To be horrified by fire attack on Jewish synagogue in France by pro Palestinian terrorist

[Helpabojttown]

This is awful, my thoughts are with the French and worldwide Jewish community.

French police arrest synagogue blast suspect https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5y3d4v43gjo

Sadly true.

I often think this to be frank. Considering how much shit the Jewish community seems to get they don’t lash out. The least people can do is hear them, support them and demand that our institutions protect them by investigating and prosecuting those who would harm them. Same as any other community deserves. It saddens me that any British child goes to a school with security because their ethnic identity makes them a target for violence.

I hope for Jewish people though it some comfort to know that vast majority of people who voted think this was awful.

Unfortunately it’s a religion-based culture that’s causing most of the terrorism. Religions are not necessarily harmless.

@Bullbreedbliss vile.

And you can be concerned about Israelis and Palestinians at the same time too. There are many rockets and terror attacks happening to Israelis as well. All we can we hope is peace comes across that region for both sides.
Since this current conflict the attacks on Jews across Europe has been through the roof. Some people need to show some compassion.

I really don't understand your post. Of course a terrorist act like this is horrifying. Or are you trying to reopen the debate about Israel and Palestine?

@janedoehere
"It’s scary, it’s real and it’s happening. It will only be a matter of time before one of our (UK) synagogues/ Jewish schools is attacked with a devastating outcome. And sadly, I’m sure people will still be denying that it’s because they hate Jews."

My nearest synagogue had a bomb threat last week, hoax as it turned out. It didn't make even the local news. And most local Jewish people took it in their stride as nobody is surprised. We have seen it on the streets for months and in the counter protests recently. The hate is there, and there is nothing we can do except carry on with normal life and get more and more security and a police presence during services.

Pretty sure that if another local place of worship was targeted it would have been news.

As an aside someone posted about two UK churches being vandalised. I may be wrong but usually attacks on UK churches are pure vandalism /arson, not targeted hate for the people who go there, which is a big difference.

This

The "of course it's despicable BUT..." comments on here are really quite depressing.

Do you think it is acceptable to use schools as military bases, and the children as human shields?

(Spoiler alert: use of human shields by the military is a war crime)

It's a completely unsuitable topic for the AIBU board.

AIBU should be renamed Petty Gripes, this is a question that should be in the News topic and then there wouldn't be the ridiculous voting.

This is absolutely NOT what I have been marching for. And I think this view, running though all of these threads, that if you are against Palestinians being killed, you must be pro Hamas, or if you are against Israelis being killed you must be pro current Israeli government policy in Gaza. It is possible to be against both Hamas and Israeli actions in Gaza and I imagine most people are.

But, this particular thread is about the French attack and so its people affected by that we should remember first now.

Imo, everyone taking part in a march with people holding placards saying ‘globalise the intifada’ and chanting ‘from the river to the sea’ (Hamas’ slogan) has been marching for this. Ignorance is not a defence, sorry.

Anyone who cares about the Palestinian people should be opposing Hamas. They use children as shields and steal international aid so that people starve.

Out of curiosity, have you also marched in any of the counter demonstrations?

Of course it doesn't make your family wrong. I genuinely apologise if I implied that it did. Of course they can refer to their country however they choose. I was pointing out that it isn't a commonly used term here. That's my experience, your family's is clearly different and that's fine.

I think @Appleandstrawberrypie explained much more eloquently than I could why it bothers some of us.

Anyway, I feel like I'm now derailing the thread, and I apologise for that.

Horrific. But I'm not surprised one bit tbh.

@Kendodd
"This is absolutely NOT what I have been marching for. And I think this view, running though all of these threads, that if you are against Palestinians being killed, you must be pro Hamas, or if you are against Israelis being killed you must be pro current Israeli government policy in Gaza. It is possible to be against both Hamas and Israeli actions in Gaza and I imagine most people are.

But, this particular thread is about the French attack and so its people affected by that we should remember first now."

@pigletinthewoods "Imo, everyone taking part in a march with people holding placards saying ‘globalise the intifada’ and chanting ‘from the river to the sea’ (Hamas’ slogan) has been marching for this. Ignorance is not a defence, sorry. "

But @Kendodd has told you it's not what they've been marching for. Many others have also done so on MN. So your opinion that it is isn't valid.

Fifteen percentage of respondents think it’s ok?
I don’t know what to say!!!!

😳🤬

Sadly doesn't surprise me. I saw a post on FB earlier literally just about Jewish food...the comments section was a cesspit.

But then if you attend these marches for good reasons, ie just wanting a peaceful two state solution, and you're ok with marching alongside people spouting Hamas propaganda, then you have to accept that others will probably assume you don't condemn these people who support Hamas. If you did condemn them, you'd surely join a march where they're not welcome instead. Because how on earth are we meant to know why you're there if you're happy to march alongside those marching for nefarious reasons?

I believe that let's say 95% of those marching are doing it for 'good' reasons (good as in not in any kind of support of terrorism) but since I can't tell the difference between you and the other 5% who are also welcome at the march I will continue to be scared of all of you. You dress the same and chant the same slogans at the exact same marches. I genuinely can't tell you apart. Can you blame me for therefore being scared?

I would never join any kind of march, protest or vigil where eg Tommy Robinson was also welcome.

https://www.vox.com/2014/7/17/5912189/yes-gaza-militants-hide-rockets-in-schools-but-israel-doesnt-have-to

IDL had a choice regardless of Hamas’ hideous actions and they chose to drop bombs on civilians including children. They had a choice. Hamas poured the petrol but the IDL lit the
match. For the record, I do not think it’s right to commit acts of terrorism or target Jewish communities. That’s not what the OP was asking. I’m aware it sets a dangerous precedent but did anyone actually die in these attacks? I save my horror for actual casualties.

You don’t have to agree with my opinion and it’s fine.

To me marching under a slogan is showing support for it, whether you understand the meaning or not. The burden is on you to know what you’re supporting with your action of taking part in a particular march and publicly associate yourself with people of certain views.

I don’t know if these slogans were present at the marches the poster attended, btw, I’m just giving my general opinion about how I perceive taking part in marches where certain slogans are present.

https://www.ajc.org/news/what-does-globalize-the-intifada-mean-and-how-can-it-lead-to-targeting-jews-with-violence

Or, to give an extreme but also unequivocal example, do you also think that people marching next to someone holding a swastika placard don’t necessarily support it, so it’s fine for them to be there and we should only judge those who actually hold the swastika placard and not anyone else who happens to be marching alongside them? Because, perhaps, they’re there for a different reason and just happen to be marching shoulder to shoulder?

We condemn people for attending certain gatherings where certain individuals are present without necessarily asking every single one of them what they think. Should we not be consistent?

I’m aware it sets a dangerous precedent but did anyone actually die in these attacks? I save my horror for actual casualties

You sound utterly deranged

IDL?

Oh dear, @Bullbreedbliss doesn't seem to even know who they are referring to.

Also I think @Humdingerydoo is being very kind and giving a huge benefit of doubt here as I personally feel it’s more like 95% of the pro Palestine marchers also are incredibly anti Jewish, anti semitic and obviously anti Zionist.

What I mean @Humdingerydoo is that I personally feel 95% of the marchers aren’t doing it for “good” reasons. I’m not attacking your reply although it may read back that way.