to not know what to say to my Israeli neighbours?

[lungidancer]

Just that really. I live abroad and they live in the house next to us (not in Israel) Get on quite well. Our gardens are very close to each other so we see each other constantly through out the day.

I've never given the whole situation much thought (to my discredit) but having spent the summer at home, I have been shocked and stunned and deeply saddened by the latest developments in Gaza. I know it's not directly their fault, but at the same time I just can't get past what the Israeli government is doing.

So, AIBU to be angry with them personally? Because I am angry with them. I'm angry about the whole situation.

Thanks

I'm very aware of shalom as well as the things that our government has done over hundreds of years. If people were to disregard me because I am British and all the things that the government has done then I wouldn't blame them. I see direct hand what imperialism has done to this world. I feel ashamed of how fucked up everything is. The current government though, are certainly not representative of who I or my family are, and the previous? Well he certainly pulled the wool over many peoples' eyes.

Spouting off about the government isn't going to divert attention away from your breathtaking ignorance OP, unfortunately for you.

Go on, tell 'em how angry you are, gwan gwan!. Then come back and tell us all how they went all krav maga on yo' ass.

It's like playing chess with pigeons!

Beastofburden, thank you - you are right, of course.

Mrsatticus they are representatives of the Israeli govt.

Bauhausvan: I am angry with their politics. I wish them no harm or malice, I just don't know how to respond to them. Not start a war.

Blinkered: good point.

Boys clothes: you're right. I am judging, and I shouldn't be.

Fire a rocket over their fence. See what happens. Gwan!

Abbie. I have NO intention of telling them how angry I am.

Boysclothes: don't be ridiculous. Was never about that.

YABVU. And you are being racist. What have these actual people done that you know of other than being Israeli? That is racism. I have Israeli friends who are devastated at what is happening right now. Both to their international reputation, families caught up in it and the people in Gaza. Maybe I should be very very angry at what YOU did to my country in the past.... (im absolutely not by the way because you didn't do anything!).

I think boysclothes idea is great.

If that fails, you could always build a tunnel from your garden into theirs

So, AIBU to be angry with them personally? Because I am angry with them. I'm angry about the whole situation.

Yes you are very unreasonable and a bit of a nelly posting this.

Say hello when you see them and carry on as normal, will that do?

Stillstayingclassy: yes, of course you are right. On all counts.

Now wondering should I update

' a bit of a nelly '

I like that! You won't get deleted.

bottlecat

You say you are "angry with their politics" but you don't know what your neighbours politics are. They could be Netanyahu's attach dogs or anti-war campaigners for all you know.

Unless you would also feel the need to speak out/be angry if your neighbours were British civil servants , Australian diplomats (boat people), Russian diplomats (Ukraine, gay people) I don't see why you would single out Israelis.

And I also don't get why you would want to show your anger. You aren't going to influence foreign policy and nobody's life in Gaza will be saved. You will either anger or upset people whom you know in a purely personal capacity. Why add to the sum total of human unhappiness by souring neighbourly relations in such a pointless way?

Dropoflove: really, racist? I'm angry. I don't dislike them, I don't know how to handle it.

I have lived all over the world, I have experienced hatred for being British. Of course it upset me, but I understood it. What I feel, and my actions will never be anything of hatred. Too strong.

Telling us now that they work for the Israeli government is one hell of a drip feed.

Dancing with myself: I do know their politics they work for the Israeli government.

I DONT want to show my anger which is why I posted in the first place.

I love the way that MN picks up on the stuff that they want to be angry about and choose to ignore the stuff that might go some way to explaining the nitty gritty of a situation.

I mentioned it about 15 posts in. But yes, sorry, drip feed.

Why should you have any anger towards an Israeli living next door to you? Unless they are cunts who are letting Japanese knot weed come in under the fence. If this is the case, then yes, kill them.

Lungi, working for a government does not mean that you know their politics. Diplomats are usually politically neutral. Hence why I asked if you would extrapolate to the diplomats or civil servants of another country.

If you dealt with them professionally and Israel was an issue, by all means raise it then. But you don't.

I think by now OP it should be clear that all you have to do is remain civil and friendly and neighbourly to them.

If they were, IDK, cheering at the news of dead Palestinians or whatever then you'd be fine to be angry with them.

So everyone that works in any capacity for a particular government is automatically assigned the blame for everything that government does?

Well, that's a relief then. No bothering to actually give them the benefit of the idea that they're all individuals with their own opinions and beliefs. Much better to just assign blanket hatred to anyone from Israel.

I do know their politics they work for the Israeli government.

Do you know the politics of everyone who works for the British government?

I know MANY MANY diplomats and VERY FEW are politically neutral. However, that said, dancing, you are right.