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?

Shocker.

So much Jewish tag-teaming!

No, it’s not.

Best take that up with the lawyers who are using it
I’m guessing you don’t like the term apartheid much either
again, best take that up with the plethora of human rights organisations who have used the term.
terms are very pesky

Yes, being against the right of self-determination for Jewish people would make you racist. Which is why a few of us were hoping to educate you about what Zionism means, as we wouldn't want you to go around making racist comments. But you've made it clear you're happy to continue doing so, so there really isn't much more to say on the matter since you refused quite a few offers to be educated in the matter.

Why would I not like the word apartheid?

Again, why is it important to you to apply the term genocide to this particular situation, where no genocide has currently been definitively proven? To this particular nation state?

1. War crimes
2. sadly the speeches of several members of the Israeli government have been recorded so this will be hard to wriggle out of
3. Yet

You are very sensible, I wish more people were the same,

What is?

It almost always is. There are non-antisemitic ways to be anti-Zionist e.g. if you oppose all nation states. But on the whole, anti-Zionism is a thin disguise for antisemitism.
Jews are just as deserving of self determination and statehood as any other people. Israel was more “legitimate” in its formation than almost any other state. Usually states break away from
empires by fighting for independence and then declaring themselves independent. The Jews bought uninhabitable land and made it habitable through draining swamps and irrigating deserts and then negotiated for a state. The UN agreed to its formation before it was formed, which is more than can be said for almost any other state which was formed after the UN was invented.

So you agree that the Israeli govt is operating an apartheid system? Just not that the Israeli government is committing genocide

Like reading about 7th October which kicked this round of violence off,and was being minimised whilst the bodies were still warm,and the hostages still being taken.

Urm ladies i think we have a teenager on the forum. Poster above for sure

Have you seen what Isreal are actually doing to other humans at the moment? If you’re going to support a country that behaves the way Isreal does then at least have the decency to own it.

A system of separate development? Undeniably.
I’m sure you don’t really think that to be Jewish is to agree unconditionally with the actions of far right government so why would you be questioning me in this way?

It might be helpful, yes!

You’ve misspelt the name of the country.

Say the truth and let them say what they think. Israel is protecting itself against terrorists who attacked their country and raped and murdered (some by burning alive, and including babies and small children) 1200 people and kidnapped another 240, who they proceeded to rape and kill. Any comments, and perhaps ask why they are in support of an organisation which is listed as terrorist in the UK? I am deeply sympathetic to the people of Gaza, who are suffering because they are ruled by terrorists. I am as deeply sorry for the people of Lebanon whose country had been destroyed by Hezbollah. But I still back Israel - though not Netanyahu, who I think has acted badly and who did not do enough to prevent insurgence on the Gaza border. But Israel did not start the war, Hamas did.
Enjoy the wedding.

No she didn't agree that Israel is operating an apartheid system. And you are showing your ignorance as Israel is a democracy where Israelis, whatever their religion and from wherever they come from, have a vote. Unlike most Muslim countries.

Well quite! And I just bloody love the fact what happened in October has now been spun round. Israel is fighting to get the hostages back but it's them that need to compromise.

And quite frankly if my child had been kidnapped by terrorists I'd expect my government to do anything to get them back. ANYTHING!

No. I am not Jewish.

Im just sick of the duplicitous double standards.

I've lived and worked out in the Middle East, some of those regimes are bloody terrifying.

OP go, you do not need to justify visiting a democratic country.

People that take their holidays in the UAE etc should hang their heads in shame though.

There is a documentary entitled ‘Hebron’ on YouTube. If you don’t believe that Israel is operating an apartheid system, watch it, and then decide.

Same, I would keep my thoughts to myself, but they wouldn't be judging you for going, they would be hoping that you stay safe and well whilst over there.

Is it safe to travel there, are weddings and things taking place? I (possibly incorrectly) assumed that those kind of things wouldn't be going ahead right now.

I wonder why. Almost like one country is being singled out for some reason...