Gideon Levy on the killing in Gaza

When do you think Jewish nationalist terrorism started?

Before or after the Arab riots of 1920?

Or are you trying to say that because the present day Palestinian Arab identity hadn’t been established then, they didn’t exist?

The Irgun was a militant Zionist paramilitary group that carried out terrorist attacks against the British and Palestinians during the 1930s and 1940s that led to the foundation of Israel.

Interestingly, Irgun was based on Revisionist Zionism, which was founded by Ze'ev Jabotinsky. Jabotinsky was sent to Istanbul (back then Constantinople) by the Zionist Organization as the editor-in-chief of a daily newspaper called Young Turk which was also founded and financed by the Zionists. This newspaper was very instrumental in the Young Turks revolution which later revolted against Ottoman Sultan Aldulhamid II and overthrew him, then committed the Armenian genocide. Eventually these events led to the collapse of the Ottoman Empire.

It is not very obvious up front (even to Turks as history is not taught as it should be) but Zionism has a lot to do with ultra nationalism in Turkey against Christian minorities (Greeks, Armenians) and the collapse of the Ottoman Empire. All these countries, which were formed by the British where we see conflict and destabilization today such as Syria, Lebanon, Libya, Iraq, and Palestine were under Ottoman Empire control.

True. The groups are Irgun, Haganah and the Stern Gang. These groups became the IDF and one of the leaders of Irgun (the group responsible for the bombing of the King David Hotel), Menachem Begin, became a prime minister of Israel.

There were Jewish nationalist terrorists before there were Palestinian terrorists.

The war in Gaza is another step on the road to a Greater Israel.

"Not that Palestinians voted in a terrorist government in Gaza and have a long history of committing terrorist attacks, even before they identified as Palestinians, culminating in Oct 7th. This is a fact and I did NOT say ALL Palestinians."

I'm trying to understand what does 'even before they identified as Palestinians' mean. You make it sound as Palestinian identity is something made up recently. However, the geographical region of Palestine is recognized as Palestine in written history since 5th century.

The other issue with your statement is your justification of treatment of Palestinians because they voted for Hamas. The last election with Hamas winning was in January 2006, which is 19 years ago. Do you think all these children who were not even born 19 years ago deserved to be killed because of an election that took place 19 years ago?

So in the first paragraph, he believes his fellow Israelis are brainwashed into thinking Palestinians are terroristic?

Not that Palestinians voted in a terrorist government in Gaza and have a long history of committing terrorist attacks, even before they identified as Palestinians, culminating in Oct 7th. This is a fact and I did NOT say ALL Palestinians.

I note he doesn’t speak Arabic considering he speaks for Palestinians so the language barrier must make things difficult and he says himself his two sons don’t agree with his politics or read anything he writes.

He also believes a ONE state solution is the only resolution to the conflict, even after Oct 7th, which sounds rather like he’s not too bothered about his fellow Israelis safety or his own as he lives in Tel Aviv.

He’s been speaking out for a long time @LoremIpsumCici

Thank you. He is really brave for speaking out.

Thank you, that is very informative and gives a context to this war, and a description of the attitude of the Israelis. The prognosis seems hopeless.