Thank you for your clear and searing indictment of our Jewish communities' support for Zionism. It's helpful to hear you name so clearly what I think many of us are feeling but don't have the words for. A conversation I'd love to have among Jews who see things similarly is what we feel will be strategically effective not only to address support for Zionism and Israel as a whole (those are strategy conversations that aren't specifically Jewish and don't center us) -- but also, as Jews, specifically how we build the resistance you are calling for within Jewish community. How do we do more than express outrage as so many of us already have, and more effectively work to break Jewish Zionist power? How do we more impactfully collectively build leverage to achieve tangible things like undermining Jewish Zionist power alliances, hampering Jewish financial support for Israel, deprogramming Jewish youth who have had no exposure to anything but hasbara, etc? These aren't new questions, but right now there is as you say particular urgency because of the damage our communities are doing. And I think also particular opportunity: more Jews in North America are visibly mobilizing than I've seen at any point in the past 35 years of doing Palestine solidarity work (even while there is also doubling down on support for Zionism as you point out, which is the other side of this polarizing time).
Surely I'm not the only one who returns to your writing to keep from self-gaslighting, Amanda - or just feeling lost, grasping inside this hellish hall of mirrors. You cut incisively through manufactured illusion while staying with each intricacy, and it's as jolting - *galvanizing* - as it is healing. Blessings to you and the healthy ancestors who speak through you. Glory to Gaza. Free Palestine.
You've put into powerful words what I've been feeling since this accelerated phase of the genocide began.
I feel anger and shame toward our own community. I also feel that I've been peeling back layer after layer of my own prejudices and assumptions. I'm at a loss as to what to do, but I know I must confront the truth honestly and openly if I want to be part of liberation.
To be reading this on the eve of the world premiere of yet another propaganda film being released by Paramount + called “The Children of Oct 7”. The film is being released on Monday June 2nd in 27 countries. Thanks for writing this extensive piece. It’s absolutely incredible.
Thank you so much for reading & commenting here. I’m a film nerd and I’ve watched several Zionist propaganda documentary films out of sheer curiosity and the way they craft a completely alternate reality of perpetual victimhood is absolutely staggering and disturbing every time
Great article. I’ve been thinking this for a while.
I wish more settlers (in the US, Canada, Australia, Mexico, New Zealand etc) who have woken up to how evil and morally bankrupt the colonialism occupying Falasteen is, would have the same realizations about settler colonialism where they live.
A wonderfuil photo essay with the nuance and historical intelligence I expect of excellent journalism, and THIS is excellent journalism, as well as courageous morality, and excellent writing. Thank you, Amanda Galender.
Wow. I keep wanting to restack each paragraph - your words match what we have been talking about monthly (but even more in depth on Zionism), stolen land, imperialism, white supremacy, racism, colonialism…the demise of fake countries. 🤦🏻♀️ It’s all so much insanity to ingest, how one Holocaust creates another and how much white suoremacy plays it’s role in such a deliberate, horrific way. Worse than the first, with test driven AI weapons and forcefully working on obliterating a whole ethnicity with no Axis powers or anyone to hide Palestinians. Seriously sick shit. Being raised Catholic I didn’t know about what was happening or that Jews literally turned into a death cult by accepting Zionism. So much to process, I’ll be re-reading and sharing in the days to come. Much love ❤️ Free Falasteen.
Thank you, Amanda, for this important article. Yes, I agree, the worldwide Jewish community has a Zionist (fascist) problem. It's tragic to say the least that it's taken this level of atrocious violence on the part of Israel to start waking up some Jews in the diaspora about its evil nature. I think all along most Jews have had a positive view of Israel for the same reason most (at least most white) American citizens have a positive view of the US: because they see it as their home team. Many Americans want to think their country is essentially good, and many Jews have wanted to believe Israel is essentially good, because each group identifies with who they see as their own people. If their people aren't good, that reflects badly on them, so they deny most evidence to the contrary.
Thank you for your clear and searing indictment of our Jewish communities' support for Zionism. It's helpful to hear you name so clearly what I think many of us are feeling but don't have the words for. A conversation I'd love to have among Jews who see things similarly is what we feel will be strategically effective not only to address support for Zionism and Israel as a whole (those are strategy conversations that aren't specifically Jewish and don't center us) -- but also, as Jews, specifically how we build the resistance you are calling for within Jewish community. How do we do more than express outrage as so many of us already have, and more effectively work to break Jewish Zionist power? How do we more impactfully collectively build leverage to achieve tangible things like undermining Jewish Zionist power alliances, hampering Jewish financial support for Israel, deprogramming Jewish youth who have had no exposure to anything but hasbara, etc? These aren't new questions, but right now there is as you say particular urgency because of the damage our communities are doing. And I think also particular opportunity: more Jews in North America are visibly mobilizing than I've seen at any point in the past 35 years of doing Palestine solidarity work (even while there is also doubling down on support for Zionism as you point out, which is the other side of this polarizing time).
Thanks Amanda. Very few people express this truth at all let alone so comprehensively.
Surely I'm not the only one who returns to your writing to keep from self-gaslighting, Amanda - or just feeling lost, grasping inside this hellish hall of mirrors. You cut incisively through manufactured illusion while staying with each intricacy, and it's as jolting - *galvanizing* - as it is healing. Blessings to you and the healthy ancestors who speak through you. Glory to Gaza. Free Palestine.
You've put into powerful words what I've been feeling since this accelerated phase of the genocide began.
I feel anger and shame toward our own community. I also feel that I've been peeling back layer after layer of my own prejudices and assumptions. I'm at a loss as to what to do, but I know I must confront the truth honestly and openly if I want to be part of liberation.
Thank your for speaking difficult truth to power
To be reading this on the eve of the world premiere of yet another propaganda film being released by Paramount + called “The Children of Oct 7”. The film is being released on Monday June 2nd in 27 countries. Thanks for writing this extensive piece. It’s absolutely incredible.
Thank you so much for reading & commenting here. I’m a film nerd and I’ve watched several Zionist propaganda documentary films out of sheer curiosity and the way they craft a completely alternate reality of perpetual victimhood is absolutely staggering and disturbing every time
Thanks for the heads up! I’ll be sure to check it out.
Great article. I’ve been thinking this for a while.
I wish more settlers (in the US, Canada, Australia, Mexico, New Zealand etc) who have woken up to how evil and morally bankrupt the colonialism occupying Falasteen is, would have the same realizations about settler colonialism where they live.
Absolutely agree. We can't only challenge settlerhood in "Israel" but also reckon with
settlerhood where we reside and emphasize the responsibility toward land back and land rematriation globally
My head is spinning from this essay. A raw, unapologetic and lucidly crafted piece of scholarship. Thank you for writing it.
Spot on, as always. Thank you so much for articulating what many of us are thinking.
Always on 🎯. Proud to know you.
This js a great writing.
A wonderfuil photo essay with the nuance and historical intelligence I expect of excellent journalism, and THIS is excellent journalism, as well as courageous morality, and excellent writing. Thank you, Amanda Galender.
Wow. I keep wanting to restack each paragraph - your words match what we have been talking about monthly (but even more in depth on Zionism), stolen land, imperialism, white supremacy, racism, colonialism…the demise of fake countries. 🤦🏻♀️ It’s all so much insanity to ingest, how one Holocaust creates another and how much white suoremacy plays it’s role in such a deliberate, horrific way. Worse than the first, with test driven AI weapons and forcefully working on obliterating a whole ethnicity with no Axis powers or anyone to hide Palestinians. Seriously sick shit. Being raised Catholic I didn’t know about what was happening or that Jews literally turned into a death cult by accepting Zionism. So much to process, I’ll be re-reading and sharing in the days to come. Much love ❤️ Free Falasteen.
Thank you so much!
Thank you, Amanda, for this important article. Yes, I agree, the worldwide Jewish community has a Zionist (fascist) problem. It's tragic to say the least that it's taken this level of atrocious violence on the part of Israel to start waking up some Jews in the diaspora about its evil nature. I think all along most Jews have had a positive view of Israel for the same reason most (at least most white) American citizens have a positive view of the US: because they see it as their home team. Many Americans want to think their country is essentially good, and many Jews have wanted to believe Israel is essentially good, because each group identifies with who they see as their own people. If their people aren't good, that reflects badly on them, so they deny most evidence to the contrary.
Don’t slander Fascists. They tried to stop this shit. But we killed them for it.
Amanda: che abrazo fraterno Amazonia-gui, Abya Yala. aguyjereko.