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?

Israel started a bombing campaign on Gaza on or around end October last year. There were more bombs dropped on that tiny area than were dropped on several European Cities combined during the entirety of WW2.

@Oodiks you support a far right government in Israel (while I agree the legal definition of genocide is open to debate ) it isn't that Israel is being run by a ruthless far right government, anyway you support them and you only have one friend who has a problem with the government you support ? In a UK University?? Really??

The ICC also has arrest warrants out for the leaders of Hamas, so?

Some of it may well be; but to be fair, I think a major factor is that Israel is lauded as a western-style democracy, which they believe should have much higher principles than they perceive that they actually do.

Nobody's opinions of Kim Jong-Un or Putin could possibly get any lower, as they are already at absolute rock bottom; and nobody has the remotest respect for their countries in the first place.

Where did I say I supported a far-right government in Israel, or anywhere??

This. I support Israel's existence, but not what they're doing, that doesn't make me antisemite just like condemning the actions of certain groups doesn't make me prejudiced against Muslims or condemning the attack on Ukraine doesn't make me prejudiced against Russians. Support should not be blind and unthinking, we should make active choices to support or condemn a specific action without considering religion or race. The fact it is Israel taking this action doesn't make it ok. You can't justify this and the fact people are trying to and labelling it antisemite if you don't agree is terrifying.

@Oodiks

Actually it is all about anti semitism and Jews.

Why?
Because where is the outrage at China imprisoning one million Uighar Muslims?
Where is the outrage at Pakistan's ethnic cleansing by forcibly deporting one million Afghan refugees back to Afghanistan?
Where is the outrage at the war crimes and crimes against humanity of Sudanese Christians being killed and women and children sold into slavery?
Where was the outrage when 300 Christian school girls were kidnapped in Nigeria by Islamic terrorists and sold into slavery?

But when 41,000 Gazans ( a figure including Hamas terrorists) are killed then there is outrage- why? Because the Jews are doing it.

It really is that simple and I just wish those protesting about it (as they are perfectly entitled to do so) would at least be honest about this.

Ah. That'll teach me to RTFT...against my usual inclinations, I posted before finishing...

Spend some time educating yourself on what Israel are doing rather than chatting on mumsnet. The world now sees the Israeli government as psychopaths.

I don’t get it when people say this is anti-semitism. I’m not saying Jewish people are committing genocide - I’m saying the state of Israel is. And people who support it, no matter the religion, are wrong. You know many Jewish people are pro-Palestine in this argument right?

I know enough that if it were done today it would be considered war crime.

Israel responded to an attack by Hamas that was supported by Palestinian civilians!!

Knew it wouldn't be long until someone trotted out the far right trope! Believe me, Hamas can't really be classed as progressive

I mean, the UN literally said they found reasonable grounds to believe Israel is committing a genocide in Gaza — but no, OP, you know best.

Exactly. What's your thoughts on this please OP? Or do you honestly believe that the UN is antisemitic and incompetent? The posts in support of OP would paint anyone who disagrees as at best stupid and worst antisemitic. Whilst conveniently ignoring the fact that the very international body set up to maintain peace and security doesn't appear to agree

I genuinely don't know how people can pick sides. What Isreal are doing to the Palestines is abhorrent. What Hamas did last year at the music festival and of course other attacks is abhorrent. If Hamas had the resources that Isreal they'd have killed the same amount of people.

All the leaders are awful.

I feel for all of the civilians caught up in such an awful conflict which is clearly going to get much worse now Iran are involved.

@NerrSnerr agree

Explain why attacks on Jews, Jewish businesses, and synagogues have increased since last October 7th if it isn't antisemitism?

Anyone who deliberately hurts a child whether they are left or right is on the wrong side of history and we are talking about thousands of dead mutilated babies and children who were indiscriminately carpet bombed, bombed alive to burn in tents and it won't stop until the last Palestinian is either dead or driven away to the Sinai desert. And I applaud every Israeli, Hertz Journalist, activist and the Jewish community who weren't afraid to speak up and stood by humanity.

It’s genocide. And the Israeli government it pushing the works to the brink of WW3.
You do you OP.
I have a very good, old friend, she’s Jewish we entirely disagree on this issue, but we don’t discuss it. Our views are immovable. So we don’t get into it.
It’s getting harder but the friendship is more important.

Israel responded to an attack by Hamas that was supported by Palestinian civilians!!

Crikey. How very black and white. Is proportionaliy not a factor then? And gosh, I didn't realise all the children that have been killed had been pro Hamas, well that's okay then they had it coming, yeah? So little compassion.

So just to clarify, you think it's acceptable to kill civilians if they personally agree with violence committed in their name?

Oh great, the old, held to a higher standard trope.

These are antisemitism. Recognising that the State of Israel (not Jews) is committing war crimes in Gaza is not.

‘Explain why attacks on Jews, Jewish businesses, and synagogues have increased since last October 7th if it isn't antisemitism?’

THAT IS antisemitism.
But disagreeing with the Israelis genocide of the Palestinian people - that’s not anti semitism.