How to Talk to a Zionist
In my short time as a pro-Palestine advocate ( 1 year) I have had numerous in depth unpleasant discussions with Zionists regarding the senseless war in Gaza. After the typical “Jew hater”, “antisemitic,”. ”Hamas lover” (and other more colorful expletives) are hurled at me at the start. Which false allegations no longer phase me. I state that I am not interested in listening to the Hasbara talking points or personal attacks made to DISTRACT ME but rather in engaging in a REAL discussion. Some people will actually take me up on this.
There are 3 questions that NONE of the people I have spoken to have been able to answer. I will post them here sequentially to hopefully help you stump a Zionist if you ever are unfortunate enough to have an in depth discussion with one.
1st question :
“Why do you think that the Jew and the Arab can get along in relative harmony all over the world EXCEPT in Middle East - where they are continually both slaughtering each other?”
(A fact I have personally witnessed proffesionally and socially in my corner of the world and when I’ve travelled abroad) I bet you can think of tons of examples of peaceful coexistence as well.
My theory is that the answer to this question is:
Because of the ABSOLUTE control that one group (Israelis) have over the other (Palestinians) in Israel . All you have to do is look at the outdoor prison/slum that was Gaza BEFORE Oct 7th to see the truth of this fact. Israel’s abusolute power and APARTHEID control over Palestinians. And of course the gradual illegal theft of Palestinian land by illegal Israeli settlors- of which there are 700,000 to date, over time is the answer. Israel ‘s apartheid occupation of the Palestinians and the Palestinians’ resistance to this brutal occupation, is the clear cause of all the violence in the Middle East.
The ICJ (international court of justice) confirmed that settlements were illegal and that Israel essentially was maintaining an Apartheid rule over Palestinians. This decision was based upon a 2022 case- BEFORE THE WAR STARTED.I encourage everyone to do your OWN research to confirm these facts.
Question 2:
“If you were Hamas (hypothetically), what method other than something like the horrific Oct 7 th Massacre, could you come up with to peacefully bring to the world’s attention Israel‘s Apartheid rule and the repeat violent land-theft of your people?”
I as well as ALL of the people I’ve spoken to -although we universally condemn ALL violence- cannot come up with any plausible answer.
Gaza has held countless peaceful protests against the Apartheid Occupation which were not reported by western media throughout the years since the Occupation began in 1967.-just look on the cover of Jimmy Carter’s book “Peace not Apartheid” from the 80s, and you will see Gazans protesting in front of their outdoor prison wall which abuts Israel.
Palestine’s numerous entrities to the UN objecting to the Apartheid Occupation and violent theft of Palestinian land by Israel (through its illegal settlements) were routinely SILENCED BY THE US. We saw at least 4 vetos at the UN by the US when Palestinians were pleading that Israel ceasefire on their citizens just within the past 10 months!
We silenced the Palestinians, falsely labeled ALL of them as “terrorists” (a racist slur to discredit them) and ignored the fact of Israel’s Apartheid Occupation for decades .
BEING Pro-Palestine was TABOO in the West and exposes many to dire consequences. US politicians still have an ironclad support for ANYTHING Israel does and “look away” at all but a few of the more egregious violent land grabs by Israel.
The Oct 7th Massacre was indisputably horrific and my heart goes out to all the innocent victims but it was undoubtedly effective in bringing the Palestinian plight to the world ‘s attention. Was probably even partially caused by Israel itself if you look at the Hannibal Doctrine which was implemented by Israel on October 7th. At least I never concerned myself with any Middle Eastern issues prior to Oct 7th…Did you? Can YOU think of alternative peaceful means available to Palestinians that hadn’t been already unsuccessfully tried?
Question 3:
Caveat: Question 3 usually follows a long history lesson from the speaker on Israeli occupancy in the region, a summary of any Arab wrongdoings, all historical offers for ending war (made last century by Israel ) a few references to Israeli victimhood, a few references to Holocaust (horrific but not relevant as caused by Nazis not Arabs), a few additional racist allegations that all Arabs are terrorists, and a few final allegations that I must be a Jew hater for daring to neutrally ask questions.
Question 3: (compound question)
SO WHAT? I could recite similar facts from the Arab perspective. However, the reality is that TODAY you have 2 groups of co-native people. Each of about 7 million people each, BOTH sharing the same land, BOTH having a historical right to occupy it BOTH having committed unspeakable violent actions against each other. What is your SOLUTION? PERPETUAL war & killing of civilians on BOTH sides? The Final Solution on all Arabs where they are all killed or forced to move to other Arab countries? (That sounds like what the Nazis wanted to do. We can at least agree that was wrong). Although it actually appears they might not have a strong objection to non- Jewish extermination if you look at Gaza today…
My current policy is to no longer have any discussions with the Zionists. Look on my bio and you will notice that it clearly states that, ”Zionists are not welcome here.” After only one year I have come to the conclusion that it’s totally futile to ever engage in a meaningful discussion with them about this topic. I no longer want to waste my time or subject myself to such an unpleasant and usually profane discussions- not because I can’t hold my own, as many of them will assert- but because it is as productive as trying to talk a born again evangelical zealots who is pro-life to change to pro-choice. Except these Zionist zealots are pro-death and destruction-even harder to convince of the error of their ways.
I still occasionally encounter an aggressive unhinged Zionist zealot, and if I ever am goaded into speaking to them, I am armed with my 3 Unanswerable questions. Or- even better- I can always delete their posts and block them.
Most of them are simply EVIL. The others are indoctrinated, brainwashed and deluded by the IOF, Government and their society "bubble" as a whole...
... Godless, evil ZIOnism has poisoned Judaism and hijacked it!
Hi Sadie,
I generally try to stay out of these things, or be short and concise if I comment at all. But one of the questions you asked stuck in my head, so here goes:
I generally don't talk to Zionists, I don't really know any, I know one pro-Israel person, but even she is quick to condemn stunts like the exploding pagers(To support Netanyahu is to be truly anti-Israel and anti-Jewish anyway.) But the question, you pose and the possibility you raise are key here. I've argued with actual Nazis, white supremacists not because it was fun but because I was in prison. Some can be reasoned with, others not so.
That being said the question and hypothesis here "....Was probably even partially caused by Israel itself if you look at the Hannibal Doctrine which was implemented by Israel on October 7th. At least I never concerned myself with any Middle Eastern issues prior to Oct 7th…Did you?"
I don't know why Hamas did that, instead of attempting a prison break, or hitting military targets. I don't know why it happened at a convenient time for Netanyahu politically, although I doubt he actually made it happen. I don't know why some of the demographic that bore the brunt of the attack were those least like to be supportive of Netanyahu, and the "Ultra-Orthodox"
Webster Griffin Tarpley Author of "9-11 Synthetic Terror :Made in the USA" (Tree of Life Books 2005) A "truther book," which like most conspiracy books is a mixture of facts, speculation, and claims made with absolutely nothing to corroborate them, nonetheless came up with two useful acronyms: and MIHOP. "Made It Happen On Purpose" vs LIHOP "Let It Happen On Purpose". Why did Netanyahu finance HAMAS to the tune of billions yearly, with one installment delivered in US hundred dollar bills? Why, whatever the intent and motivation was, did Hamas play right into Netanyahu's hands. They may win yet, in fact an argument can be made they have already won, in the sense of destroying the Zionist project in the eyes of the world, and in the views of Israeli intellectuals, human rights activists, and even families of hostages. I don't claim to know the answer to these questions and the others that arise from them. One source, ardently anti-Zionist still said "several intelligence agencies could have been involved, but we'll never know..." Does that mean that these questions should not be asked? Jews and Palestinians must stand together against this war that could damage or destroy both tribes and nations, all for the hate filled and megalomaniacal aspirations, of war criminals visible out in the open, but also persons unknown.