October ending, a list: We wonder aloud to each other will it ever stop raining, and it doesn’t, so I check the weather forecast and it says it will continue raining for the next nine days without even so much as a pause The oranges and reds of fallen leaves provide a soft padding along the edges of the pavements here, the sweet-rot smell of them meaning you cannot even go for a small walk without being reminded of at least fifteen childhood nostalgias
Thank you for your words about Palestine. I feel like humanity has failed a very important test... People I love dearly made it clear that they believe this isn't their fight, and mourning/fighting alone is tough. Feel free to email me if you'd like to read Ghassan Kanafani, Edward Said, Ilan Pappé, I can send you all my ebooks!
Eugénie, thank you for this, I will email you in the coming days! I think it is this, really, that humanity, or our apparent shreds of it, have failed an important test.
There is no genocide happening in Palestine. Israel is working to eliminate the terrorist organization Hamas while also doing everything in its power to minimize civilian casualties. Jewish Currents is a fringe outlet that is not at all representative of the Jewish people as a whole. (If Not Now and Jewish Voice for Peace are also fringe organizations. The Jewish community largely does not consider them to belong to the Jewish people.)
If you want real and unbiased reporting (I’m assuming you won’t consider any Israeli outlet to be unbiased or truthful) please look at The Free Press, Tablet, and Jewish Insider.
I really hope you’ll look beyond your confirmation bias for accurate sources. The innocent Palestinian deaths are a tragedy, but their blood is on Hamas’ hands. The Free Press even has a project called Voices from Gaza where they speak to Gazans about the situation on the ground.
I love your writing so much and count you as an inspiration for my own work. To see that you think a genocide is happening felt like a gut punch. Spreading antisemitic blood libel does not help us reach peace.
Yardena, thank you for taking the time to write this note, and I do appreciate so much the thoughts and suggestions you offer. I hope you are reassured to know that I'm reading widely and in a varied way, and fully acknowledge the multiple truths that exist in the present situation, that deserve attention. A great many things are horrifically painful right now, for countless people, and I personally felt that to use the word genocide with its meaning of "the intentional destruction of a people in whole or in part" was warranted, particularly when hospitals and other traditional places of safety are being targeted, as well as the use of war weapons on civilians that violate international humanitarian laws. Protecting innocent civilian life should always be the most genuine priority, and I continue to read and think.
Thanks for responding Ella. I'm trying not to despair when I see this kind of argument, but it's tough. Israel is in no way attempting "the intentional destruction of a people in whole or in part." In fact, the IDF does more than any other army in the world to ensure that civilian casualties are limited. International law actually actually states that if hospitals are used as military bases they lose their protection. Hamas intentionally uses hospitals, schools, homes, and other civilan locations to store their weapons and to fire rockets. Hamas fighters also dress as civilians (which is also illegal under international law) to hide among the population. Hamas is even shooting at its own civilians when they try to flee south according to IDF instructions. Hamas has fired rockets at Israeli hospitals, schools, and homes which are not being used militarily. This is a war crime. This is an attempt at genocide.
I understand that there is so much misinformation out there, and it's really difficult to know what's happening if you aren't from a Middle Eastern culture. But I implore you—I am genuinely begging you—to refrain from speaking about a situation you don't fully understand. It does immeasurable harm not only to Jews but also to Palestinians. I don't mean that to sound condescening. It's hard to hear tone on the Internet. I'm just trying to do my best here.
Thank you for your words about Palestine. I feel like humanity has failed a very important test... People I love dearly made it clear that they believe this isn't their fight, and mourning/fighting alone is tough. Feel free to email me if you'd like to read Ghassan Kanafani, Edward Said, Ilan Pappé, I can send you all my ebooks!
Eugénie, thank you for this, I will email you in the coming days! I think it is this, really, that humanity, or our apparent shreds of it, have failed an important test.
This was a beautiful read and call to different types of attention, often overlooked. Grateful to have read it this week. 💜
Thank you Freya, this note is so appreciated.
There is no genocide happening in Palestine. Israel is working to eliminate the terrorist organization Hamas while also doing everything in its power to minimize civilian casualties. Jewish Currents is a fringe outlet that is not at all representative of the Jewish people as a whole. (If Not Now and Jewish Voice for Peace are also fringe organizations. The Jewish community largely does not consider them to belong to the Jewish people.)
If you want real and unbiased reporting (I’m assuming you won’t consider any Israeli outlet to be unbiased or truthful) please look at The Free Press, Tablet, and Jewish Insider.
I really hope you’ll look beyond your confirmation bias for accurate sources. The innocent Palestinian deaths are a tragedy, but their blood is on Hamas’ hands. The Free Press even has a project called Voices from Gaza where they speak to Gazans about the situation on the ground.
I love your writing so much and count you as an inspiration for my own work. To see that you think a genocide is happening felt like a gut punch. Spreading antisemitic blood libel does not help us reach peace.
Yardena, thank you for taking the time to write this note, and I do appreciate so much the thoughts and suggestions you offer. I hope you are reassured to know that I'm reading widely and in a varied way, and fully acknowledge the multiple truths that exist in the present situation, that deserve attention. A great many things are horrifically painful right now, for countless people, and I personally felt that to use the word genocide with its meaning of "the intentional destruction of a people in whole or in part" was warranted, particularly when hospitals and other traditional places of safety are being targeted, as well as the use of war weapons on civilians that violate international humanitarian laws. Protecting innocent civilian life should always be the most genuine priority, and I continue to read and think.
Thanks for responding Ella. I'm trying not to despair when I see this kind of argument, but it's tough. Israel is in no way attempting "the intentional destruction of a people in whole or in part." In fact, the IDF does more than any other army in the world to ensure that civilian casualties are limited. International law actually actually states that if hospitals are used as military bases they lose their protection. Hamas intentionally uses hospitals, schools, homes, and other civilan locations to store their weapons and to fire rockets. Hamas fighters also dress as civilians (which is also illegal under international law) to hide among the population. Hamas is even shooting at its own civilians when they try to flee south according to IDF instructions. Hamas has fired rockets at Israeli hospitals, schools, and homes which are not being used militarily. This is a war crime. This is an attempt at genocide.
I understand that there is so much misinformation out there, and it's really difficult to know what's happening if you aren't from a Middle Eastern culture. But I implore you—I am genuinely begging you—to refrain from speaking about a situation you don't fully understand. It does immeasurable harm not only to Jews but also to Palestinians. I don't mean that to sound condescening. It's hard to hear tone on the Internet. I'm just trying to do my best here.