Epic Double standards

@sarabee1995 still not a fan of settler expansion under Netanyahu. Doesn’t make any of this right. But nothing happens in a vacuum either. Love you.

@DarkHeaven You one hundred percent right. Israel, especially under Netanyahu, has done and is doing a lot wrong. But we have to keep it in perspective when discussing Hamas.
Nothing Israel has done rises to the same level.

@sarabee1995 we all watched the videos and heard the stories. It was horrific. That can’t be denied. 🖤

@DarkHeaven I wasn't even referring to October 7, but yes, that was especially horrific.

@sarabee1995 I close my eyes and see her. Before the concert living her best life. And after… beaten, raped, killed, and paraded around naked on a Hamas pickup truck.


Somethings can’t be unseen.

@DarkHeaven 😥

@sarabee1995 None of this directly answers the points raised in the OP but I'll answer.

Arab Israelis are free in the sense that black people in the Jim Crowe South were free citizens. Even in Jerusalem, they have been frequently evicted from their homes, with decisions upheld by Israeli courts. Netanyahu passed an Israeli citizenship law with codifies The idea (even more so) that Israel is a Jewish state. The right of return laws are ethni nationalist. I could go on and this is just the best case example that you gave.

The West Bank is ruled under apartheid conditions with regular settler violence against Arabs that is ignored by the authorities. West Bank Palestinians are currently banned from commuting to work if they have jobs outside and unemployment benefits are being witheld. It's an awful situation in good times and that is deteriorating badly.

Gaza is starving and showing the beginning of disease epidemics that will kill more than the 25,000 direct military deaths.

I believe you when you say that you want a state where all people are free and have equal rights. The foundational problem for that is that the dominant party in this conflict is doing everything possible to prevent that from ever happening. Bibi is just saying the quiet bit out loud when he says he wants a Jewish only state.

Whatever our politicians say on public, they know that under current conditions, the genocide on Gaza will continue and a two state solution (or any equitable solution) will be further away than ever. We are bombing the houtis for them and selling them weapons whilst pretending to want peace

@sarabee1995 It's a good point. Who is it that runs a "free Palestine?" An ineffective government or a terrorist organization?

@Ynotisay

I also take issue with Palestinians being blamed for their conditions by ineffective government. It's a occupied people under siege with emargos. It's no wonder that there is no economy in Gaza.

I take the point that it's likely (from what I've read) that Hamas would win an election. Probably in the WB too because the Fatah activists are disillusioned with their leaders selling out. If there are still some people left in Gaza when this ends, it will be impossible for any Palestinian leadership to have any legitimacy if it does not hate Israel.

@Burnley123 Good comment and I think it's accurate. If for no other reason than the hatred that has built up and a desire for retribution. And I can't blame innocent people who are suffering for that. Unfortunately I think it's a part of the Hamas strategy. "We're the only ones fighting for you."
There's little nuance left on the table. I think it's become black and white which is the goal. You're with us or against us. And that's on both sides of this. I just don't see an off ramp where the people will prosper.

@Ynotisay Hamas definitely wanted accelerationist strategy and that was the purpose of the October 7th attack. They reasoned (and there is some grim method in the madness( that the Palestinian cause was dying a gradual but certain death and they needed to shake things up. They wanted a regional war and it looks like they might be getting one.

In a sense, Israel is happy to escalate things too because they want (and are no on record saying) they want a Jewish only state. They are getting away with the genocide in Gaza and also some of their crazies would like to get Iran directly involved because that would mean America would formally step in.

I don't know where this will end.

@DarkHeaven A beautiful Israeli girl murdered. Tragic.

But of course, none of the 25,000+ Palestinian women and children who have been massacred thus were as beautiful as her, so, you know, casualties of war and all that.🖕

@Burnley123 On the money again. Both sides were primed and that attack served the goals of both. Innocent people being slaughtered? Nothing but collateral damage.

@SW-User I don’t agree with that at all. All loss off life is a horrible travesty, period. Why are you putting words in my mouth? I’m very much against Netanyahu hard right government, the settler expansion, and all of the tragedy that has been caused by this war. But what did that young woman do to deserve what was done to her? What justification does Hamas have for what they have done? I can be against what is happening to the Palestinian people… many of which are children and be against what horrible tragedy was perpetrated by Hamas against innocent civilians too. Why would you say that to me? I’ve stated my entire position on it on this thread multiple times. Not cool.

@SW-User and I absolutely DO NOT BELIEVE these are acceptable casualties of war regardless of what Netanyahu and his people say.

@SW-User I think that was really unfair.

@Burnley123 A complete mischaracterization of what I said. I have friends that are Muslim, Jewish, Christian, and non believers.

@Burnley123 I might have to just get off the web today. I was volunteering in my community to try to make myself feel better because my depression is kicking my ass and just came on for a second while I’m taking a lunch break. This was not the uplifting here I needed. And I can’t afford that with my mental state right now. Be safe and be well.