending time in the same comment sections that I inhabit. I see a craving for tribalist propaganda that supports one's pre-existing views dominating on both sides of this conflict.
Gotcha. Yes, if you curate a space immune to the hateful rhetoric spewed at Jews elsewhere then that does sound nice. Unfortunately many Jews are having a different experience.
If someone is being hateful I remove them. There's enough of that elsewhere and it can hurt people and a toxic comment section turns people off from commenting, which I don't want. 95% of the hateful rhetoric I get is from zionists.
Yes, I understand that is your personal experience. And congrats on curating a bubble that insulates you from toxicity. But it feels like you are, as the kids say, "denying the lived experience" of many Jews right now who are consistently bombarded by hateful rhetoric online (and sometimes IRL too). If you're unable to acknowledge that, this starts to feel more like propaganda than an honest depiction of the hurt being felt on all sides right now.
Again Matt, I’m not insulated from toxicity because I erase hate on my page. And I’m sorry you feel unacknowledged but if you can’t show me where I’ve denied people’s lived experience, those are just your feelings and you’re free to write about them or get the attention you need from friends or your mother or therapist, I don’t know.
"before Zionism arrived and disrupted religious co-existence in the Arab world" While I agree with many of your points, the rose tinted glasses you have about the Mizrahi experience is telling. My own family's experience contradicts the notion that there was peaceful coexistence before 48. The historiography is political: zionists will claim it was always horrible, and anti-zionists will say it was lovely and peaceful. The truth lies in the middle, depending on the countries and communities.
This isn’t my comment so much as me, recounting the kinds of comments I had from Arabs (most of not all born well after 48) so it might be their view/idealization/hope. I agree that this is used by both groups to support their narratives and would also vary considerably according to when and what country. I think the idea is not that it was perfect but that it was the same as everywhere else as far as different groups, religious or otherwise go and that this idea that Jews and Arab-Muslims can’t live together is not true. My grandfather was born in Alexandria and moved to Perú. It was before Israel and I think because of economic opportunity. I’d ask my family but we’re not speaking because of Israel!
I've wanted to know where you're coming from. I read this with curiosity. It's clear what we as Jewish kids learned growing up was selective. You might say "unraveling" or "nefarious." It's disappointing, for sure. But here we are, in 2024.
I can't get past these 2 glaring omissions.
1) Everyone is suffering. Palestinians are suffering, and Israelis are suffering, and now Jewish people in the diaspora are suffering again. This "yes, but" one-upping dialogue, that one people is suffering more, and back and forth contrasting, has no end and gets us nowhere.
2) There are many responsible parties in this Gaza suffering. Israeli leadership? Of course. Hamas, oh my wow yes, they're abhorrent. The surrounding Arab world, wow they don't care anymore it just doesn't stop. And yet Israel is now on the hook to solve it all; there's no one else. When the Abraham accords (or similarly desired by Arab states) progress kicks off again, Palestinians will be further left behind and alone by their Arab neighbours. Every nation, every massive organization is disappointing when you unravel it.
So we could tally up all the articles condemning Israel, and all the articles listing what Arab countries and Islamism are destroying. And then what?
This is all a wasted opportunity. Imagine if, instead of everyone choosing a side, instead of the media covering pro-Palestine and anti-Jewish slurs and angry scapegoating rallies and droning chants on repeat, the voice of the youth in the West was for peace. That we're sick and tired of religious ideology and suffering and child indoctrination (on both sides). That Jewish and Muslim brothers and sisters want to stand together for safety and self-determination and not war. That a new generation of leaders would emerge, from Israel to give Palestinians their sliver back, and for someone (really anyone) from Palestine who wants to build their prosperity and protect their own people.
If you have a voice, maybe this is what's worthwhile. But all this polarizing us vs them, yes-but, pick-your-side, especially in the West right now, is just doing nothing right now and just causing more anguish and hatred.
Hi Noah, thank you for taking the time to read this and write a reply. I guess I don't find what you've written very helpful? I'm not sure what saying there is blame on all sides and it’s time for peace does.
My essay is mostly directed at the diaspora Jewish community. It’s not about assigning blame to different parties. My issue is with the Zionist project in general. I explain why it endangers Jews everywhere, how the stories it requires us to believe are not sustainable in a world where one can educate themselves, and how the ruptures it causes within families, communities and Jewish institutions, I believe will destroy us from within. Zionism is violent at its core. There is simply no way to maintain a demographic majority (what a Jewish state requires and what Zionism is in practice) without oppressing another people. That is the inconvenient truth no one wants to acknowledge. It’s why Israel as such, as an ethno-state, should not exist. The problem isn’t Jews or Israelis living there, it’s Zionism.
Peace without justice is also unsustainable. I can see that you're trying to do that centrist thing of I'm not on any side but peace, but you are. Because just here you've perpetuated many classic Zionist talking points. For one, the idea that Palestinians haven't built prosperity. They have, it's just been destroyed. No people could build prosperity under the apartheid conditions imposed by Israel's occupation, which I believe you don't really understand. If you did, you wouldn’t make this kind of racist comment which suggests there is something inherent to Palestinians that has prevented from building prosperity never mind protect their own people? How? With what army? That’s pretty rich to say when a nuclear power with billions upon billions of dollars in military assistance controls every aspect of their life including the sky such that they are not allowed a plane or airport and that’s just one example. When I hear people say this kind of thing – I know you don’t mean it, it’s truly the indoctrination you just haven’t interrogated – when I hear talking points like why didn’t the Palestinians make Gaza, Singapore? It sounds like, why did Jews go like sheep to the slaughter?
It also seems like you are unaware of how many of these leaders you hope for, Israel has imprisoned or killed or otherwise punished. The way they’ve propped up Hamas (including financially) while undermining the PA should give you some indication.
I think a very important first step in getting to where you want to get, would be to spend some time understanding Palestinian history, speaking to Palestinians, read any one of their well-known authors or journalists or academics. Because when you say, here we are in 2024, give them back their sliver, you ignore what Palestinians want, after freedom on their land, more than anything: a real recognition of what's been done and reparations for it. You can't tell a People who have been experiencing ethnic cleansing for 75 years, that it's 2024 so it's time for peace. Look, because you seem interested in taking this both sides perspective and I can tell you know the Zionist side very well, why not, learn about the other side. If you want any recommendations, I am here.
I, too, like Noah, read this with curiosity (and I'm still curious) - I'd like to point out one other glaring omission - do Palestinians (or their leadership) want "just a sliver?" Or is that "sliver" the entirety of Israel?
I ask this earnestly; from what I've gathered, as tough as it is to swallow, my understanding is that many Israelis have realized that a two-state solution was only ever a western ideal, and that the people of the region themselves aren't actually interested in that.
I also find it interesting that you didn't mention Israel winning the 6-day-war, or the legal/ ownership status of those homes that were demolished. Are you saying that the Palestinians in those towns were they effectively squatting, and they were all just aware that all their neighbors were squatting, so it's ok? I know tribalism is big there but do people not pay rent or own homes in the Middle East like is that not a standard requirement (also asking earnestly, I genuinely don't know)
I’ve been grateful for your info sharing these past 7 months, and I’m down for reading longer pieces. But mostly came here to say thank you so much for saying the trees were what broke you, because same! The fucking trees omg
It’s sooo dark! And thank you for reading and these kind words ♥️
Thank you, this is excellent. I could relate to every word.
I figured some people might! thank you for reading.
This was really meaningful and helpful for me, thank you for writing and sharing.
This is so nice to hear, thank you!
The anti-Zionist path is winding and heart-shattering at every turn (those trees 😭) and so, so worth it. Thank you for this - it really helps with the loneliness of it all 💚
This helps me too ♥️
Thank you.
An important and courageous piece, Jess.
Thank you!
Thank you so so much for writing this. I feel like it should be required reading for us all! I learned so much ❤️
That means a lot:)
Excellent, just excellent.
Thank you
Thank you for this
Brilliant and necessary.
thank you!
So much to take in and really digest. Thank you. 🙏
thank you for taking the time to read it!
I appreciate your perspective. However, this was tough to swallow: "Generally people are happy to be corrected because they don’t want to fall for misinformation, they aren’t antisemitic and they certainly don’t want to hurt their cause." Clearly, you're not spending time in the same comment sections that I inhabit. I see a craving for tribalist propaganda that supports one's pre-existing views dominating on both sides of this conflict.
this isn’t a comment section, i’m talking about my DMs and I think some of this is about the kind of audience you curate and space you create.
Gotcha. Yes, if you curate a space immune to the hateful rhetoric spewed at Jews elsewhere then that does sound nice. Unfortunately many Jews are having a different experience.
If someone is being hateful I remove them. There's enough of that elsewhere and it can hurt people and a toxic comment section turns people off from commenting, which I don't want. 95% of the hateful rhetoric I get is from zionists.
Yes, I understand that is your personal experience. And congrats on curating a bubble that insulates you from toxicity. But it feels like you are, as the kids say, "denying the lived experience" of many Jews right now who are consistently bombarded by hateful rhetoric online (and sometimes IRL too). If you're unable to acknowledge that, this starts to feel more like propaganda than an honest depiction of the hurt being felt on all sides right now.
Again Matt, I’m not insulated from toxicity because I erase hate on my page. And I’m sorry you feel unacknowledged but if you can’t show me where I’ve denied people’s lived experience, those are just your feelings and you’re free to write about them or get the attention you need from friends or your mother or therapist, I don’t know.
"before Zionism arrived and disrupted religious co-existence in the Arab world" While I agree with many of your points, the rose tinted glasses you have about the Mizrahi experience is telling. My own family's experience contradicts the notion that there was peaceful coexistence before 48. The historiography is political: zionists will claim it was always horrible, and anti-zionists will say it was lovely and peaceful. The truth lies in the middle, depending on the countries and communities.
This isn’t my comment so much as me, recounting the kinds of comments I had from Arabs (most of not all born well after 48) so it might be their view/idealization/hope. I agree that this is used by both groups to support their narratives and would also vary considerably according to when and what country. I think the idea is not that it was perfect but that it was the same as everywhere else as far as different groups, religious or otherwise go and that this idea that Jews and Arab-Muslims can’t live together is not true. My grandfather was born in Alexandria and moved to Perú. It was before Israel and I think because of economic opportunity. I’d ask my family but we’re not speaking because of Israel!
*most, if not all
I've wanted to know where you're coming from. I read this with curiosity. It's clear what we as Jewish kids learned growing up was selective. You might say "unraveling" or "nefarious." It's disappointing, for sure. But here we are, in 2024.
I can't get past these 2 glaring omissions.
1) Everyone is suffering. Palestinians are suffering, and Israelis are suffering, and now Jewish people in the diaspora are suffering again. This "yes, but" one-upping dialogue, that one people is suffering more, and back and forth contrasting, has no end and gets us nowhere.
2) There are many responsible parties in this Gaza suffering. Israeli leadership? Of course. Hamas, oh my wow yes, they're abhorrent. The surrounding Arab world, wow they don't care anymore it just doesn't stop. And yet Israel is now on the hook to solve it all; there's no one else. When the Abraham accords (or similarly desired by Arab states) progress kicks off again, Palestinians will be further left behind and alone by their Arab neighbours. Every nation, every massive organization is disappointing when you unravel it.
So we could tally up all the articles condemning Israel, and all the articles listing what Arab countries and Islamism are destroying. And then what?
This is all a wasted opportunity. Imagine if, instead of everyone choosing a side, instead of the media covering pro-Palestine and anti-Jewish slurs and angry scapegoating rallies and droning chants on repeat, the voice of the youth in the West was for peace. That we're sick and tired of religious ideology and suffering and child indoctrination (on both sides). That Jewish and Muslim brothers and sisters want to stand together for safety and self-determination and not war. That a new generation of leaders would emerge, from Israel to give Palestinians their sliver back, and for someone (really anyone) from Palestine who wants to build their prosperity and protect their own people.
If you have a voice, maybe this is what's worthwhile. But all this polarizing us vs them, yes-but, pick-your-side, especially in the West right now, is just doing nothing right now and just causing more anguish and hatred.
Hi Noah, thank you for taking the time to read this and write a reply. I guess I don't find what you've written very helpful? I'm not sure what saying there is blame on all sides and it’s time for peace does.
My essay is mostly directed at the diaspora Jewish community. It’s not about assigning blame to different parties. My issue is with the Zionist project in general. I explain why it endangers Jews everywhere, how the stories it requires us to believe are not sustainable in a world where one can educate themselves, and how the ruptures it causes within families, communities and Jewish institutions, I believe will destroy us from within. Zionism is violent at its core. There is simply no way to maintain a demographic majority (what a Jewish state requires and what Zionism is in practice) without oppressing another people. That is the inconvenient truth no one wants to acknowledge. It’s why Israel as such, as an ethno-state, should not exist. The problem isn’t Jews or Israelis living there, it’s Zionism.
Peace without justice is also unsustainable. I can see that you're trying to do that centrist thing of I'm not on any side but peace, but you are. Because just here you've perpetuated many classic Zionist talking points. For one, the idea that Palestinians haven't built prosperity. They have, it's just been destroyed. No people could build prosperity under the apartheid conditions imposed by Israel's occupation, which I believe you don't really understand. If you did, you wouldn’t make this kind of racist comment which suggests there is something inherent to Palestinians that has prevented from building prosperity never mind protect their own people? How? With what army? That’s pretty rich to say when a nuclear power with billions upon billions of dollars in military assistance controls every aspect of their life including the sky such that they are not allowed a plane or airport and that’s just one example. When I hear people say this kind of thing – I know you don’t mean it, it’s truly the indoctrination you just haven’t interrogated – when I hear talking points like why didn’t the Palestinians make Gaza, Singapore? It sounds like, why did Jews go like sheep to the slaughter?
It also seems like you are unaware of how many of these leaders you hope for, Israel has imprisoned or killed or otherwise punished. The way they’ve propped up Hamas (including financially) while undermining the PA should give you some indication.
I think a very important first step in getting to where you want to get, would be to spend some time understanding Palestinian history, speaking to Palestinians, read any one of their well-known authors or journalists or academics. Because when you say, here we are in 2024, give them back their sliver, you ignore what Palestinians want, after freedom on their land, more than anything: a real recognition of what's been done and reparations for it. You can't tell a People who have been experiencing ethnic cleansing for 75 years, that it's 2024 so it's time for peace. Look, because you seem interested in taking this both sides perspective and I can tell you know the Zionist side very well, why not, learn about the other side. If you want any recommendations, I am here.
I, too, like Noah, read this with curiosity (and I'm still curious) - I'd like to point out one other glaring omission - do Palestinians (or their leadership) want "just a sliver?" Or is that "sliver" the entirety of Israel?
I ask this earnestly; from what I've gathered, as tough as it is to swallow, my understanding is that many Israelis have realized that a two-state solution was only ever a western ideal, and that the people of the region themselves aren't actually interested in that.
I also find it interesting that you didn't mention Israel winning the 6-day-war, or the legal/ ownership status of those homes that were demolished. Are you saying that the Palestinians in those towns were they effectively squatting, and they were all just aware that all their neighbors were squatting, so it's ok? I know tribalism is big there but do people not pay rent or own homes in the Middle East like is that not a standard requirement (also asking earnestly, I genuinely don't know)
What took so long?