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Original poster

AIBU to worry about telling colleagues that I’m going to Israel?

444 replies

Doubtfulso · 24/09/2024 13:41

I’ve got a close friends wedding in Israel in 2 months and I am a bridesmaid. She is Israeli and so of course having her wedding in her home country.

I need to book the time off work now, and I work in the kind of company where everyone asks where you’re going or where you’ve been when you book leave.

there’s a lot of anger and strong feelings against Israel at the moment, and I’m worried that colleagues will turn against me or start treating me different when they know that I’m going to Israel.

would I be unreasonable to lie and tell them I’m going somewhere else, or should I be honest?

OP posts:
JaneDoeHere · 24/09/2024 19:46

@scorpio931
Guinea pig - no connection to New Guinea or pigs.

But thanks for pointing out you narrow-minded views. It’s pretty clear.

Peace to all :)

TheJadePeer · 24/09/2024 19:43

Doubtfulso · 24/09/2024 19:42

I can work from anywhere remotely, so will be taking my laptop. No issues there.

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How can you be guaranteed a stable internet connection 😂

Original poster
Doubtfulso · 24/09/2024 19:42

TheJadePeer · 24/09/2024 19:37

And who's going to be doing your work while you're stuck there? Could be several weeks.
As a manager I'd take a dim view of employees travelling to warzones for unnecessary reasons. I'd turn a blind eye for family but not this.

You know, if it all goes well, there'll be zero issues. You'll be there and back, claiming to have been to Cyprus, no problem.

But if the situation worsens the truth will come out and you could lose your job if you're away for too long. Unless you're in a field that finds it hard to recruit.

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I can work from anywhere remotely, so will be taking my laptop. No issues there.

OP posts:
TheJadePeer · 24/09/2024 19:41

Also adding OP you might want to check your employer's policies.
Ours require a note made for travelling to places against FCDO advice. We don't need further authorisation but some workplaces do.

We have quite a few people working as Army Reservists who go on deployments, when I worked for the NHS people travelling for doctors without borders or similar.

YellowAsteroid · 24/09/2024 19:41

Doubtfulso · 24/09/2024 14:56

I’m going to support a very close friend on her wedding day. She and her family were on one of the kibbutz’s that was attacked by Hamas. Many of her neighbours were murdered or taken hostage and she is displaced in a different city. I think she deserves a bit of happiness on her wedding day.

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OMG that’s awful @Doubtfulso Of course you should go What a terrible experience for your friend.

Murdering scumbags Hamas.

ChallahPlaiter · 24/09/2024 19:37

LBFseBrom · 24/09/2024 19:06

This is very interesting because I have never equated anti-Zionism with anti-Semitism, particularly considering a significant number of Orthodox Jews are not Zionists. That despite the fact that they go to, and many live in, Israel and enjoy all the benefits therein.

Personally I believe in the State of Israel, always have, and in the right of the Palestinians to be where they are. I fail to understand why they cannot just peacefully co-exist. It would be such an achievement if they could. The war becomes worse all the time, there are so many atrocities committed by both sides. I wouldn't want to live there. I do not, however, consider going there to be taking sides, people travel to and fro all the time.

https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/ultra-orthodox-anti-zionist/

There’s a particular reason why Orthodox Jews may be anti-Zionist. It’s nothing to do with disapproving of the actions of the Israeli government, being pro-Palestine or whatever. It’s a religious stance.

TheJadePeer · 24/09/2024 19:37

Doubtfulso · 24/09/2024 19:04

I’m not going to be swayed against visiting Israel, so those of you trying to get me to do that are wasting your time.

As long as planes are still flying there, I will be on them as I love my friend dearly and want to be there on her wedding day.

If things kicks off more when I’m there, my friend has said that I can stay with her family until flights back to the Uk resume. I’m willing to take the risk.

Judging by some of these comments, I think I would be better off lying and saying I’m going to Cyprus. I can’t be sure that my manager isn’t someone that holds these really extreme beliefs against Israel, and I don’t want it to impact my progression at work.

guess I’d better Google some facts about Cyprus now!

And who's going to be doing your work while you're stuck there? Could be several weeks.
As a manager I'd take a dim view of employees travelling to warzones for unnecessary reasons. I'd turn a blind eye for family but not this.

You know, if it all goes well, there'll be zero issues. You'll be there and back, claiming to have been to Cyprus, no problem.

But if the situation worsens the truth will come out and you could lose your job if you're away for too long. Unless you're in a field that finds it hard to recruit.

YellowAsteroid · 24/09/2024 19:36

jeaux90 · 24/09/2024 19:23

@LBFseBrom

"I fail to understand why they cannot just peacefully co-exist"

Because Hamas doesn't want to.
It wants Israel gone. There have been countless attempts at peace deals.

Indeed. Hamas, and the PLO before them and Hezbollah also. Most of the Middle East is a place of Jew hatred and they want Israel gone. They’ve shown this again and again.

SababaToo · 24/09/2024 19:26

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EasternStandard · 24/09/2024 19:26

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I wouldn't use the Holocaust in this way

ssd · 24/09/2024 19:25

jeaux90 · 24/09/2024 19:23

@LBFseBrom

"I fail to understand why they cannot just peacefully co-exist"

Because Hamas doesn't want to.
It wants Israel gone. There have been countless attempts at peace deals.

Gaza will be gone long before Israel at this rate.

erwachen · 24/09/2024 19:24

Rosscameasdoody · 24/09/2024 19:13

Why is it anti semitism ? The definition of such in this context is blaming ALL Jews for the actions of the state of Israel. I live in an area with an extensive Jewish population and many of our friends are Jewish. I don’t know any who hold with what the state of Israel is doing in Gaza.

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I find it unconscionable that a race of people such as the Jews, who have suffered through history and were the target of attempted genocide by the Nazis, should find it so easy to subject another race to this kind of treatment.

Nothing antisemitic at all about comparing "the Jews" to the Nazis, nope, nothing to see here.

jeaux90 · 24/09/2024 19:23

@LBFseBrom

"I fail to understand why they cannot just peacefully co-exist"

Because Hamas doesn't want to.
It wants Israel gone. There have been countless attempts at peace deals.

EI12 · 24/09/2024 19:20

LBFseBrom · 24/09/2024 18:38

You are very sensible, I wish more people were the same,

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I learned the hard way. Some time ago, something totally inconsequential (I thought) I said in passing, was used against me, about which I found out much, much later. It was very detrimental for my career, very damaging.

Comedycook · 24/09/2024 19:20

Rosscameasdoody · 24/09/2024 19:18

Whatever you post on MN is picked apart. NOBODY IN THEIR RIGHT MIND would deny what happened during the holocaust. Sorry - wrong wording because I was trying not to offend, so used the official definition. Won’t make that mistake again. Fucking awful thread.

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There was literally no need to make any reference to the holocaust though was there?

Rosscameasdoody · 24/09/2024 19:18

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Whatever you post on MN is picked apart. NOBODY IN THEIR RIGHT MIND would deny what happened during the holocaust. Sorry - wrong wording because I was trying not to offend, so used the official definition. Won’t make that mistake again. Fucking awful thread.

Comedycook · 24/09/2024 19:14

Rosscameasdoody · 24/09/2024 19:13

Why is it anti semitism ? The definition of such in this context is blaming ALL Jews for the actions of the state of Israel. I live in an area with an extensive Jewish population and many of our friends are Jewish. I don’t know any who hold with what the state of Israel is doing in Gaza.

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Referencing the holocaust in relation to the Israel/Gaza conflict is generally considered to be anti semetic.

BESTAUNTB · 24/09/2024 19:14

I wouldn’t say I was going to Cyprus in case something happened in Israel, flights were cancelled, and you had to explain to your bewildered boss that you were going to be delayed due to events in the Middle East. It would look shifty.

Just tell the truth. If you’re genuinely ok with going, why not be upfront 🤷‍♀️

Applesonthelawn · 24/09/2024 19:14

Obviously you should be able to tell the truth with no fear of any snide comments, but that is such an inflamed conversation at the moment and if your workplace comprises colleagues with natural sympathy to the other side in the conflict I would probably try to avoid the confrontation. I don't think it should be necessary at all but it's just one of those things I'd accept as best not spoken about. And I'm not someone who is bothered by confrontation in the slightest - it's more to avoid everyone else having to deal with it.

Lovelylilylane · 24/09/2024 19:14

Saltedbutter · 24/09/2024 13:59

If I’m being honest I’d judge you slightly (and silently) for attending but understand your reasons. If you were going for a holiday I’d expect a much stronger reaction from your colleagues.
If anybody gives you shit, go to HR.

Seriously? This is just uncalled for.

Rosscameasdoody · 24/09/2024 19:14

Comedycook · 24/09/2024 19:11

Because civilian casualties in a war is exactly the same as rounding up 6 million people onto cattle trucks and gassing them

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Nope.

Rosscameasdoody · 24/09/2024 19:13

FunnyJadeFinch · 24/09/2024 19:06

And for those who say there's no antisemitism on this thread...

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Why is it anti semitism ? The definition of such in this context is blaming ALL Jews for the actions of the state of Israel. I live in an area with an extensive Jewish population and many of our friends are Jewish. I don’t know any who hold with what the state of Israel is doing in Gaza.

ChallahPlaiter · 24/09/2024 19:13

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In the Middle East? No, it’s frightening.

Comedycook · 24/09/2024 19:11

Rosscameasdoody · 24/09/2024 19:02

To be clear. Genocide. The deliberate killing of a large number of people from a particular nation or ethnic group with the aim of destroying that nation or group. So attempted. And like it or not, what’s going on in Gaza has the same feel.

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Because civilian casualties in a war is exactly the same as rounding up 6 million people onto cattle trucks and gassing them

SababaToo · 24/09/2024 19:11

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