Emotionally, I am completely distraught by this reality. But logically, it (unfortunately) makes perfect sense. Here are four rampant reasons why this has happened.
This is terrific, and I was especially glad to see someone recommend Wikipedia, the greatest website of all-time. There is enough information on Wikipedia to keep a person reading about this conflict for decades.
Thank you for the discussion of how Israel analyzed civilian casualties.
You omitted any mention of the weeks of bombing between October 7 and the ground incursion. Those images on the nightly news were devastating. Because of recency bias and the addition of new images of devastation every day Israel’s PR is pretty bad right now.
I noticed you did not use a link to support your statement that thousands of people are calling for the murder of Jews. That might have been helpful.
The references to the occupied territories as Judea and Samaria are not helpful, however, especially if you’re saying Arab/Palestinian intransigence is the obstacle to peaceful coexistence.
How do we move toward peace and safety for everyone in the region, Jew, Muslim, Druze, etc.?
Regarding Israel bombing Palestinian terrorist targets before the ground attack, I think it’s pretty obvious that Israel would respond to our bloodiest day in history with aerially bombing terrorist targets, just as any country would, so I didn’t omit it. I just didn’t feel the need to state something obvious.
Judea and Samaria are how us Jews see it, and I am a centrist Jew, not a right-wing Jew. When the Palestinians and Arabs are serious about wanting to achieve peace and a two-state solution with us, I will refer to their lands as Palestine. Until then, I won’t, because there is no Palestine right now, and the term “occupied territories” (while true) has been used against us Jews to suggest something that is not true about us.
How do we move toward peace and safety? Right now, after October 7th, and after the Palestinian Authority still hasn’t openly condemned these unspeakable attacks, I’m not sure peace is possible. I am sure that Hamas’ eradication could lead to a better situation for both Israelis and Gazans.
But knowing that virtually all Palestinians are indoctrinated from a very young age to virulently hate Israel and Jews, and glorify and reward violence against us, I’m not exactly sure how expect us to make peace with them.
Of course people will say that there are Israelis who also glorify violence against them, and this is true, but it’s not virtually all Israelis. It’s at most 5-10 percentage. In a world where we’re mostly peaceful and they’re mostly hateful and violent, that’s not a path toward peace.
Very good article. So much yes and a testament to the importance of well written, long-form content. I will, without a doubt, share this widely.
Appreciate it David!
This is terrific, and I was especially glad to see someone recommend Wikipedia, the greatest website of all-time. There is enough information on Wikipedia to keep a person reading about this conflict for decades.
That's right Brad!
The bombing is certainly relevant to discussions of Gaza. The world is reacting to it.
Very few Jews commit violence against Palestinians but they are all indoctrinated to kill us? I question those perceptions.
Thank you for the discussion of how Israel analyzed civilian casualties.
You omitted any mention of the weeks of bombing between October 7 and the ground incursion. Those images on the nightly news were devastating. Because of recency bias and the addition of new images of devastation every day Israel’s PR is pretty bad right now.
I noticed you did not use a link to support your statement that thousands of people are calling for the murder of Jews. That might have been helpful.
The references to the occupied territories as Judea and Samaria are not helpful, however, especially if you’re saying Arab/Palestinian intransigence is the obstacle to peaceful coexistence.
How do we move toward peace and safety for everyone in the region, Jew, Muslim, Druze, etc.?
Hi Michelle! Thanks for your feedback.
Regarding Israel bombing Palestinian terrorist targets before the ground attack, I think it’s pretty obvious that Israel would respond to our bloodiest day in history with aerially bombing terrorist targets, just as any country would, so I didn’t omit it. I just didn’t feel the need to state something obvious.
Judea and Samaria are how us Jews see it, and I am a centrist Jew, not a right-wing Jew. When the Palestinians and Arabs are serious about wanting to achieve peace and a two-state solution with us, I will refer to their lands as Palestine. Until then, I won’t, because there is no Palestine right now, and the term “occupied territories” (while true) has been used against us Jews to suggest something that is not true about us.
How do we move toward peace and safety? Right now, after October 7th, and after the Palestinian Authority still hasn’t openly condemned these unspeakable attacks, I’m not sure peace is possible. I am sure that Hamas’ eradication could lead to a better situation for both Israelis and Gazans.
But knowing that virtually all Palestinians are indoctrinated from a very young age to virulently hate Israel and Jews, and glorify and reward violence against us, I’m not exactly sure how expect us to make peace with them.
Of course people will say that there are Israelis who also glorify violence against them, and this is true, but it’s not virtually all Israelis. It’s at most 5-10 percentage. In a world where we’re mostly peaceful and they’re mostly hateful and violent, that’s not a path toward peace.