I'm a Jewish Israeli, AMA

[israelilefty]

Jewish Israeli here. I grew up in a different country but have lived and worked most of my adult life here, living a fairly normal everyday life in northern Israel. When I'm not working, I enjoy cooking and hiking, I'm religiously observant (but also feminist), I'm on the left of the political spectrum, and have everyday contact with people from quite a range of different perspectives - Israeli society is incredibly diverse.

I guess I see us portrayed in a kind of monolithic way in the English-language media, so I'm taking a deep breath and posting here...

Feel free to AMA, just remember you're asking a real person, not a government or military spokesman :) I'll try to answer from my personal standpoint. as long as it's asked in good faith.

@Raffyash1 I'm sure the OP is more than capable of standing up for herself, but I have to say I think it's pretty rude of you to come on here and spout this crap. "Brainwashed" - really?? And I'm pretty sure she has just as good an idea as anyone of what is happening in Gaza and doesn't need your dodgy Instagram sources of "news" to enlighten her.

@israelilefty can you clarify who is forbidding you to enter Gaza or Palestinian cities?

I remember the first time I went to Israel and seeing a big sign outside Ramallah 'Ein kenisah leyisraelim' - No entry for Israelis.

Is it s security issue? coming from the Isaeli government/PA?

How are Israelis able to drive Gazans to hospital if this is the case? (Some of the hostages were reported as doing this)

I am not Israeli but I am Jewish and also religious and have lots of family there.

Everyone has the right to express their opinions. You might disagree with them or how they are voiced ( emotionally here) but they still have that right.

Are there any concerns in Israel about the long-term impact of the current offensive? Are there any calls for a long-term strategy to win the hearts and minds of the Palestinians - and the world - and stop the cycle of violence?

They are occupied territories, not part of sovereign Israeli territory. At the moment they are not part of another country because the Oslo accords and other peace initiatives failed, and a sovereign Palestinian state has not been established, and we are left with an ongoing interim state of areas A, B and C from the Oslo accords (you can look it up). There are massive (Israeli) signs outside area A in the West Bank prohibiting Israelis from entering, and there is literally no way for an Israeli civilian to enter Gaza (well, unless, sadly, as a hostage).

Of course. I just think a patronising personal attack is not the way to go about it.

In answer to the diversity question: Most Jews in Israel are not from Europe. A majority is from the middle east (Iran, Lebanon, North Africa, Yemen etc) and about 30% are ashkenazi. Lots nowadays are mixed with ancestry from ashkenazi and sefardic/mizrachi.

I have an Israeli friend of Indian background. She was living abroad in Europe for work and once got told she couldn't be Jewish because she wasn't white and Jews are white.

Most western people get their perception of Jews from Hollywood, in the USA it is true that most Jews are ashkenazi.

When you say “immigrants” what do you mean?

How many Jewish people lived in the region before Isreal was formed?

Also - how free is your press really? We constantly get the whole only democracy in the middle east etc etc but are you actually allowed to see what’s happening in Gaza? Would footage of children being pulled out of rubble and far worse be allowed to be shown on mainstream news?

Er, right. I find your post pretty patronising. First of all, nobody is not "letting" me see anything. We have the internet and a free press here. And if I want to know what's going on in Gaza, I don't have to go to random Instagram sites (surprisingly enough, I don't go to Instagram for my news). I can also read critical Israeli journalism by journalists like Amira Hass, I can turn to one of several Israeli NGOs like Breaking the Silence or whatever jumps up on my Facebook feed, or I can read the foreign press. In case you were wondering, I do all of those... And of course we know and talk about what came before 7.10, both in the immediate sense of Netanyahu's failed policy of containing Hamas, and in the wider local and regional history.

In very brief: Israel doesn't allow Israelis to enter area A (Palestinian cities), and the Palestinian security forces will detain them if it finds them and return them to Israel. This comes from the Oslo accords but is also to do with safety in the current situation.

How Israelis drive Palestinians to hospitals: we meet them on the Israeli side of checkpoints. I was privileged to volunteer for this organisation a couple of times driving Palestinians, and I have a friend who is currently active as a volunteer.

Jews (and also some non-Jews) who were born outside Israel and immigrated to Israel.

Why do you only read Israeli journalism?

How many dead children have you seen in Gaza?

There is so much footage of the atrocities being seen on the killings in Gaza, it would make you sick to your stomach. Instagram or not.

My best friend is Jewish and she would not go to Israel if her life depended on it.

To start, I think it’s very brave to come into this forum with your post, thank you.
I believe that all Palestinians and Israelis have the right to be safe and that only a two state solution would bring peace. (Before I start receiving a load of abuse)

I have no reason to be biased, I am neither Jewish or Muslim. However I did work for an Israeli company for quite some time a while back and have been there on numerous occasions for work.
I have researched what has been happening the the two after hearing many things from my Israeli colleagues at the time.

It is very clear that Israel has inflicted a brutal oppressive occupation over Palestine for decades. I condemn the Hamas attacks especially in October and are unforgivable but Israel have carried out far more unforgivable atrocities to Palestine (just just Hamas, all civilians) than Hamas has to Israel.

I can only assume the general population are unaware of what the Israeli state have done? Do Israelis feel that the attacks on Gaza in the past few months alone resulting in over 20’000 deaths which 10’000 being children is right? That Israel have hundreds of Palestinian ‘prisoners’ hostages that have been held for years without sentencing or trials, some are children. Are Israelis aware of this?

Again, apologies if this too sensitive a question and again my opinion is regarding the government not the people but would like to know what the people think/are aware of.

It's not shown on mainstream news TV for various reasons, including that in general our mainstream news is quite careful about showing graphic images from any perspective because it's assumed children may be watching. I've already mentioned it here, but the latest example of the 'Unholy' podcast with a discussion between Yonit Levy and Ilana Dayan, veteran Israeli news presenters, really goes into this issue.

But in general the press is very free. Look at Haaretz newspaper (though not all of it is translated into English) for a newspaper that could not be more critical of the government, and reports in depth on what happens in the Palestinian territories.

Israel have carried out far more unforgivable atrocities to Palestine (just just Hamas, all civilians) than Hamas has to Israel.

OP, how often do you encounter this kind of prejudice? Is it just on MN, or do you endure it elsewhere?

Thank you - some people have described it as a form of colonialism (others like yourself immigration). I’d be interested in your view. No trick question - genuinely interested in your perspective and thank you for answering. Although we are probably diametrically opposed on a lot of issues, it’s good to hear each other out.

I don't only read Israeli journalism. I just mentioned that I mainly read Israeli journalism, just like most people mainly read the journalism of whichever place they live in. But I'm a normal intelligent people who checks out other sources, and sometimes you'll even find me looking to see how things are reported on al-Jazeera. So yes, I am aware of what is going on in Gaza.

This

If a contrary opinion makes you sick, you must have been quite fragile to begin with.

Do you think that Netanyahu is responsible for Hamas creation? Was it his policy to dismantle any legitimate Palestinian authority to claim that there is no one to talk to in relation to any peace negotiation.

Do you feel there is anything you can do to stop your gov / military from continuing with their genocide of the Palestinian people? Are you protesting out there? Or do you feel unable to?