It is striking that people can call for a “ceasefire” and “peace” and simultaneously fantasise about a bloody war to destroy Israel. I wonder how many dead they would expect this fantasy to require. I also wonder how many who talk about settler colonialism are at all bothered about Russian settler colonialism in Eastern Ukraine. I suspect many hate Israel because they hate the West and don’t have any problem with settler colonialism when it is practiced by an enemy of the West.
I suspect that with few exceptions, those objecting to the "occupation" of Palestinian lands have always meant all of the land between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea, and not just Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem. With the growth of the movement over the last 25 years or so, especially on university campuses, it has emboldened people to come out of the proverbial closet, with a few pretending that the Palestine that will arise from Israel's ashes will be a secular, democratic binational state, regardless of the fascistic nature of Hamas, the most powerful Palestinian movement of the day and Hamas's closest allies.
As regards the charge of settler-colonialism, as John Strawson has pointed out, Israel, rather uniquely, was established as a refugee state. That understanding of Israel's founding has been twisted into such an unrecognizable state that the victims of 1800+ years of forced displacement, persecution, pressure to assimilate/convert under duress, discrimination, pogroms, real genocides and ethnic cleansing become the hated "settler-colonialists" while a population that doubtless, in significant proportion, descend from people who resettled there under a succession of conquerors and occupiers which followed the Romans are presumed to be "indigenous" to the land.
A much needed response to the false and damaging narratives about Israel and Jewish history. I am on my way to Hyde Park for an October 7th remembrance even. I should not have an anxious feeling in the pit of my stomach, made worse by the images from the protest yesterday. It is very disturbing that the blatant support of terrorists, with banners proclaiming 'I ❤️ Hezbollah' are prominent in our diverse city.
The logic of "Anticolonialist" arguments like these would, if applied consistently, call for the expulsion of the entire non-indigenous population of the Americas & Australasia, the repatriation of all Arabs to Arabia & all Bantu language speakers to West Africa, & all Russians to West of the Volga.
And of course, all English back to Germany.
The above suggestions are of course as impossible in practice as they are imbecilic in theory.
Exactly the same as they are when applied to Israeli Jews.
It is striking that people can call for a “ceasefire” and “peace” and simultaneously fantasise about a bloody war to destroy Israel. I wonder how many dead they would expect this fantasy to require. I also wonder how many who talk about settler colonialism are at all bothered about Russian settler colonialism in Eastern Ukraine. I suspect many hate Israel because they hate the West and don’t have any problem with settler colonialism when it is practiced by an enemy of the West.
Ceasefire was never about peace. Ever.
The term "peace activist" has become this weird dog whistle that signals the person calling themselves that is anything but...
I suspect that with few exceptions, those objecting to the "occupation" of Palestinian lands have always meant all of the land between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea, and not just Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem. With the growth of the movement over the last 25 years or so, especially on university campuses, it has emboldened people to come out of the proverbial closet, with a few pretending that the Palestine that will arise from Israel's ashes will be a secular, democratic binational state, regardless of the fascistic nature of Hamas, the most powerful Palestinian movement of the day and Hamas's closest allies.
As regards the charge of settler-colonialism, as John Strawson has pointed out, Israel, rather uniquely, was established as a refugee state. That understanding of Israel's founding has been twisted into such an unrecognizable state that the victims of 1800+ years of forced displacement, persecution, pressure to assimilate/convert under duress, discrimination, pogroms, real genocides and ethnic cleansing become the hated "settler-colonialists" while a population that doubtless, in significant proportion, descend from people who resettled there under a succession of conquerors and occupiers which followed the Romans are presumed to be "indigenous" to the land.
A much needed response to the false and damaging narratives about Israel and Jewish history. I am on my way to Hyde Park for an October 7th remembrance even. I should not have an anxious feeling in the pit of my stomach, made worse by the images from the protest yesterday. It is very disturbing that the blatant support of terrorists, with banners proclaiming 'I ❤️ Hezbollah' are prominent in our diverse city.
They do still talk about the Occupation but its meaning has changed.. Just like the meaning of "genocide". Words now serve power.
Thank you for writing this. It expresses so much that many I know, and used to respect, need to understand.
The logic of "Anticolonialist" arguments like these would, if applied consistently, call for the expulsion of the entire non-indigenous population of the Americas & Australasia, the repatriation of all Arabs to Arabia & all Bantu language speakers to West Africa, & all Russians to West of the Volga.
And of course, all English back to Germany.
The above suggestions are of course as impossible in practice as they are imbecilic in theory.
Exactly the same as they are when applied to Israeli Jews.