Why Gaza?

[Mixymaxymoxy]

There are several atrocities happening in the world that could be described as genocides. Sudan, DCR, Rohingya in Myanmar, Yazidi in Iraq,

why has the Gaza / Palestinian cause motivated young people in the west more than any of the above ?

if you are a protester, how do to decide which cause to protest about ? If your children are protesting, why do you think they chose this one ?

I’m 54 and was not politically active when I was younger. I’m seeing the protests in France and elsewhere and wondering why Gaza so much part of the protests?

Just bog standard, age-old anti-Semitism, I imagine.

I suspect you are hoping to be able to tell us that it's because we secretly hate Jews. But, as a Jew myself, I think that's bollocks. I actually think the reason is because of the levels of media coverage, which are themselves caused by historic links between that part of the world and the UK, the relatively large Jewish population of this country, and the fact that those people look and act more like British people than Sudanese or Iraqi people do.

I suspect the US involvement and defence of it is a big part of it too.

Is it though? How do 16-18 year olds absorb that ? Where does that come from for that age group ? I don’t get the impression that young people of that age are actively anti-Semitic. My son (16) certainly isn’t. I live in a part of a French city where many Jewish people choose to live, because they consider it quite safe. Yet at our local lycée protests white students were wearing keffieh and waving Palestinian flags, while Jewish students wearing kippahs were watching them across the road.

Because there’s a ‘clear baddie’ (Israel, USA, UK, all complicit because they ‘created’ Israel), and those baddies are the arch enemy of the woke even if the woke live there.

African politics are too complicated for them to follow, there’s no clear anti-West angle and they’re not good with propaganda.

Speaking as someone in the UK its partly because of our Government's complicity, I'm not aware of the UK Government being complicit in the other atrocities you mention.

‘Not aware’ - so you can’t confirm?

You think civil war in Africa has nothing to do with the West? What about colonialism and Empire, and men in Europe drawing lines on maps with rulers? A history of the world in 47 borders is a great book. So is the poisonwood bible.

Explain that to @MissyB1 and I’m sure she will be just as passionate about it as she is about Gaza.

its A lovely front for some casual antisemitism

The clear complicity of western governments in facilitating what has happened to Palestinians.

But our Government arent actively supporting a massacre in Africa right now are they? I mean yes we are absolutely responsible for all sorts of shit around the world in the past (including the Middle East) which no doubt has ramifications for those poor people in the here and now, but we have been actively supporting Israel in a genocide over the last few years. That horrifies many UK citizens why would anyone be surprised about that???

If you can confirm then please share.

I just don’t understand this. I know nothing about Jewish culture. I’m from a rural area in Wales, I don’t think I’ve ever even met a Jewish person to my knowledge, the only thing I have ever learned about Jewish history is via the national curriculum and WW2 which is of course abhorrent and caused nothing but sympathy and confusion from me. The very frank truth is I have no opinion of Jewish people, I don’t think about them, I don’t know anything about them, but what is happening in that region shocks me. I think what has happened in Gaza is awful, I don’t understand the politics but I also don’t understand why it’s “political” or “antisemitic” to be shocked by what is happening in Gaza with such little push back from the west? I was also of course shocked and horrified by October 7th. The whole thing seems to be an absolute cluster fuck, but I can’t help but repeatedly be shocked by the actions of Israel/Netanyu, surely no one thinks he’s a good person? I really, really don’t think I am anti Semitic in any way.

And of course the arms that are sold by the West for vast profits

Yes, this sums up exactly how I feel.

It's not that deep. We don't like what we see.

Similar to you, I grew up in rural Scotland and Jewishness / anti sémitisme just wasn’t on my radar. I didn’t know any Jewish people growing up, and precious few Muslims come to that 🤷‍♀️. and I agree with you that what’s happening in Gaza is beyond terrible.

but I recently read There are Rivers in the Sky (Elif Shafak) about the genocide against the Yazidi in Iran. And then persecution of the Rohingya has been ongoing for years. But young people seem to have latched onto Gaza as ‘the’ genocide to protest against above all others 🤷‍♀️

How does the number of Palestinians/those of Palestinian descent in the UK compare to those from other areas with genocide? I am aware of meeting Palestinians and also a Ukrainian refugee. I don't think I've met any others, so my awareness of those genocides is lower. But the numbers might not support this idea.

Interesting, and this might be relevant for me. I’m British. But also Scottish. And I’ve lived outside the UK for nearly 23 years: it barely feels like’ my’ government any more. I’ve been in France for 18 years but don’t have nationality, so that’s not ‘my’ government either. Maybe that’s what I’m missing in the motivation of young people - they feel they are complicit in this horrible event thanks to their government?

This

@Mixymaxymoxy the international coalition actually stopped the genocide of the Yazidi. There is an arms embargo against Myanmar:

Are you saying you think more arms embargo’s against Israel by western governments would be best?

I think it’s like any other sort of bigotry. I wouldn’t know about what it’s like to grow up black or Chinese or anything else really. But I do know what it’s like growing up Jewish and - crucially at this moment - raising Jewish children in this atmosphere of hate. My kids have been bullied and targeted and had Palestinian flags waved in their faces for years now. It’s relentless and exhausting. I am sure there are many other versions of this happening to other people but I only know my story.

long way of saying you being unaware of antisemitism as a non-Jew doesn’t mean it’s not a problem. It just doesn’t affect you.

Israel calls itself a western, democratic country and yet the way it conducts itself in regard to Palestinians is barbaric. The way other regimes across the world are also carrying out massacres and genocides are no less barbaric, but the nations are largely not purporting to align with western ideals and values either, and are not being supported by western governments, and so they draw less attention here.

Israel aims to portray itself as a developed, democratic country free from corruption and following international law even though it is clearly not true and our governments suppprt them too and so that gives people something to protest about, they can protest that they’re acting unlawfully and protest that the UK doesn’t call them out.

The UK government isn’t typically seen to support governments in Iraq or Sudan in the same way and neither do those governments try and gain sympathy from the UK and European governments and people in the same way or pretend to align with western values and so protesting those crimes here potentially feels more pointless.

I assume the people protesting about Gaza believe that their action might make the UK government change stance or act to stop what is happening, and that the UK has the power to influence Israel, whilst people probably don’t feel the UK could have the same sway over what is happening in Iraq/ Sudan etc.

Yeah that’s a fair point. I’m an ignorant Brit living my life only reacting to what is shown to me in the media (and my algorithm), I’m not protesting anything, I don’t doubt I’m being influenced by more powerful forces that have bias. I’m sure I’d be equally horrified by other things going on in the world the British media are less influenced by, im just not exposed to it. I do suspect the defence by the west of what is indefensible is a reason why people are speaking out in the US and UK though, whereas perhaps the other thing you mention is just less influenced by the west (just assuming??)