Standing up for Israel

[Fizzadora]

So, they have got to MN now too.
I just managed to read the previous post before it got deleted for being inflammatory. Not to me it wasn't but then I don't support terrorists.
Many, many people do stand for Israel and not for Hamas (and by definition their supporters; you know who you are).

Not on here today. Today it was in person. I get this sort of thing quite a bit.

Some of it I've tried to justify/explain to myself as people being hurt and angry and not necessarily meaning what they say in that state of mind. But some of it is harder to do that with. The cold, calm people who are quite comfortable saying that to me with the same tone as one might describe getting pest control out. The young men who feel empowered to drive their cars around looking for anyone who might be Muslim to yell these things at (and to accelerate towards, etc).

If that is what 'standing with Israel' means to so many people, I suppose I was feeling like there's not much point anymore in trying to reach out if that's all I'm getting back. It did help to read that there are people on here for whom standing with Israel is standing with innocent civilians and looking for a path for peace without sharing the sorts of views posted in that video.

Am I right in guessing based on previous comments that you are visibly Muslim and wear a headscarf? Forgive me if I’m wrong , but if so, I often think that we have a lot of experiences in common with each other as visible women of faith, both positive and negative. I also wore a headscarf frequently when I lived in Manchester, (instead of a wig or hat) and it does make you stand out and leaves you open to antisemitism/islamophobia at times.
DH was recently briefly in the UK and wore a baseball cap as he wasn’t comfortable being visibly Jewish in public. It’s not easy.
I’m sorry for your experiences today and previously, it’s a horrible thing to go through. I think the Jewish posters on here truly do get how awful and upsetting it is 🫂

Thanks, @EllaDisenchanted - yes, I'm visibly Muslim (well, I wear hijab so people seem to guess from that). I've had friends seriously considering taking theirs off recently due to safety concerns.

I'm sorry your husband had that experience too. The UK (and other countries) has become so much less tolerant of diversity of faith and culture in recent years...

@Scirocco I'm sorry that happened to you. Easy to say but I really mean it.

I wasn't aiming my comment at you in particular- it seemed on the previous page that there was a sudden barrage of posters demanding people explain themselves. I thought it was out of order, especially as the implication seemed to be that anyone who supports Israel must also love Netanyahu and be in favour of killing loads of civilians- in fact it was more than implied. Moderate voices speaking out for Israel are dismissed and have their words twisted. This has happened to me more than once on here.

I don't know who is demanding that posters say they hate Hamas but it certainly hasn't been me. I take it as read that most people are against Hamas although a small number of posters sail pretty close to the wind in their comments about them - I know they're not the mainstream view though.

Thank you, @0palfrootee

@EllaDisenchanted sorry for your experiences.
It's not acceptable at all that your husband is made to feel the way he does in not being able to be openly Jewish. Part of me feels that don't let the horrible people win, but safety first and everyone needs to do what they feel is right for them.
your posts really do highlight to me why there is a need for a Jewish homeland.

@Scirocco I'm so sorry you've had to go through this. It must have felt awful and upsetting. I hope you weren't alone and had support with you.

@EllaDisenchanted I'm also sorry for the experience your husband had.

@madderthanahatter I've just seen your post on another thread and I am assuming you are referring to my quoted post. Pretty poor form to take this to another thread if so, and in addition to misquote me and misrepresent what I said. I did not say that anyone asking Jewish posters for their views was antisemitic. I was objecting to the sudden barrage of quite aggressively worded demands from some posters on the previous page to others to justify their beliefs. I'd be grateful if you would retract what you have said. Thank you.

I agree with @Mercurial123 .

your posts really do highlight to me why there is a need for a Jewish homeland
I completely agree with this statement but it's only half the story. The other half is ensuring people can practice their faith without persecution no matter where they live. It really saddens me to hear the stories and experiences from the Muslim and Jewish women on here and it really feels we have gone backwards not forwards in the past decade. The push for equality has fueled hatred, racism and faith based prejudice. Something has gone very wrong in our evolution as a species and it's hard to understand what.

I agree.

It’s important to remember for some reading this thread that Jewishness is an ethnicity as well as a faith. For many Jews, it’s more fundamental than having the freedom to practice their faith. It’s having the freedom to just live their lives without fear. No one should feel they have to hide who they are in order to stay safe.

For anyone on the thread who's interested:

They have a description of themselves on their website. They are currently advocating a return of hostages and calling for a ceasefire. Nothing objectionable about that IMO.

I am not aware of that association and there is nothing about Holocaust denial on their website, so it's your word against theirs. I was just sharing the link because some people might also support the return of hostages and a ceasefire. Feel free to disregard the link if you are not interested.

@LaDernièreChanson Maybe it's a good idea to back up your claims with some evidence

I'd never heard of Na'amod before. The very briefest of Google searches shows that they are not without controversy. But also...what do.you hope to achieve by posting links to Jewish groups that have a view that differs from most others' on here? Do you think we don't know that different groups of Jewish people might have other opinions? Or that we might read it and say oh right, better change our minds then? It's a bit like the posters who come along and say what about ultra Orthodox Jews who are anti Zionist, HMMM??

I have received a number of likes for the link I shared, which suggests that there are others here whose views might differ from yours. I did say the link was for those who might be interested. Feel free to ignore it if you are not. No need to hate or smear.

@LilaDidIt I don't know why you keep doing this on this thread or others that are predominately Jewish. Upset you does it? Or do you honestly feel you are performing some kind of public service?

It's odd.

@LilaDidIt Well done you on all.those likes. Not seeing the hate or smears but feel to report me if you spot any.