To have reservations about a friendship with a woman who refers to Israel's actions in Gaza as a genocide?

[Oodiks]

I like this woman a lot, but we have very differing world views, specifically her belief that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza.

We work at a university and were coming back from lunch together when she commented that she was pleased the protestors hadn't come back. I agreed, noting how nerve wracking it must have been for Jewish students on campus to run the gauntlet of pro-Palestinian / anti-Zionist posters in the encampment.

We'd been talking about the American election over lunch, and I thought we'd agreed that Kamala Harris was the better candidate for her views on climate change, if nothing else, but then my 'friend' commented on Biden/Harris sending arms "to support the genocide" and I was left kind of speechless.

Am I being unreasonable to feel unsure about continuing this friendship?

Absolutely correct.

I'm British, and lived in London until a few years ago, but currently live on the West Coast of the USA, where I work at a university. Okay?

“Anyone who uses the word "Human Shields" has already dehumanized a group of people. “

I don’t think it’s dehumanising to use the word but it definitely is dehumanising to actually use people as human shields ( as Hamas does)

You're aware of Muslim persecution of Christians, right?

042-Persecution-of-Christians-in-the-Middle-East.pdf (publishing.service.gov.uk)

You could just read the article, "The survey was conducted from Nov. 22 to Dec. 2 among 1,231 people in the West Bank and Gaza and had an error margin of 4 percentage points. In Gaza, poll workers conducted 481 in-person interviews during a weeklong cease-fire that ended Dec. 1."

Okay?

It is a genocide. Your daughters generation will be mortified that their parents not only stood by while this happened but justified it.

OP, do you honestly not see that the mass killing of at least 40,000 innocent people, including 14,000 children is a genocide or does it just bother you that people do care about Arab people dying too?

Israel has one of the most sophisticated armies in the world, do you really think the mass killing of civillians, the bombing of schools and hospitals not to mention the displacement of 2 million people is just accidental? Israeli politicians in Netanyahu's government themselves have stated they want to wipe out Palestine.

Many people have been eye witnesses to horrendous conflict through history. We look back and wonder what was their excuse for not speaking out.

OP, have you thought about your excuse?

what could the posters intention have been?

Yes, we see this all the time. The 'whatabout' Russia question. Russia has already been black listed. There are warrants out for Putin just like Netanyahu. Russia cannot compete at international sports or arts events. Billions of assets have been frozen. Ambassadors expelled... etc, etc.

Yet Israel continues to bomb and kill and destroy tens of thousands of innocent lives, whilst western governments pledge to support them with OUR money?

You're right... what about Russia? Why isn't Israel being treated like Russia?

I've seen anti-Israel posters using IOF for IDF and thought it might be another iteration of that. It wasn't; it was a typo.

What's wrong with IOF? That's what they are. An occupying force

There are loonies in all governments; it is not a stated Israeli government policy to 'wipe out Palestine'.

OTOH, Hamas's Charter aims to destroy the 'Zionist Entity', the Houthis have 'A curse upon the Jews' as part of their flag, and one of Hezbolloah's goals is the destruction of Israel. How do you negotiate with those people?

If Israel is destroyed, do you think the jihadists will stop there?

If Israel is destroyed, what's to stop the jihadists conquering Europe?

People can have their own opinions and consider isreal to be occupying land. Not everyone who doesn't agree with you is dense. I would assume an academic would know that.

Who said I'm an academic? Calling it the IOF demonstrates that you've already made up your mind and there's no further point in discussion.

You first acknowledge that these terrorist groups have come out of 70 years of caged oppression, suppression, and torment of a people. You hold both sides accountable.

And you're saying that you havnt made your mind up yet and you're here for a discussion?

Exactly

"One of the options is to drop an atomic bomb on Gaza. I pray & hope for their [hostages] return, but there is also a price in war," Amichai Eliyahu, Israeli Minister of Heritage, wrote on X.

"Those are animals, they have no right to exist. I am not debating the way it will happen, but they need to be exterminated," Yoav Kisch, Israeli Minister of Education.

"Bring down buildings!! Bomb without distinction!! Stop with this impotence. You have ability. There is worldwide legitimacy! Flatten Gaza. Without mercy! This time, there is no room for mercy!," Revital Gottlieb, a member of the Israeli Knesset.

"If all of Gaza are refugees, then let's scatter them in the world. There are 2.5m people there, each country would take in 20K people, 100 countries, it is humane, it is required," Ram Ben Barak, member of the Israeli Knesset.

Those are some of the remarks of genocidal intent.

So Isreal is carpet bombing Gaza and Lebanon to save Europe?

I'm not the one who came on here and started a thread to ask for other people's opinion. That was you, even though clearly you had made your mind up so what was the point?

It was not intentional!! It was a typo
I have explained this, @Oodiks @thedodo
I have no idea what IOF is, particularly as my typo was igf... no 'o' used

Israel's complete disregard for innocent lives is breathtakingly evil and cruel.

Hamas is equally evil.

This is what happens when organised religion drives geopolitical division and acts as a catalyst for war. Human beings suffer.

From the Oxford dictionary -
Genocide -the murder of a large number of people from a particular nation or ethnic group, with the aim of destroying that nation or group.

Genocide is happening in Gaza. Regardless of where you fall on the religious / political spectrum. It is.

@Oodiks interested to know what you would call it?