62% of British adults are not taking a side in the Israel-Gaza conflict

[lavender2023]

https://yougov.co.uk/topics/politics/survey-results/daily/2023/10/16/b8bd3/1

Personally as a Jewish person (with family in Israel), I feel heartened by the results as it shows we are a compassionate country who can feel sympathy with both sides or are sensible enough to tick 'don't know' when they feel like they can't understand a complicated foreign conflict. I personally would probably tick 'both sides equally' or 'don't know' because i have such mixed feelings! I was reading some posts yesterday about Jewish people who want to move to Israel because apparently anti-semitism is worse than rockets. There are very valid concerns but we should at least take heart that the majority of people are far more nuanced and not taking sides like one would pick a football team, or are anti Israel . Social media isn't real life

There are regional variations but even in London, 56% of people are not taking sides. The one age group which is pro palestinian is the 18-24 group which is 39%, but at the same time, the combined numbers of 'don't know' and 'both sides' are 40%.

What does it matter?

That sounds provocatively uncaring and I am not. I have strong feelings about the situation and a personal connection to someone who has been multiply bereaved in this crisis. I have long followed the situation and have had a working partnership with people on the other ‘side’ from the bereaved. None of these individuals have ever supported oppression or terrorism.

I watch everyone change their Facebook profile to ‘I stand with …’. So what does that achieve? A load of people who are not in anyone’s firing line, not bombed, not conscripted, in no position if influence and mostly not even donating money to assist any injured or homeless, bunging a flag on their social media profile.

All that pointless grandstanding achieves is to promote division and hostility in our diverse city.

The leaders involved will hardly respond to ‘public opinion’ in other countries. They might listen a bit to the countries that fund and arm them.

They told them to move south and then mass bombed residential areas in the south TWICE. If the most technologically advanced army in the world needs to kill 8k+ people in precision attacks I think there's a bit of a problem. It's a clear cut genocide.

What do you want ‘good people’ to DO?

What are you doing?

I discuss and research, but the only thing I can actually DO is listen to the anguish of people I know who are personally affected. Be there in the night over WhatsApp when they are frightened. My political view is no help in the midst of rage and terror and raw grief.

What is useful to do to be a ‘good person’ ? How does people ‘Taking sides’ help if it means a flag on your SM profile? Or cutting people out of your friendship circle and refusing to discuss? Or the other pointless things other people in our safe secure lives are able to ‘do’?

First of all Israel's population (source Wikipedia): As of March 2023, Jews make up the majority at 73.5% The Arab community, spanning various religions excluding Judaism, accounts for 21% . An additional 5.5% are classified as "others." Beyond the predominant Jewish and Arab communities, there are also smaller ethnic groups, such as the Circassians, Armenians, and Druze.
Among the Jews are people from all over the Middle East, Jews from Ethiopia etc. and even European Jews have their origins in the region, except where they married out historically.

The reason Israel was created was because of the genocide of the holocaust. When it was created there were Jews all over Western Asia, now there are hardly any. Their refuge has, mostly, been Israel.

As far as being a 'colonial project': Do some reading (books, articles, not placards). This is a good place to start - I recommend it to everyone struggling with this really difficult issue (only someone who doesn't understand it thinks its simple)
The Decolonization Narrative Is Dangerous and False - The Atlantic

Do you also believe that apartheid in South Africa was “complicated” ?

the history of the Middle East is complex, but Israel’s treatment of the Palestinian people for the last 75 years is not complicated. If you cannot see it for what it is then I’m sorry but you’re on the wrong side of history.

If you don’t want to take the word of a random poster on a UK parenting site (which I understand). Have a look at these basic resources for yourself:

photo Journalists in Gaza

Motaz Azaiza
Wissam Nassar
byplestia
wizard_bisan1

there are countless more

Films (netflix)

Born in Gaza
Farha

books - there are many but I’d start with
The ethnic cleansing of Palestine by Ilan Pappe

if all else fails - just go on TikTock and check out some of the horrific things the Israeli army are posting about Palestinians they’ve kidnapped in the West Bank. They’ve set it all to some catchy music to make it fun for their audience.

@BrimfulOfMash For a start, good people can call a spade a spade, and speak out against genocide. They can write to their MPs to let their concerns be known. They can sign petitions. They can join others at marches to speak out for humanity. But doing absolutely nothing while innocents are pummelled to death with bombs before our eyes, and then comforting oneself by saying "I am neutral in this" is delusional and a the perfect road to hell.

I don’t take a side either. I think both sides are bat shit crazy if I’m honest. No religion, beliefs or gods would condone these actions and if they do, they’re not a god worth worshipping. I feel sorry for ALL of the innocent people who have died on both sides in the war. Let’s not forget that some of the people who have died, are not innocent, again, on both sides.

@SharonEllis The idea of having a Zionist state for the Jews started well before the Holocaust took place. It was the brainchild of Theodore Hertzl, a European Jew, who set up the World Zionist Congress in 1897. Israel is a European creation that was imposed on a religiously pluralist Middle East. The Holocaust has been used to justify Israel's existence, which is ridiculous anyway because the Palestinians should not have to pay for the Holocaust. They had nothing to do with it.

Then you’re also on the wrong side of history.

the least you can do as a human is some basic research. I’ve posted various resources above.

and fyi - for Palestinians this isn’t about religion. It’s about self determination and the right to live their lives with dignity and the same basic rights that others take for granted.

Hmm. Warning a population of 1.1million to relocate with little time and little where else to go? Then bombing the escape routes? I think that’s more a PR exercise on the part of the IDF, and not a genuine measure to limit civilian casualties.

You raise an interesting point about Israel viewing Hamas as an existential threat. Whilst I agreed at the outset of the most recent conflict, following Israeli media and other ME news outlets, I don’t think this has really become about Hamas any more but about Gaza as an entity in itself, as in, the area, the enclave, and worryingly the Palestinian people. There’s air strikes in the West Bank now (where there is no Hamas) and Palestinians are being shot and murdered. The Defence minister is running to give arms to radical Zionist settlers to “protect themselves”. The language on tv is becoming increasingly emotive and dehumanising rhetoric, referring to Palestinians as animals, as children of darkness etc.

I genuinely believe that the main aims of the Israeli government now are to annihilate the Palestinian people and leave them with no choice but to leave to Egypt. I think many people are beginning to feel this way after the bombing of the refugee camp and the mounting death rates of civilians.

Really not sure how you can determine the right side of history. Yes, what's going on is atrocious, but it isn't black or white.

I'm afraid to say how I feel because the stock reaction from some very aggressive and dogmatic posters is "How many babies do you want to see die?!"

@Desertrose2023
Israel has killed over 200 people in the West Bank this week. Hamas does not operate there.
You think Hamas leaders are sitting quietly in the war zone, instead of taking shelter somewhere at a comfortable distance?

it makes me want to vomit that we even have to debate this.
Then maybe set up a podium at Speakers' Corner, instead of engaging in online debate...?

'The right side of history' is a phrase which instantly turns me off. It's so patronising and grandiose: how are individuals to determine this? Also, considering certain activist groups who spout this phrase, I'd consider it dubious to say the least.

As for not taking sides, giving an opinion appears mandatory in this day and age and even silence is causing people to be viewed with suspicion. I despise this climate. Of course not 'taking sides' is fine given the sheer ignorance over the history and complexity of this conflict.

Who is under any illusion that the world is queuing up to hear the opinion ?

i would still encourage you to look at the resources I’ve mentioned above. Particularly the Instagram accounts of the photo journalists in Gaza.

If you truly believe that it’s still not black and white after seeing those account then there’s nothing I can say that will change your mind and I’ll just respectfully leave it here and agree to disagree with you.

Far left university brainwashed people appear to be supporting Hamas. Ordinary people don’t get worked up about it, especially if like me they know Jewish people

So write to your MP, make an appointment to go and see them, sign a petition. Do something that stands a chance of making a difference.

Marching? Thinking that is doing something in this situation is also arguably delusional.

Mostly people want to vent, express… nothing wrong with that, what is happening is inhuman.

But berating people for not taking enough pointless grandiose action is also not helpful IMO.

no one is supporting Hamas. This is more deflection and nonsense.

and it’s a pretty sweeping (and inaccurate) generalization to assume that people who support basic human rights for Palestinians and speak up about Israeli war crimes don’t know any Jewish people. Also pretty insulting to the Jewish people who are also currently protesting and marching against Israel’s crimes.

Son of Hamas leader has a lot to say on this very subject.

It’s quite possible to condemn the appalling actions of the Israeli government and Hamas at the same time. Most people I know express great sympathy and outrage for all civilians caught up in this.

Yes, and the idea that there's a right/wrong 'side' of history is silly anyway. It's not how history works. It's suggesting that people at some unspecified point in the future will be perfect impartial judges who all think alike and that whatever they think of a situation they're looking back on will be the absolute truth. These perfect future people will of course agree with the 'right side of history' poster's opinions on complicated issues.

It's nonsense.

People who ‘took sides’ against Nazi Germany put their lives at risk. Joined the services, or the resistance. Hid people. Lived for 5 years on jam made from parsnips.

I am not saying people should shrug shoulders and ignore it all. We need to read, research, understand how the global politics and economy have enabled Wrong Things, so that we can vote and spend and petition accordingly. We can empathise and give support to individuals and communities in anguish.

I am just sick of the grandstanding , vacuous flag waving, and lecturing rather than listening,

Hear hear

Sounds like the majority of people want both sides to live in peace, without hate and not try to annihilate each other. Maybe idealistic but it's where I'm at.