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.

@israelilefty you perfectly put into words my own experience , thank you 🫂💔I also live in Israel, and I frequently find myself unable to speak/write, which is very unlike me. It’s been unfathomable.

I have quite a few questions if that’s ok?

I'm interested that you volunteer for the organisation that transports Palestinians to hospital. How did you get involved in this initiative? Is it still ongoing through the war? do you see initiatives like this as the way forward for a long term pathway to breaking down the barriers between Israelis and Palestinians? I’ve been following posts by Luai Ahmed, a Yemenite Swedish citizen, on twitter and it’s been eye opening to see the rhetoric he was brought up with about Israel
but interesting to see his first hand account of visiting Israel and how he develops a more holistic view. Do you think more initiatives like that would be good for movement towards peace or if these are just too small in the grand scheme of things?

do you see chareidi magazines like Mishpacha as right wing?I’ll be honest I’ve never even thought of them in right/left wing framing. What about the Jerusalem Post? (Not going to ask about Haaretz, that one is obvious!)

also hi 👋! On a personal note it’s nice to see another Israeli Anglo mum on here! I’m super impressed that you work in Ivrit, my dream is to eventually take the Mitam psychology exam , and do a PHD in clinical psychology but the thought of doing that in Ivrit is beyond daunting.

Thanks :)

Ireland isn’t often on the news here so tbh I think the populist opinion would largely be “great beer, great music”…

But there was widespread disappointment here when the Irish prime minister tweeted about 9-year old Emily Hand as being “lost” and “found”. She wasn’t lost, she was abducted by a cruel terrorist organization, and the effects of her captivity will remain with her for the rest of her life. And she wasn’t found, she was returned during a negotiated exchange in which Israel freed three Palestinian prisoners for each civilian Israeli captive.

In all the years I have been on Mumsnet I have never read such a thoughtful, insightful and educational thread. Thank you so very, very much.

I’m sorry for the more politically aggressive posts, but you’ve handled them well.

I’m another non-religious Mumsnetter with Jewish ancestry. I never realised how connected I felt internally with the Israeli community until now, but I have an ever growing unease around the level of response.

Do you feel there is going to be a point where this will all backfire and the Hamas ideology will grow exponentially over coming decades to become a greater threat?

The world is clamouring for a ceasefire for painfully obvious reasons. I’m slightly surprised that, as a fellow lefty, you are resistant to this. Is this the general feeling amongst the left and why? It’s of course possible for you to hold the feelings you do, as outlined in your personal post, but equally possible to think with your head and recognise that the pure horror of what is happening in Gaza is unlikely to aid the cause of peace. Is it recognised that (not talking about politicians as they are a breed apart) there is widespread concern for the Palestinians and a global wish for this to stop from ordinary people around the world?

Thank you for this interesting thread. I have had the pleasure of visiting Israel on business and it was so refreshing to be in a country in the Middle East where I didn't feel like a second class citizen as a woman.

I have had a concern since the IDF offensive against Gaza started that Israel is playing into Hamas' (or its puppetmasters') hands by doing what they are doing. The 7 October atrocities were not designed to accomplish a military objective or to achieve anything positive for Gazans. Imo they were designed to make Israel a pariah and by bombing civilians in Gaza Israel is doing exactly what Hamas wants. I understand the anger and desire to flatten Hamas' capabilities but I think Israel is being played and this will end badly for its people (who have, as everyone knows, suffered enough). Are concerns like these being discussed within Israel?

Thank you again for doing this fascinating AMA

I have a question about the Coalition government - I've seen threats by Ben Gvir to leave the coalition [maybe he does it all the time and it's of no significance] but in the event that were to happen would a new coalition be formed by the existing parties?
Or would there need to be new elections?

hi, you didn’t answer my question about how Israelis feel about Israel blocking humanitarian aid to Gaza. Do they support that policy and do they consider it to be a large factor in the humanitarian crisis?

@israelilefty Thank you for this informative and absolutely vital thread. As a non-religious Jew with no ties to Israel (and very little connection to a Jewish community itself) it has been so helpful to read your posts. Having never held any interest in Israel, it's only recently I've actually felt any kind of real connection with Israelis. And as a lefty too, it's people like you I have been thinking about a lot and I'm so interested to hear about your experience and views. You write so well too, and with such compassion. Sorry some of the usual Jew-baiters have turned up to bite, but you've deftly swerved them!

You are obviously a very erudite, intelligent and informed person and personally I think that if more Israelis were like you there would be less suffering. Thank you again.

Spot the hidden anti-Semitism ...

Worth pointing out that the poster said Israelis, not Jews. This is where a lot of the anti semitism is actually coming from - Jews are being blamed for the actions of a country. Not their religion.

You don’t get UK Christian’s being blamed for the actions of fundamentalist American Christians do you?

If a Palestinian in Gaza was to do an AMA (highly unlikely as they are simply trying to survive at this point) what question would you ask them OP?

I beg your pardon? I thought the OP made a thread in order to answer questions.
I did not demand an answer, as you stated; I am interested in what her opinion is on the events in Gaza. Of course, she has every right to refuse to answer my questions; the same rights as I have to ask them.
Sometimes what is left unsaid is far more revealing than what is said.

Hamas is responsible for the 07/10 atrocities. The Israeli government and the IDF are responsible for the atrocities in Gaza.

I find it extraordinary that in this day and age there is a country that separates the population based on their ethnic origins and/or religion. How does it sit with you @israelilefty ? To me it’s an alien way of thinking about human beings. Would you object to your children attending school or university with Palestinian children? What about hospitals and toilets, does the mixing of the population scare you? Other countries have overcome difficult and divisive histories. How do you feel about countries like South Africa and how they have changed in the last 25 years?

Christ alive. How many times. Once more for the hard of thinking:

Judaism is a religion.
Jewishness is an ethnicity.
Not all Jews are religious.
Targeting or discriminating against someone for their ethnicity is racism.

Anyone referencing Shaun King as a reliable source is not worth dignifying with any sort of answer @Att1cusPund !

Save your breath/typing!

Erm exactly? The posted cited Israelis. She didn’t say Jews. It’s the difference between saying “more Italians like you” and “more Catholics like you”.

It’s still a screaming stereotype but it isn’t anti semitism. It’s pointed as much at Christian Israelis and Muslim Israelis as Jewish Israelis

Whereas anti semitism is pointing at Jews the world over and saying “it’s your fault”. Which is where the British Jews are suffering now.

Thanks so much for explaining antisemitism to me

Do you really see nothing wrong with that sort of snidey comment aimed at the people of the world's only Jewish nation? I mean, even if you don't agree that it's antisemitic it is then at the very least you must see the rank xenophobia.

Of course I see the xenophobia (i mentioned in in my last post).

What I’m trying to show is that recent anti semitism is coming entirely out of conflating the actions of ISRAEL with the Jewish belief system. So calling someone anti semitic when they’re being xenophobic flames the hard of thinking to think the same. Words matter.

I still don't think you're getting it. Not sure what the heck a "Jewish belief system" is, either.

People that follow the Jewish religion then.

And I don’t see what you’re not getting - anti semitism is dictionary defined as:

“discrimination against or prejudice or hostility toward Jews”

Citing Israelis and not just Jews isn’t anti semitic as it also encompasses Israelis of all religions and none.

As you rightly point out, the post is xenophobic, as the dictionary defines as follows:

“dislike of or prejudice against people from other countries”

But please don’t conflate the two. This causes the pain.

@TomeTome if you filter the thread for just OPs posts you will see the ones where she describes the diversity within Israel, those will answer your question.

Thank you so much for doing this thread and responding to questions with such thoughtfulness - and ignoring the needlessly unpleasant posts with such dignity.

Do you have children OP, or would you like to? If so, I wondered how you feel about National Service in Israel? Is it something you worry about?

I’m not sure which question you are referring to? I have read all OPs responses and understand the filter function. All good.

Gaza is being bombed because of Hamas. They won't let civilians get to safety, and they steal all the aid that comes in. Not Israel's fault.