Informal poll: is it an automatic reaction amongst most Jews

[Anonymous]

to always to pro Israel, no matter what? Do most Jews actually believe that the world hates them because they are Jewish, despite the amount of support that Jews enjoy in the West? These are the sentiments that I'm seeing on my facebook feed from Jewish friends who are otherwise not very political.

I'm a Muslim and by no means do I believe that Muslims are always right -- look at the atrocities some have caused around the world in the supposed name of religion. Yet I see Jewish friends -- who don't always realize or remember that I am Muslim because I don't talk about it -- talking about how the world is against them and Israel is in the right when it's destroying Palestinian civilians -- women and children who are not Hamas affiliated but are stuck on a small land mass with no safe place to go. Looking at the number of deaths on both sides and the number of kids who've died on the Palestinian side, as well as the high tech systems they have like the devices warn re incoming missiles and the devices that stop missiles altogether, I'd say Israel is doing fairly "well" here -- so why all the "oh no poor Israel" all of a sudden. These things are said in mixed company, and I feel like most people who are non Jewish nod along because they don't want to be seen as anti Semetic/anti Israel. I am so not a political person, but I don't know that I can nod along in agreement. Am I just never supposed to speak about this for fear of ruining friendships by being "that Muslim"?

[Anonymous]

http://jfjfp.com

[takoma]

There is an organization called J Street ("The Political Home for Pro-Israel, Pro-Peace Americans" -- http://jstreet.org/). Its point is that Israel's best hope is through peace and coexistence with Palestinians. There are many Jews who see this as a much more reasonable way to support Israel than defending Netanyahu's policies. Such Jews are not only here in America, but in Israel as well.

[Anonymous]

Half Jewish here and I am appalled at what Israel has done but I know I am in the minority. Most Jews feel its sacrilegious to say or do anything against Israel.

I am scared for the intense antisemitism that seems to be escalating but their actions have provoked and fueled it, there are no two ways about it.

[Anonymous]

No. I am Jewish and I grieve for the people of Gaza. The photos of injured and crying children and entire neighborhoods bombed to rubble are unbearable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Half Jewish here and I am appalled at what Israel has done but I know I am in the minority. Most Jews feel its sacrilegious to say or do anything against Israel.

I am scared for the intense antisemitism that seems to be escalating but their actions have provoked and fueled it, there are no two ways about it.

The recent antisemitism have been inflamed even more by recent events but even I know that antisemitism is not new under the sun. Surely, you must know that unrelated to the conflict.

[Anonymous]

I am Jewish and pro-Israel. I fully support a two-state solution, but feel as though Hamas doesn't support this as they do not acknowledge Israel's right to exist. That being sad, even though I am pro-Israel, any news of a civilian death (especially a child) is heartbreaking. No Jewish person I know rejoices to hear an innocent Palestinian is killed and I can't imagine how terrible life is in Gaza right now. I just don't know what better options Israel has.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am Jewish and pro-Israel. I fully support a two-state solution, but feel as though Hamas doesn't support this as they do not acknowledge Israel's right to exist. That being sad, even though I am pro-Israel, any news of a civilian death (especially a child) is heartbreaking. No Jewish person I know rejoices to hear an innocent Palestinian is killed and I can't imagine how terrible life is in Gaza right now. I just don't know what better options Israel has.

Very simple, stop the illegal occupation and give people back their land. It is not rocket science....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am Jewish and pro-Israel. I fully support a two-state solution, but feel as though Hamas doesn't support this as they do not acknowledge Israel's right to exist. That being sad, even though I am pro-Israel, any news of a civilian death (especially a child) is heartbreaking. No Jewish person I know rejoices to hear an innocent Palestinian is killed and I can't imagine how terrible life is in Gaza right now. I just don't know what better options Israel has.

If they don't like killing civilians, maybe stop targeting civilian interests under the excuse of "Hamas hides weapons there, so Hamas is forcing us to kill civilians" without any definitive proof of it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am Jewish and pro-Israel. I fully support a two-state solution, but feel as though Hamas doesn't support this as they do not acknowledge Israel's right to exist. That being sad, even though I am pro-Israel, any news of a civilian death (especially a child) is heartbreaking. No Jewish person I know rejoices to hear an innocent Palestinian is killed and I can't imagine how terrible life is in Gaza right now. I just don't know what better options Israel has.

If they don't like killing civilians, maybe stop targeting civilian interests under the excuse of "Hamas hides weapons there, so Hamas is forcing us to kill civilians" without any definitive proof of it.

You don't know anything about Gaza strip and the tunnels, do you?

[Anonymous]

There is definitely proof Hamas hides and fires weapons from schools/hospitals. Even the UN (who is pretty anti-Israel) acknowledges this. Say what you want about if Israel is right in striking those buildings, but don't say that there's no proof that's what Hamas does.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am Jewish and pro-Israel. I fully support a two-state solution, but feel as though Hamas doesn't support this as they do not acknowledge Israel's right to exist. That being sad, even though I am pro-Israel, any news of a civilian death (especially a child) is heartbreaking. No Jewish person I know rejoices to hear an innocent Palestinian is killed and I can't imagine how terrible life is in Gaza right now. I just don't know what better options Israel has.

If they don't like killing civilians, maybe stop targeting civilian interests under the excuse of "Hamas hides weapons there, so Hamas is forcing us to kill civilians" without any definitive proof of it.

You don't know anything about Gaza strip and the tunnels, do you?

If you were locked inside your country and it was 1/3 the size of fairfax county, you'd be digging tunnels too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:to always to pro Israel, no matter what? Do most Jews actually believe that the world hates them because they are Jewish, despite the amount of support that Jews enjoy in the West? These are the sentiments that I'm seeing on my facebook feed from Jewish friends who are otherwise not very political.

I'm a Muslim and by no means do I believe that Muslims are always right -- look at the atrocities some have caused around the world in the supposed name of religion. Yet I see Jewish friends -- who don't always realize or remember that I am Muslim because I don't talk about it -- talking about how the world is against them and Israel is in the right when it's destroying Palestinian civilians -- women and children who are not Hamas affiliated but are stuck on a small land mass with no safe place to go. Looking at the number of deaths on both sides and the number of kids who've died on the Palestinian side, as well as the high tech systems they have like the devices warn re incoming missiles and the devices that stop missiles altogether, I'd say Israel is doing fairly "well" here -- so why all the "oh no poor Israel" all of a sudden. These things are said in mixed company, and I feel like most people who are non Jewish nod along because they don't want to be seen as anti Semetic/anti Israel. I am so not a political person, but I don't know that I can nod along in agreement. Am I just never supposed to speak about this for fear of ruining friendships by being "that Muslim"?

Most of my Jewish friends in the USA with whom I discuss politics are very outspoken in their opposition to the current Israeli military campaign. But I sense that they prefer to be the ones to frame the debate, articulate the issues, and proffer a solution. I do sense that they might perceive the same words coming out of someone else's mouth as anti-Semitic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am Jewish and pro-Israel. I fully support a two-state solution, but feel as though Hamas doesn't support this as they do not acknowledge Israel's right to exist. That being sad, even though I am pro-Israel, any news of a civilian death (especially a child) is heartbreaking. No Jewish person I know rejoices to hear an innocent Palestinian is killed and I can't imagine how terrible life is in Gaza right now. I just don't know what better options Israel has.

Very simple, stop the illegal occupation and give people back their land. It is not rocket science....

Since it's very simple, what land are you suggesting should be given back?

[Anonymous]

I'd say half my Jewish friends are not big on Israel and half are rabidly pro-Israel. The one Holocaust survivor I know is not a fan, but he has unique circumstances.

Most are very unhappy with what's going on right now.