AIBU to worry about telling colleagues that I’m going to Israel?

[Doubtfulso]

I’ve got a close friends wedding in Israel in 2 months and I am a bridesmaid. She is Israeli and so of course having her wedding in her home country.

I need to book the time off work now, and I work in the kind of company where everyone asks where you’re going or where you’ve been when you book leave.

there’s a lot of anger and strong feelings against Israel at the moment, and I’m worried that colleagues will turn against me or start treating me different when they know that I’m going to Israel.

would I be unreasonable to lie and tell them I’m going somewhere else, or should I be honest?

This is odd. How can you have an opinion on something if you don’t inform yourself?

If the OP is at a relatively junior position, seeking to progress their career. I would, with deep regret, advise not to disclose it as there is a real possibility that if would result in prejudice.

Correct - only an interim hearing has taken place and no final determination has been made by the The International Court of Justice as to whether genocide is taking place.

However, the ICJhas adjudicated that "the acts complained of - which Israel has committed and is committing — are capable of being characterised at the very least as plausibly "genocidal""

So the 'oh there's no genocide' brigade and 'stop saying 'genocide' perhaps need to tell that anti semitic International Court of Justice to stop,making these pesky interim rulings plausible genocide...

You should own your truth and say you’re going to Israel for a wedding. I don’t see the point in lying.

Actually it’s important to use the term genocide correctly as it has a specific meaning. I understand, on a number of levels, why people use it about the current situation but doing so not only demeans the actuality of genocide but obscures the desire of several countries surrounding Israel to see the ultimate and complete destruction of the Jewish people.
Anyone can use the term if they want but they need to recognise that it can be harmful.

I think I did perhaps need provide the link as in that judgment the court held:

"the acts complained of - which Israel has committed and is committing — are capable of being characterised at the very least as plausibly "genocidal""

So, yes guilty of acts at the very least plausibly genocidal

Yet another poster who seems pissed off by my preference not to visit countries who are CURRENTLY committing genocide, human rights attrocities or war crimes etc. Can I assume you're going on an all inclusive to Iraq next summer? If not, why not?

No, I wouldn't - hopefully you're intelligent enough to grasp that I can be both against Israel's actions and that of Hamas?

Have you? When? I'd love to see proof of that if you have it as you seem to have similar views as most Jewish posters on MN, myself included.

That’s not what was originally said.

So please enlighten us - what is Zionism and why are you so opposed to it?

I massively judge anybody who doesn’t give a toss what is happening in that region currently. It affects everyone in the world. Toleration of war crimes means that anything goes in a conflict with no reckoning for any perpetrators. Indiscriminate killing of civilians- of any nation or ethnicity- is unacceptable. The selling of weapons to states involved in war crimes is appalling. The cycle of violence and retribution on all sides has consequences for the world for generations to come.

I do read the news, but where I used to read a lot more in-depth and follow "on the ground" journalists such as Motaz Azaiza, I don't any longer as seeing and reading about specific people who have died, especially the amount of babies and children, is upsetting. I'm torn as I do think everyone should read and know about the extent of what is happening to Palestinians and their land but you begin to feel helpless after a while when the (UK) government sits back and lets it happen.

So you’re not too sure then. That’s ok.

Surely it’s important for everyone* to try to understand the situation in its entirety and not just a faction of it?

• everyone who intends to publicly state an opinion on it at any rate.

You're the one going to great lengths to refuse to acknowledge genocide. It has been established for several months now that Israel has committed genocidal acts. But according to you, to use it to describe what's happening at the moment "demeans" the word genocide? You need to shake yourself.

No, we like to educate. You sound like you don't really know what Zionism means as if you did, you wouldn't be opposed to it. So we're trying to teach you.

It's ok to to admit you don't know something.

So why would you judge someone for believing that Israel has a right to exist?

This is a misquote, which you are deeply irresponsible for putting in the public domain. What was actually said was

In the Court's view, the facts and circumstances mentioned above are sufficient to conclude
that at least some of the rights claimed by South Africa and for which it is seeking protection are
plausible. This is the case with respect to the right of the Palestinians in Gaza to be protected from
acts of genocide and related prohibited acts identified inArticle III, and the right ofSouth Africa to
seek Israel's compliance with the latter's obligations under the Convention.

---

This is materially different from what you have said, showing that you are acting in bad faith to worsen the tensions which underpin the conflict.

If you're going to criticise something or judge people for believing in something then you at least need to clear as to what it means, don't you think?

Yes... I don't get why you're picking at my posts? I don't read every single news article but I do read the news every day.
I don't think it is relevant that I state the reading I have done (over the years) to understand the conflict, the documentaries I have seen and talks I've attended.
I do not and never will support the actions of the Israeli government in this conflict. I would not judge the OP for going to Israel for a wedding... surely that's the information that is needed.

Why am I answerable to you?

I wonder if you’ve read what I’ve said up until this point? Your anger seems to imply that you haven’t. I’m not your enemy. Nobody with a different viewpoint to yours is your enemy. I try very hard to understand other people’s viewpoint and I wish others would do the same.

I don't see that mentioned anywhere in this thread.

Edit: I know this was a reply to another poster, but I haven't seen anyone say Israel has no right to exist.

You’d judge someone for going to a wedding in a country where you don’t like the leader? You really think all Israeli’s agree with the government?