Analyzing two pieces in The Forward: a review of a documentary film about the anti-Israel protests at Columbia, and an article about the anti-Hamas protests in Gaza.
Its narrative focus is upon the evolving partnership and friendship of two filmmakers — one a villager and the other an Arabic-speaking Israeli journalist, who is readily accepted for who he is, a “Yahud” (Jew) who has come in solidarity.
My dream scenario would be the imposition of moderate Arab forces and funding to oversee reconstruction and to shepherd in governance under a reformed Palestinian Authority, with the ultimate goal of negotiating peace with Israel.
… the Biden administration has wanted both to support Israel at a genuine hour of need and to alleviate the humanitarian catastrophe taking place in Gaza. This proved insufficient given the nature of Prime Minister Netanyahu’s extremist coalition government and the fanatical nature of Hamas, which is singularly indifferent to the suffering of its people.
Despite my disagreement with some of Prof. Khalidi’s views, I appreciate his anguish over the ongoing suffering of his people, and hope against hope that they and the people of Israel will emerge from their mutual horrors with a two-state peace.
There are pitfalls to “solidarity tours” of Israel in the wake of October 7th; this one tried, albeit imperfectly, to avoid them. The trick is to cultivate compassion and understanding for both Israelis and Palestinians at this terrible time.
Most demonstrators may be against the existence of Israel as a country. This can be seen as anti-Zionism, but questioning the survival of a nation is actually worse than opposing an ideology (an “ism”).
The deaths of children and other innocents in Gaza, mostly from US-supplied weaponry, are what’s driving campus protests. Too many non-combatants have died, but Israel is not trying to exterminate the Palestinian people.
Global eruptions of antisemitism precipitated two conferences at the same venue, over 20 years apart. Although Israel is not to blame for the hatred of Jews, its policies and military actions often trigger it.
I analyze the nature of Hamas and explain why Israel is not guilty of genocide yet has apparently violated the rule of proportionality in its war against Hamas. I also advocate an endgame strategy that reintroduces the prospect of a 2 state solution.
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