A Protest for Two-States is a Peaceful Protest

WHAT IS PEACEFUL, AND WHAT ISN’T?
The “peaceful protesters” — students, teachers and administrators, at American Universities and High Schools are attacking, intimidating, mocking, harassing, and endangering Jewish students lives– just for being Jewish. Protesting the actions of Netanyahu’s racist government including the disregard for Palestinian civilian life and the illegal settlements, is not Antisemitic– it is warranted.

Denying Israel’s right to exist, demonizing Zionism– is Antisemitic. Jews across the globe are actively being re-defined by their enemies and slandered. The world’s children are being taught to hate Jews! This is not the actions of people who want peace. Ask yourself, have you witnessed the Jewish-hate and Jewish deep pain, or do you turn a blind eye? Resist the binary– see the big picture.

WHAT IS ZIONISM, ACTUALLY?
Zionism is the fundamental right for Israel to exist. Zionism is the Jewish liberation movement involving the return to Zion (Jerusalem) of the Jewish nation, one of the native inhabitants of the land, after thousands of years of violent exile. For this reason, Zionism is actually the epitome of progressivism. Zionism does not equal the Israeli government, just as Hamas does not equal the Palestinian people. Zionism is a core part of Jewish Identity. It is about the Jewish story, culture, religion and peoplehood– a sovereign, democratic Jewish state– by and for the Jewish nation. It has not claimed to be the only people of the land.

To have compassion for Zionists is to understand that Jews will always be in diaspora, if there is no Jewish presence in Israel. Israel is Ground Zero for the Jews. Just look at our history, and our ancient prayers, — always was– always will be. It is from this lineage that Jesus came from. It even says in the Quran that the ‘House of Israel’ belongs to the Jews. Anyone who wants the end of Israel is preventing the ‘House of Israel’ from being built.

ARE ISRAELIS WHITE COLONIZERS?
No. First, Ethiopian Jews thought they were the only Jews left on earth. They prayed with the same prayers as all Jews of the world to go back to Jerusalem. They were shocked to find out that there were Jews who had made it back to Israel. They were shocked to see white Jews– for the first time, once they finally reached Jerusalem. Unfortunately Ethiopian Jews have suffered discrimination in Israel because of the color of their skin.

Then– look at history that has been documented by archaeologists for centuries. Jews have dwelt in and among this land for over 3,800 years. The Jews who came to Palestine in the 1800’s-1900’s were refugees, not colonizers. They purchased desolate, sparsely populated land from absentee landlords, created communes (Kibbutzim) and worked the land by hand. 60% of Jews came from persecution in surrounding countries (with brown skin)— like Iraq, Yemen, Egypt, Syria and Lebanon. Were there skirmishes? Yes. Were there massacres? Yes. Jews were also massacred— look up Hebron. But there was also peaceful coexistence among human beings in a special place.

Finally, ask your neighborhood White Supremacists and Neo-Nazis if Jews are white. As a Jew– as a granddaughter of Holocaust survivors with white skin, I know I can pass for being white, and I benefit from white privilege here in America, but I don’t feel white. I appreciate other people dictating my race without knowing me or my history. about as much as I’d appreciate being forced to identify myself as a Jew with a yellow star attached to my sleeve. When census questionnaires ask my race or ethnicity– I check “other” and write in Jewish. I have done this for as long as I can remember. (My Jewishness isn’t a ‘race’ per se, but it is an ethno-religion– which these questionnaires are too one-dimensional to capture properly.)

IS ISRAEL AN APARTHEID STATE?
No. Christian and Muslim Arab citizens make up over 20% of the country’s population. Not only do they have equal rights under the law and freedom of religion, but participate actively in government, academia, business, healthcare, and culture. Hadassah hospital in Israel, for example has Palestinian and Israeli doctors and patients. They all help one another, regardless of background.

Arab and Jewish Israelis live in diverse cities, both have freedom to move around and residence, and share schools, public transportation and health care. Arabs have full citizenship rights, including voting, holding office, and serving at all levels of government. There are currently 17 Arab lawmakers in the Knesset and an Arab justice sits on the Supreme Court. There are 5 campuses of the Hand in Hand schools in Israe l— which integrate Arab and Jewish students and families– they serve thousands of people. Would Hamas continue these freedoms and programs if they come to power and Israel is eradicated? Israel is far from perfect, but at least they do try.

WHY IS THE IDF DOING SO MUCH DAMAGE?
The IDF’s powerful and tragically deadly retaliation is defending Israel’s citizens and holy sites from the destruction caused by Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis, and The Iranian Revolutionary Guard. The IDF needs to extract these pernicious enemies or face never-ending war with them– more massacres, rapes and an endless barrage of incoming rockets, lies and bad press. After committing heinous crimes against Israelis, Hamas purposely hides among Palestinians, so that it is difficult to extract them without hurting civilians. Hamas’ intentional strategy uses Palestinians as human shields so they can war monger, blame Israel for their own bad behavior, stoke the flames of antisemitism, and control how this war is being presented to the world.. Hamas would kill every Jew in Israel if they could– this is their stated goal. The Iron Dome has saved Israel thousands of times. Israel has the capacity to kill every Palestinian and it doesn’t. Israel did not want this war.

If Hamas cared about Palestinians they would open up the 350+ miles of tunnels they built under Gaza, to shelter the people when Israel inevitably retaliated. They used billions of dollars in aid on war instead of infrastructure, technology, agriculture, tourism, and peace.

HOW CAN WE MAKE PEACE?
First, all extremists need to be controlled and curtailed on both sides of the conflict. The Palestinian government has opted for war and turned down at least 5 proposals to have two states. Israel has committed war crimes and violated the human rights of Palestinians. Sharing the land is not a the goal for any of the extremists. Part of the reason that extremists have taken over the government and democracy in Israel is because the left was unable to create peace with neighbors who hate and are hell-bent on destroying them. Some Israelis who always supported two states are so embittered by the October 7th attack, that they no longer support two states. Both the Israeli and Palestinian governments need to change— their former leaders jailed for war crimes. New leadership, focused on the health and welfare of the region and its inhabitants needs to come to power.

I FEEL POWERLESS, WHAT CAN I DO?
If you care about this situation, do not remain silent. The Jewish tradition of the Mezuzah asks us to carry G-d with us everyday, and to speak of Them on our way. Whether Jewish or non-Jewish, faithful, atheist, agnostic or someplace in between– focus energy and visions on peace and justice. Draw in breath with gratitude for nature and wish loving-kindness on all living things. My meditations and prayers focus on my heart, and the still small voice that tells me– we are ALL ONE under G-d. These prayers are about connecting with something bigger than me, and creating hope. I encourage meditation, and prayer with “Kavannah” the Hebrew word for intention. I pray for this chaos to become an opportunity for peace. I pray to see the signs as to when to speak up and take action, and when to stop talking and listen.

And, I would ask questions from multiple sources, do not make assumptions, or cling to a “us and them” mentality. Do some research and learn about Jewish history and the entire the situation. Call out antisemitism when a poignant opportunity arises.

The Holy Land will only be holy once we can all share it in peace. Taking even one person’s life is too many. If you are only supporting “Free Palestine” and not Two-States with the return of the hostages, then you are not working for peace, but actively working towards endless wars, the end of the west, democracy, and of course– the Jews. Do not remain silent. Protest for Two-States, protest for peace.

Sincerely,