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Conflict in the Middle East

How To Respond?

117 replies

Oodiks · 09/01/2025 22:09

So, I met a really nice woman last week who helped me move house. She was terrific, drove a red pick-up truck and was brilliant helping me lug a load of stuff from my old house to my new house. We got along really well and shared lots of stories about ourselves while we worked. I suggested we meet for a coffee/tea as she works near me.

What's this got to do with the conflict in the ME I hear you ask...

She emailed me to suggest that we could meet for tea/coffee, or I could come to her house for a friendly social gathering of her 'Justice for Palestine' group and I don't know how to reply. It wasn't a topic we had discussed, but I am strongly pro-Israel (not Netanyahu in case you were wondering) and would find a 'Justice for Palestine' group quite challenging.

WWYD?

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Oodiks · 27/01/2025 06:32

Maxorias · 26/01/2025 19:09

I am not for either side but the mischievous part of me would be tempted to say "sorry, not free on (date) for your group, but I'm available for coffee, or you could come to my "return the hostages" friendly gathering on sunday". Just to see how she'd reply to that 😆

It’ll be interesting to see how a conversation about the hostages pans out when we actually meet.

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Maxorias · 26/01/2025 19:09

I am not for either side but the mischievous part of me would be tempted to say "sorry, not free on (date) for your group, but I'm available for coffee, or you could come to my "return the hostages" friendly gathering on sunday". Just to see how she'd reply to that 😆

Oodiks · 15/01/2025 16:25

NoisyBear · 15/01/2025 10:24

So after all of this what did you respond to the really nice lady who extended the invite to you?

I told her I couldn't attend her gathering and suggested we meet for coffee another time.

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Dulra · 15/01/2025 14:24

NoisyBear · 15/01/2025 10:24

So after all of this what did you respond to the really nice lady who extended the invite to you?

Yes I'd be interested in this update

NoisyBear · 15/01/2025 10:24

So after all of this what did you respond to the really nice lady who extended the invite to you?

Martymcfly24 · 15/01/2025 09:48

SharonEllis · 15/01/2025 08:45

Nobody has said that this situation is acceptable.

No one said it was acceptable.
But is it justified due to historical context.

SharonEllis · 15/01/2025 08:45

Martymcfly24 · 15/01/2025 07:26

So this makes the current slaughter acceptable.

With views like that, the scenario that prompted this thread is seeming a lot more unlikely.

Nobody has said that this situation is acceptable.

Namechangedforgoodreasons · 15/01/2025 08:13

Martymcfly24 · 15/01/2025 07:26

So this makes the current slaughter acceptable.

With views like that, the scenario that prompted this thread is seeming a lot more unlikely.

Why?

Martymcfly24 · 15/01/2025 07:26

So this makes the current slaughter acceptable.

With views like that, the scenario that prompted this thread is seeming a lot more unlikely.

Oodiks · 14/01/2025 22:17

Arayofcalm · 14/01/2025 20:57

What context? The one where more Palestinians have been killed by Israel before October 7th than there ever has been Israelis killed.
Or the one where Israel has consistently stolen more Palestinian land almost every year since it's inception and killed anyone who tried to fight back.

How about the context in which a displaced people finally return home after centuries and are attacked over and over by their neighbors who then cry 'foul' when they lose land in the wars they started?

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Arayofcalm · 14/01/2025 20:57

Oodiks · 14/01/2025 20:20

If the first thing you knew about WWII was the allies bombing the fuck out of Germany at the end of that war, you might think that Germany was the victim. Historical context matters.

What context? The one where more Palestinians have been killed by Israel before October 7th than there ever has been Israelis killed.
Or the one where Israel has consistently stolen more Palestinian land almost every year since it's inception and killed anyone who tried to fight back.

Comedycook · 14/01/2025 20:41

Oodiks · 14/01/2025 20:20

If the first thing you knew about WWII was the allies bombing the fuck out of Germany at the end of that war, you might think that Germany was the victim. Historical context matters.

Yes I often wonder, if there were smartphones and the internet during ww2, would British people have marched on the streets of the UK in an attempt to stop us fighting the Germans?

War is ugly

Martymcfly24 · 14/01/2025 20:40

Oodiks · 14/01/2025 20:20

If the first thing you knew about WWII was the allies bombing the fuck out of Germany at the end of that war, you might think that Germany was the victim. Historical context matters.

What historical context are you referring to that justifies the death of 70 children in the last 5 days?

Oodiks · 14/01/2025 20:20

Martymcfly24 · 14/01/2025 19:14

And so what if they have.

Seeing a massacre being live streamed does tend to awaken the conscience in a lot of people.

If the first thing you knew about WWII was the allies bombing the fuck out of Germany at the end of that war, you might think that Germany was the victim. Historical context matters.

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Martymcfly24 · 14/01/2025 19:14

Oodiks · 14/01/2025 18:20

And many have only just discovered the cause and don't understand that the situation has been evolving over the last few centuries.

And so what if they have.

Seeing a massacre being live streamed does tend to awaken the conscience in a lot of people.

Oodiks · 14/01/2025 18:20

Martymcfly24 · 13/01/2025 23:02

Many people have been calling for Justice for Palestine for a lot longer than 15 months because the injustices against Palestinian civilians has been going on a lot longer that 15 months.

And many have only just discovered the cause and don't understand that the situation has been evolving over the last few centuries.

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SpunkyCritic · 14/01/2025 18:14

Arayofcalm · 13/01/2025 22:55

I mean, we can keep going back and forth here.
I could then say i wonder how many of these people who identify as strong zionists, have been openly condemning Israel for indiscriminately murdering thousands of children and babies.

I genuinely don't get comments like this. You support Israel and so therefore must also support baby killing. Like what?!

Aside from the obvious what about the kids in Sudan, Uighurs etc, where have all these supporters of the innocent children been for all these past years when the rockets have gone off in Israel? When the suicide bombers have been on the Israeli school buses?

Every Pro-Israel person I have met is appalled by the loss of innocent life. I am sure most pro-Palestinian supporters are against that as well, but ime not all. Every Pro-Palestinian march I have had to wade through has had overt anti-semitism whether that be chants, placards, grafitti, etc.

MissyB1 · 14/01/2025 11:00

Namechangedforgoodreasons · 14/01/2025 08:50

It would have made it far harder for allies such as the US to support him. It would have made it harder for people like me to support (most of) Israel's actions.

I would have expected any decent person to want the immediate release of abducted civilians, at the very least, and for the failure to do that to colour their views on the war.

Edited

Oh the US would still have given full support, money (and the associated power) talks.

LinnettdeBelleforte · 14/01/2025 09:09

Namechangedforgoodreasons · 14/01/2025 08:50

It would have made it far harder for allies such as the US to support him. It would have made it harder for people like me to support (most of) Israel's actions.

I would have expected any decent person to want the immediate release of abducted civilians, at the very least, and for the failure to do that to colour their views on the war.

Edited

Exactly. I think that if the hostages had been immediately released, the war would look very different even if it did not end at once.

Namechangedforgoodreasons · 14/01/2025 08:50

It would have made it far harder for allies such as the US to support him. It would have made it harder for people like me to support (most of) Israel's actions.

I would have expected any decent person to want the immediate release of abducted civilians, at the very least, and for the failure to do that to colour their views on the war.

EasterIssland · 14/01/2025 08:41

Namechangedforgoodreasons · 13/01/2025 22:47

But many people don’t just want an end to the war and bloodshed, they want it on their terms. The quickest and surest way to end it would have been for the abducted hostages, especially the civilians, to be released very quickly. I wonder how many of those calling for "Justice for Palestine" have been calling for that for the past fifteen months.

Netamhayu has said several times that releasing the hostages wouldn’t end the war so no that wouldn’t have been the quickest way

ThisOldThang · 14/01/2025 08:26

Oodiks · 09/01/2025 22:09

So, I met a really nice woman last week who helped me move house. She was terrific, drove a red pick-up truck and was brilliant helping me lug a load of stuff from my old house to my new house. We got along really well and shared lots of stories about ourselves while we worked. I suggested we meet for a coffee/tea as she works near me.

What's this got to do with the conflict in the ME I hear you ask...

She emailed me to suggest that we could meet for tea/coffee, or I could come to her house for a friendly social gathering of her 'Justice for Palestine' group and I don't know how to reply. It wasn't a topic we had discussed, but I am strongly pro-Israel (not Netanyahu in case you were wondering) and would find a 'Justice for Palestine' group quite challenging.

WWYD?

Surely you just choose option a 'meet for tea or coffee'?

garciacherry · 14/01/2025 08:25

Well, how much does it bother you that you have differing opinions from your friend on this topic?

You can say you're busy and just not engage with it.

Or you can tell her that you can't come because you don't support the cause, discuss that with her, and see if you both still want a friendship.

MissyB1 · 14/01/2025 08:21

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Precisely what I was thinking….

Dulra · 14/01/2025 08:12

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