5 year old Jude Shalabi sustained a skull fracture after settlers threw stones at him near Shomrom settlement in the occupied West Bank

I wasn’t suggesting you didn’t have an issue with the Israeli government. I only replied to your post as you seemed to suggest this thread was just looking for rather empty comments re the settlers.

“No doubt we will have this conversation again in a few days time when someone says something about the settlers, comments on how certain posters haven't turned up for duty and demands that we make our public declaration of lack of support for the settlers.
And repeat.”

I felt that paragraph minimised an important discussion about the Israeli government’s policy/actions and the role the IDF and police play in the settler movement.

Back to your questions, the pattern I’ve noticed across the threads is it’s usually the same people who don’t see any problem with the mass displacement of civilians from Gaza City, or the widespread bombing that has wiped out pretty much all of Gaza, or the people who think GHF are doing a great job, or anyone who goes silent when questions about people like Smotrich are asked. I guess we will see how this thread develops but for me the important thing that’s discussed is the role the Israeli government are playing in the violent taking of Palestinian land.

Who isn't acknowledging that its state sanctioned? Who else would be sanctioning it?

Personally, I think taking part in this thread is important for people on all ‘sides’ because there can’t be peace in that region if Israel don’t change their treatment of Palestinians too. This isn’t just a few rogue people causing trouble. This is violent and illegal activity encouraged, financed and celebrated by people at the very top of the Israeli government. It is activity protected and/or ignored by the IDF/police.

Of course, most people will feel upset by stories like this one and people will say ‘of course I don’t support settlers’ etc. but I don’t see why the outrage isn’t pointed at the Israeli government (not just at the settlers themselves). Not acknowledging that this is a state sanctioned issue means it simply carries on and Palestinian people continue to be treated as lesser. And what do people in that situation become vulnerable to… extremism.

So to me this isn’t a virtue signalling thread trying to push everyone to make slightly empty anti-settler statements. For me, it’s about acknowledging Israel’s government’s role in the problem and the need for change (more moderate politicians in Israel) in order for there to be any hope of a peaceful end to all this for Israelis and Palestinians.

I've never seen anyone here defend settlements or extremist settler behaviour.

No doubt we will have this conversation again in a few days time when someone says something about the settlers, comments on how certain posters haven't turned up for duty and demands that we make our public declaration of lack of support for the settlers.
And repeat.

Thanks for posting. Ive wondered whether we have the UK equivalent of AIPAC in America.

Disgusting. The Israeli government are a disgrace for encouraging this.

We have got to make it clear to our politicians that we wont vote for anyone who takes funds from this state or its supporters whilst they are pursuing this policy.

Just watched this

which showed a high proportion of the current UK government cabinet received funds from top pro-Israel donors. David Lammy held private non disclosed meetings earlier this year to discuss arms deals with Israel lobbyist - imagine the absolute media uproar he was doing that with Hamas lobbyist (which would be justifiable as that would be horrendous but at this point Israel's actions feel equivalent).

It is heart breaking, how ignorant settlers do not recognise the historical parallels, I will never fathom, targetting people because of their ethnicity/religion and stealing their property where did we see that before

Yes, it is. Also conveniently ignored or more often than not - acknowledged but minimised by supporters of Israel.

That's horrific!

Yet you're the one once again changing the subject from the OP by bringing it back to me and my motivations. Move on!

Ok, Hamas are scum
Can we now get back to a CHILD injured by adults occupying an area ilegally.
No "keeping up" needed, I can figure out exactly what your motivation for trying to deflect from this boy is.

Evil fuckers. Are there people on here still defending them? Somebody be along calling us all antisemitic in a minute, no doubt.

Anyone who would chuck stones at kids to snatch their home is an evil bastard.

Info like this makes me lose so much hope for the future of the WB. The fact they think they’re “responding to terror attacks” is terrifying.

When you say "they" in a negative sentence it is invariably about Israel or their supporters & you have in fact accused me of deflection in the past.

Not to deflect from the OP anymore - let's get back to the subject under discussion.

Fair enough you have good reasons for giving those sort of threads a swerve.

The point I was really making is, as you say, that not every thread is for everyone. In response to someone on page 1 making a thing about others not posting on this one.

Anyway, back to the topic under discussion!

Did you do what I said?

No?

Then the comment wasn’t about you!

@LifeOfAShowGirl Because they can never, ever acknowledge that Israel or Israelis have done something wrong. They will always deflect.

You must have missed the bit where I said about this incident with the Settlers that it's a disgrace how they behave and yes, the Israeli government shouldn't be allowing it yet alone planning to build more settlements.

@PinkBobby
https://www.timesofisrael.com/police-recruit-settlers-for-new-west-bank-civilian-enforcement-squads/

Or this is supporting them too a group of volunteer settlers:

"The quasi-police force — whose stated goal is to provide an “immediate response to terror attacks” until the police and IDF troops arrive — has already equipped over 100 newly minted volunteers with weapons and tactical gear."

I mean what could possibly go wrong when a group of violent hate filled men with weapons are the first one the scene...

Personally, I think everyone should feel free to comment or not comment on any subject they please.

People have their own reasons for their choices, and that's okay.

For myself, like many women: Sexual violence is a triggering topic. I happily discuss it - including in this specific context - with IRL friends. I've learned the hard way that debating it with anonymous online accounts can be a pretty traumatising experience, so I don't.

But, yeah, even in general: not every thread has to be for everyone.

Apologies - no interest in derailing this thread.

I just read that there are an average of four incidents of settler violence a day and over half of them are “accompanied or actively supported” by the IDF (UN data). Horrendous figures.