Israel / Palestine: are you a woman that has changed your views in the last two years?

[catspyjamas1]

I was hardcore left for 20+ years. That meant Israel and the IDF were the devil. Signed and paid for Labour voter, Jeremy Corbyn voter, social studies courses etc. Since October 7th, I’ve had a revelation. As have many women just like me.

YANBU: I’m also discovering that all the things I believed in Left feminism isn’t reality.
YABU: I’m a Leftist woman and haven’t changed my view.

Please link any other threads on this I can read – thanks!

I'm sorry my options dont make sense, can't see how to edit them. Thanks for your reply, it's closest to where I am.

Revolting username (male?) and completely unsubstantiated opinion.

That’s astonishingly simplistic….

I could add more, but, that really is so astonishingly astonishing that I cannot believe this is in good faith?

Thank you for sharing. Most of what you say resonates with me.

No, one terrorist attack against Israel, as horrific as it was, has not changed my view about the atrocities that have been visited on the Palestinians before and since.

It's all nightmarish, I understand that, and I can also understand the Israeli feeling of fear. While I have empathy, there is no justification for what has been done because of that fear.

It's in good faith? Do you need me to share tens of links to trade union associated women, the ext Womans Place women, FILIA 2025? Isn't feminism of the Left, especially in the UK? Did I miss something?!

This.
I have always been left leaning to various degrees. However I think it's more of a generational difference. I grew up in the 60s so the Holocaust and Israel were relatively recent. I never came across any anti-Semitism or anti Israeli sentiments from fellow lefties when I was younger.
I wasn't even convinced of the allegations of anti-Semitism against Corbyn's Labour. It's been an eye opener since 7th October. The speed at which Israelis and Jews in general were blamed for what happened.
What shocks me most is the narrow fixation of huge swathes of people with this one issue in comparison with all the wars and injustice around the world and it's ability to seep into domestic politics.

I think the idea that feminism is of the left is exactly that - an idea

But these days you have to explain what you mean by feminism so who knows

I would say I was left wing-ish but over the years I just disagree with a lot. Like men can be women and play sports etc. And it actually blows my mind that people who should be "left" ( like students) are supporting right wing Islamic terrorists. The "gays for Palestine" are like turkeys for Xmas...do they even think or research a little bit before going on these marches? Now the biggest threat to Jewish people is from the left, which is just crazy. The pro-pal match on Saturday had so many people with IRGC flags. The Lion flags were all on the Unite March! It's like 1930s Germany and quite scary really.

what have you only just realised that there is a hardcore element to the left of politics where some are obsessive with their antisemitism that they can’t bring themselves to feel sympathy for the Israelis that suffered and play into the conspiracies and they are as bad as those on the far right

if that is the case not sure why you are shocked by this hardly news to others it was always there it’s just so fucking blatant now

Corbyn bought shame to the Labour Party the Greens are now continuing with this and I am quite glad this group have mainly fucked off long may that last

Feminism is about women’s rights, having women accepted as being human beings. It is not a thing of either the left or the right. Edited to add, imnho at least. Neither own women.

Left and right tend to be at root and I think began as primarily economic labels, and even then are highly simplistic as a conversion of the entirety of life into a simple binary. The rest of the accoutrements came later.

Although for what it’s worth it has been said several times that only Tories have provided women prime ministers, not Labour, and that lefty men tend to be very sexist, presuming that women will pick up the social support for free.

Yes. Had this exact conversation today.

Agree with you

My view hasn't changed.

The entire region is a lost cause of two conflicting sides riddled with complex intergenerational trauma of a level that most British people can't even comprehend, that global leaders can't reach a consensus on how to fix let alone Mumsnet.

So I've stopped watching the news and reading articles about Palestine/Israel.

Reposting to highlight as pertinent.

Israel were first attacked in a gruesome way....so that is that
I leave all proper judgement to God.

Me too re watching the news on this, broadly.

I haven’t changed my mind. Israel is a poorly conceived country and the whole thing is a shitshow. I’ve always supported Palestinian liberation and I still do.

I don’t believe in good and evil; every culture/religion/nationality is capable of barbaric violence – any history book will show that.

In this case Israel are clearly on the wrong side of history, and now Jews all over the world are paying for their madness. (I’m a secular Jew.)

Thank you for sharing your view.

Gave you changed your mind in the last couple of years?

I think feminism has probably gone beyond left or right at this point. Like most political viewpoints accept that women should be treated equally to men. It’s the policies that they think would achieve it that are different.

Your view is very black or white. I’m a feminist, I don’t think any nationality is evil. I think Israel exists and should continue to exist. I also think Palestine should exist: this “two state solution” view is a very common one. I think their behaviour toward a largely unarmed, young population is abhorrent. They are a a destabilising force in the region now and their actions along with the actions of the US is putting the world economy at risk. Their behaviour towards their allies has also been questionable and I don’t think they should be considered an ally at all. I don’t think Jews around the world should suffer for the actions of the current Israeli administration.

@Moush China is not an ally. The relationship with Saudi was different also as the Uk and Israel shared democratic values but this relationship is severely strained now.

What was your “revelation” after October 7? And why do you think it’s related to feminism?

It isn’t in good faith!

Yes I agree the left appear clueless.😊

I think she is referring to the terrorism attack from hamas. You KNOW that's what she means!!😂

lol what a daft OP.
there is so much sympathy garnering right now for and by Israel. Ppl are able to discern right from wrong without the endless propaganda being spouted by those with the zionist agenda. Call a spade a spade. There is no justification for genocide.
pls don’t equate anti zionist sentiment with anti semitic. They are NOT the same thing.