What do you understand from the chant 'Free Palestine'?

[piddocktrumperiness]

Just that really. I have seen there have been many marches these last few days where people in solidarity with Palestinians chant 'Free Palestine'
Now I understand that as Free Palestine from the occupation; West Bank vs Settlers, military rule, and blockades in Gaza.
I have asked a Palestinian friend and a Lebanese neighbour what they think it means and they confirmed what I thought.

But the chant is triggering many others to believe it is anti Semitic or that it means something else and it's passing me as to what else it could mean.

That's not true. I, and other old-school liberals, will tell any minority group who attempts to tell me what is or isn't hatred of their group exactly the same thing. Which is that I don't do identity politics and I support freedom of speech.

@Pollyputhekettleon why? the bombing is indiscriminate- queer palestinians are dying too.
Human to human, anyone is allowed to feel compassion for civilians, on both sides.

Further, let's not forget that it is not all hunky dory for LGBTQI in Israel either- albeit the branding tells you otherwise. Israel does not allow same sex marriage. Queer rights are not great in the western world either- so let's not weaponise it to make a point against Palestinian people.

Because they believe that's what Israel wants and then it would win. And because they don't want to be stuck with, say, a million refugees permanently.

@Pollyputhekettleon Yes I agree- they fear that the Palestinians will be denied right to return.

Neighbouring countries like Jordan, have loads of refugees as is, so they cannot support them

Why what?

And are you trying to claim that all countries are equally safe for gay people?

I didn’t say you shouldn’t chant it. I support freedom of speech too. Chant about free Palestine as much as you want.

I told you how I understand it. It tells me a lot about you.

Thank you OP you put it brilliantly. You won’t have any luck convincing a lot of posters on here though. I happen to agree with you though.

@MangoAF

Well said!

The, as in the Arab world, could support them in a heartbeat. There are only 2 million people in Gaza and the Gulf States, who allegedly support their cause, could pay for that a dozen times over.

Anyway, haven't I been told many times that refugees are a net economic benefit to any economy? They might need a little extra money to start with but after that they're a boon to anyone.

Israel was permanently “stuck with” 700,000 Jewish refugees. It has worked out well.

@Pollyputhekettleon

I agree with the ignorance and naivety of many of the liberal left. The most astonishing banners I've seen over the last couple of weeks are 'Queers for Palestine' and 'LGBT+ supports Palestine'.

I was responding to this post.

Nope it's awful in most places. But this does not invalidate the fact that many who do support the palestinians are supporting rights for all, they are against the atrocity of what is happening in Gaza. As I said, the bombs are indiscriminate, so the Israeli bombs are killing queer folk too

I'm pro-Israeli.

I didn't ask whether you thought it was 'awful in most places'. I asked if you thought all countries were equally safe for gay people.

I literally can't tell if that's sarcasm or not. I was answering the question the other poster asked.

@Pollyputhekettleon no. It is not equally safe for gay people.

What does that change from the point I am making?

I'm Jewish and have no problem with 'Free Palestine' at a protest.

It would take on a different tone if shouted/chanted at or graffittied on a Jewish site like a school or synagogue, or at obviously Jewish people, as it would then have antisemitic and threatening overtones (eg 'As Jews you obviously must oppose a free Palestine and we want you to know we think you're shitty people by virtually of your religious affiliation')

Indeed it's used as a call to irradicate Jewish people from the area that Jewish people lived in thousands of years ago. Hamas would love people singing that support.

Its a dreadful 'song'.

Perhaps peaceful walk with no chants and anti semitic songs?

This

This! ⬆️⬆️

And yet people still can't see they're holding Israel to a different standard than anyone else. The Jewish people have always been irrationally hated and it seems this is something which is growing, rather than diminishing. Truly terrifying.

The person you were responding to finds it bizarre that liberals will support a society where gay people are infinitely less safe over a society where they are infinitely safer. Your response was that there are problems for gay people everywhere, which I'm sure you know is a complete non-sequitur.

I actually agree that there's no hypocrisy in the left's position on this.

Communication is everything. When you (or anyone else) chant about "Free Palestine", who are you addressing? Israeli Jews and middle-east Arabs will both understand it alike as an exhortation to eliminate the Jews of Israel. The former as call to genocide, and the latter as permission to do the same.

It doesn't really matter what you have in your heart or whom you support.

What matters is how the people you're trying to influence hear it.

If you ever catch me chanting 'Free Palestine' feel free to call some kind of emergency mental health team! You've misunderstood my position, that's all.

I'm so sorry for the suffering of innocent people and children but that region has been a region of conflict for 3000 years. I doubt it will ever become peaceful for more than a short moment.

There is no one belief. There are over 14 million Palestinians dispersed and displaced around the globe. For many Free Palestine means to have a place to call home, for some it means the existence of a place called Palestine where Palestinians can come and go (freedom of movement) and freedom to make decisions and choices about their lives, for some it means the ability to see family they haven't seen in years / decades due to the occupation, for others it means freedom from being held captive by Israel, for some it means freedom to live their lives as free citizens, for others it means freeing the area of Jews / Isrealis, for some it means freedom from the constant threat of death, from the poverty of occupation, from the terror and trauma and pain and suffering they live with. For some the from the River to the Sea saying - means the freedom of Palestinians currently living in captivity between the River and the Sea, for others it may be more anti-semitic.

I work with quite a few Palestinians who grew up in Jordan - none are wishing for the extermination of Jews or Israel.

This.

Disingenuous or very ill informed to say you don’t know this.