Colorado - Is this is why people are now staring to fear the chant 'free Palestine'

You say freedom for Palestine doesn't mean Israel must cease to exist and I'm sure a large number of the protesters agree with you and are simply protesting against the devastating impact this war is having on Palestinian civilians.

BUT hamas, who are currently still the ruling group in Gaza, and from whom these chants originated, think exactly the opposite. Their focus IS to wipe out Israel, or more specifically Jews. So by repeating their chants the protesters are ignorantly repeating the phrases of hate.

This, rightly or wrongly, gives the impression that they support hamas. In some cases they do and some they don't.
Sadly this use of very specific language makes it difficult for Jews to know who they are safe around and for Hamas is most likely a huge victory in itself.

On the contrary, 'from the river to the sea' means exactly that - that israel should cease to exist and that Jews should not live there.

Again, you ignore the other chants 'globalise the intafada ' and 'by any means necessary '. What exactly do you think these mean?

I abhor all wars, all loss of innocent life. But this thread is specifically asking why people are fearful of the free Palestine movement. I'd wager jewish people are more fearful than most given most of the chants they shout are directed towards them (seeing as 90% of jewish people identify as zionists - ie: the right to self determination in their ancestral homeland. NB': that does not mean they cannot live side by side with their Arab, druze, Christian, copt and Muslim cousins - just as they have done for many years - Muslim Arabs I the judiciary, equal rights to education, work, pay, medicines etc)

I want nothing more than peace, but calling for violence globally against jewish people is not the answer.

Awful things are happening to Palestinians at the hands of the Israeli state, including more illegal settlements in the West Bank

However, injuring Holocaust survivors with Molotov cocktails and makeshift flamethrowers is not the answer

There are too many antisemites who are more than happy to use the current horror in the Middle East as an excuse for violence

Actually many formulations DO believe that Israel should cease to exist in favour of either a binational state or a single state of Palestine.

Freedom for Palestine does not mean Israel must cease to exist. Again - you’re reaching a conclusion from my post that’s not there. Again, straw man. It doesn’t really work anymore I’m afraid.

For the other chants, freedom for Palestine is just that - freedom from Israel’s control and their own lands. But in every movement, you get extremists that use that movement as a mask for their own hatred.

Given that israel is the only jewish country in the entire world, I'd say most jewish people would have an issue with israel ceasing to exist. If it had been a jewish state in 1939, there would have been no Holocaust as the jewish people would have had somewhere of safety.

You seem to have ignored the other chants I mentioned 'globalise the intafada ' and 'by any means necessary'.

Well you’re reaching aren’t you.

You claimed “River to the Sea” means hatred of Jewish people. I explained that I find the use in Israel of the chant to be more scary. Please explain how that means I somehow don’t have an issue with what happened in America. It’s those illogical conclusions posters like you reach to make your point that makes you lose legitimacy.

Wow, so it is less chilling that innocent jewish people who are remembering the hostages are attacked with a flame thrower, or gunned down outside a museum on the streets of America? Why? I'd be interested to hear how you reach such a conclusion.

@ButterBites No, this is what 'globalise the intafada ' actually means and looks like.

To be honest I find it more chilling when Israel, the more dominant and the more aggressive power, claims it will have full control from the river to the sea. For the Palestinians, freedom is a dream. For Israel, control of that land is real eventuality.

This is the consequence of equating criticism of Israel with anti-semitism.

Those with half a brain cell believe they are one and the same and hold ordinary Jews responsible for the acts of Israel.

The chants 'from the river to the sea', 'globalise the itafada', 'by any means necessary' etc ...this is what they mean.

Hatred towards jewish people, the destruction of their businesses and homes, murdering jewish people...this is what those chants mean.

And see what happened to the Irish community in Birminghma after the pub bombings. The backlash was horrific. Ignorant, bigoted Brummies who thought that Irish and IRA were synonymous.

Should innocent people be killed - no - but there are innocent people being killed on both sides

This is very hard work .

You said "both sides". Are you saying all Jewish people around the world are considered to be on one side and therefore part of the conflict? If so, surely that would mean every Muslim person in the world are on the other side wouldn't it? Surely you don't think every person who happens to have the same religion is therefore part of every conflict worldwide that involves that religion?

I can guarantee that if it were Britain under existential threat at least 90% of the population would be supporting the war effort. @JemimaTiggywinkles

They probably would be, but Israel is not faced with an existential threat so that statement becomes pretty meaningless.
Israelis may be told that they are in danger of being wiped out, but that would be a falsehood perpetuated by their government to maintain the fighting spirit. There is no realistic way Israel could be wiped out.

Not that a backlash is right in any conflict but it's going to happen.

None of it happens in isolation.

Other groups have faced a backlash based on other conflicts so no it's not just the Jewish and yes in other conflicts they can expect a backlash from some people.

I'm not advocating backlashes but it's going to happen.

Muslims here face a backlash from previous terrorist attacks, people being attacked, mosques being attacked, that's not right either.

Should innocent people be killed - no - but there are innocent people being killed on both sides

Ok. Back on planet earth, us normal people would just rather Palestinians weren't murdered because some people can't stand the idea that Palestine exists.

This is not the converse of the previous post. Palestinians aren’t dying because Palestine exists, they’re dying because their terrorist government refuses to surrender in a war they started and are still holding hostages.

However, the government of Gaza has a clear and stated aim to destroy Israel simply for existing. And there is lots of support for this “from the river to the sea” plan. Globalising the intifada is simply taking it a step further to the rest of the world.

I honestly despair at people who “but both sides” this conflict. I disagree with lots of what Israel have done but the actions in attempting to destroy the terrorists and get their own people back are simply not comparable to the terrorists who are deliberately using civilians as human shields.

I can guarantee that if it were Britain under existential threat at least 90% of the population would be supporting the war effort.

I’m on planet earth with @Firealarm1414

No shit Sherlock.

Not directed at you OP just dismayed by the general population’s dismal competence for pattern recognition.

You have referenced "sides" in this post? Do you think all Jews worldwide are part of this conflict ?

I can make the same case for people living in Palestine who have nothing to do with the conflict or have any influence over it just trying to live their lives.

None of it's right and no innocent people should be killed on either side. I condemn both sides, you just appear to be condemning one side.

The killings especially of innocent people is terrible on both sides and neither should be happening but they are.

I'm not advocating the killing of innocent Israel's the same as I don't advocate the killing of innocent Palestinians but we don't live in a vacuum, actions have consequences for both sides

And do you think any other groups of people should expect a backlash based on conflicts going on around the world ?

A backlash to whom? Jewish people who have absolutely nothing to do with the conflict or have any influence over it just living their lives?

No I don't think anti-Semitic attacks are understandable, the same as I don't think what's happening in Gaza now is understandable but both are happening.

There was a backlash to what Hamas did in Oct 23 and there's going to be a backlash to what Israel is doing now.

Do I wish none of it happened - yes - but actions have consequences on both sides.

Personally I just wish the killing on both sides would stop.

What is happening in Palestine also does not justify Jews being murdered because they're Jews. The average Jew on the street has no more control over the government than Palestinians have over Hamas. How does a Jewish person from America have any control on the situation? My friend born in Ireland now lives in America, never been to Israel has baby killer shouted at her on the street.

A comment on Facebook yesterday said "Any Jew will Do" as retribution for Palestine the amount of likes was terrifying.