Upset by "I stand with Israel" badge at bus stop

[yiddishmaid]

A woman at the bus stop was wearing a badge stating "I stand with Israel" in large letters, which upset me a bit. And has upset me more as I think about it more. She has been to Israel, and has a lot of affection for the Jewish culture, but is not Jewish herself.

I am finding it hard to explain why I am upset. Maybe I am upset because in a way I felt she didn't have a right to take sides. She doesn't really know anything about it. But that seems unreasonable, because everyone knows about the sickening brutality of Hamas.

Maybe I am upset because I disagree with her, and don't in my heart stand with Israel to the full extent any more. But that seems unreasonable, because people can disagree with me.

Maybe I am upset because I feel she is making somebody else's tragedy her problem, like some sort of cultural appropriation. Being brave and wearing a support Israel badge, when actually her thoughts and opinions on the whole subject are not of any relevance and will have no affect, and could stir up local aggression where it was not necessary.

I don't know. I am upset by her badge and her choice to take the risk of wearing it. I don't really know why.

“standing with” a militarily advanced, technologically competent, powerful society that smashes up its, mostly helpless, “enemies” (all Arabs who live in Palestine) is a morally questionable position to freely demonstrate.

Well that's what we did in Afghanistan and countless others before them

a poll conducted in 2023 shows that 72% of Palestinians believe the Oct 7 attack was the right thing to do

Innocent men women and children have been kidnapped and held hostage for six months, some have been horrifically raped and murdered - I wonder what kind of person thinks that’s the ‘right thing to do’ and no other group of people being kidnapped and held hostage would EVER be justified, only Jewish people.

Maybe ask yourself why.

Also the opinions of Palestinians do not hold more water than anyone else’s especially when they give their blessing to raping and killing young women whose only crime was to attend a concert.

Anyone justifying Hamas is pro-terrorist and I have no time for conversation with those people

Sorry that should have read 'what we did to Afghanistan and countless other 'enemies' before them.

Sorry @skippyskipping i write like I don’t agree with you, I do.

I've heard it all now. How do you upset by everything people even function on a daily basis. Not enough eyerolls in the world for this one 🙄 🙄🙄

Exactly and it’s is totally and complete anti-Semitic to hold all Jews responsible for the actions of Israel. Nobody blamed all Muslims and asked random Muslims what they think of when Malala was shot in the face for going to school, or about the atrocities happening in Saudi Arabia. so I am at a loss as to why British Jews are being demanded their opinions and to decry the actions of Netanyahu.

Actually I’m not at a loss. The people doing this are anti-semitites to the core.

Oh, grow up.

I wondered why the OP was upset about this until I realised she's Jewish herself (should've paid attention to the username). The cringe of cultural appropriation paired with the horror of someone appropriating something you find morally repulsive.

Deviating from the Israel and Palestine discussions and back onto the sentiments in the OP…

At what point did we get to when we think we had the god given right to demand what others believe in, wear and support? Seriously when did this happen, and how?
It’s like the Queers for Palestine (I mean I’m at a loss as to why ’queers’ would fight for a nation where homosexual activity carries a 10 year prison sentence, unless it’s run by the queers who are actually slightly dull straight white men who find they need an ‘edge’) trying to get Olly Alexander to pull out of Eurovision in protest of Israel taking part. How fucking dare they - and I’m pleased he said no. But stomping one’s feet and saying “You must have the same viewpoint as me or I’ll…I’ll….I’ll cry and then try and CANCEL you” is perhaps the ugliest part of our modern society.

I don't think the OP is Jewish at all.

I think this thread is an attempt to spread disinformation and bolster a narrative along the lines of "even Jewish people support palestine".

I would be upset by "I stand with Israel". I means standing with the Israeli government. And I can't imagine why anyone, including the Israeli people would do that. I know that many/most of them don't.

100%

My thoughts exactly.

Why would you assume it means standing with the government and not the people or the right of Israel to exist?

I know many Israelis. Most think Netanyahu is a total maniac but they all support the right to exist in the place they were born and raised and not be exiled again like the many, many many generations before them and LONG before the Holocaust

I mean I think the Tories are seriously dangerous, that our last 4 PMs were incompetent shit shows who hate poor people and children and couldn’t run a piss up in a brewery /l- I don’t stand with my government and I’d hate it if other nations assumed I did!

The "I stand with Israel" twats are usually just Tory/racist types. They don't give a crap about Israel, they just hate Jews much less than they hate darker skinned minorities, hence rallying to any anti-Muslim cause. I agree that the badge is deliberately goady. If I saw one, I'd move away from that person.

I read your comment and my instinctive reaction was "this sounds exactly like Brexit era black and white thinking", I then scrolled up and saw your name 😅

Good. Can’t be doing with people who make sweeping weird assumptions based on nothing.

A lot of people who stand with Israel are Jewish BTW. Most, I’d say

Many Jewish people do support Palestine and are horrified by the Israeli state's actions, so that wouldn't be disinformation.

The streets are full of people who are not Palestinian wearing keffiyehs or Palestinian flags or badges or watermelon t-shirts
Does that upset you too?

No, I don't feel that that has anything to do with me

Interesting

Predictable, but interesting all the same

Israel was subject to one of the most viscous preplanned inhuman acts of slaughter in living memory. Defenseless babies were slaughtered, women were raped and mutilated. That isn't armed resistance. Its savagery. The 'ordinary' Palestinian people cheered as that poor German woman's mutilated body was paraded through the streets. It's on video. I'm sick of the band of useful idiots in this country with their 'Free Palestine' flags and anti-Semitic chants. I'm glad this woman stands with Israel. So do. How can any sane person not stand with a country that has suffered that?

That's not to say that we shouldn't question BN on his prosecution of the war, there have been incidents that warrant it.

I think so too. Although I might not be right, it seems a completely bizarre thread.

It has inspired me though to find and wear an "I stand with Israel" badge in the hope that it helps other Jews remember they are not alone in the grim state of the UK right now.

Then everyone wearing a Keffiyeh or Palestinian flag is standing with Hamas then aren't they!

Many Jewish people do support Palestine and are horrified by the Israeli state's actions, so that wouldn't be disinformation

I don’t know any who support a regime who have said they will carry out Oct 7 over and over until Jews are eradicated. I do know many who are in despair at. Netanyahu’s government though, including me.

It’s almost as if posters can make up any old username and pretend they are something they are not.

I stand with Israel too and get this, I’m not even Jewish.