Yair Wallach

Stopping this descent requires facing some hard truths: the realisation that the violent and expansionist takeover of land resonates deep within Zionism. That realisation does not provide ready-made solutions; those don't really exist. But it's a starting point.

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And if you object to the terminology because it hurts your feelings, while avowing your opposition to those "Extremists", you won't be able to see this for what it is, and you let them drag down the entire Israeli society - and much of the Jewish diaspora - further into the abyss.

6/

If we are unable to call it for what it is, we won't be able to stop it. Because it's so embedded in Israeli state institutions, because the people leading the charge are so committed to this and they know to speak the language of "settlement" that resonates with early Zionism.

5/

And the question of ancient historical ties is beside the point. "Jewish Settlement is a national value" says the Basic Law: Israel as the Nation State of the Jewish People (2018). Jewish settlement is about non-Jews out and giving their land to Jews.

4/

This is more than bigotry or zeal. There's an entire state infrastructure behind these hoodlums, multiple state mechanisms which plan and facilitate the takeover of land and the dispossession of those currently living there. That's settler colonialism.

3/

"Fanatics" is not a good enough explanation. The West Bank Pogroms, like all pogroms, are violence with the backing of the state, and it is violence not "to keep Palestinians in their place" but rather the opposite, to make them leave their place, to take over their land.

2/

The reason the category of settler colonialism is so vital to the Palestine/Israel discussion is that you simply cannot understand contemporary Israeli policies without it, e.g. in West Bank. Otherwise people resort to talking about the problem as one of "fanatics" - and that's just unconvincing.
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And that stepbrother is terrible. A good enough reason not to vote for him

What I want to know is why is not every Labour MP on board with this simple and obvious policy.
OK, I don't expect Luke Akehurst to agree. But literally everyone else should.

Given that the UK's position in the last 50 years is that settlements are illegal and Israel cannot annex the West Bank, banning trade with West Bank settlements is really the absolutely minimal ask. It's pathetic that it hasn't happened.

When you grow up hearing things like this on the radio they sound normal. Takes a long time to understand they're not

This has been an explicit and publicly advertised Israeli modus operandi in Lebanon since the early 1990s at least

INSS poll on Israeli public opinion and the war. War desired outcome: "Jewish sector": 3% immediate ceasefire, 18% ceasefire after completing military aims, 74.% continue till regime change 5% don't know "Arab sector": 61% immediate ceasefire, 11.5% ceasefire after completing military aims, 17.% continue till regime change 10% don't know Arabs in green, Jews in light blue., overall in dark blue. From left to right: Highly support, support, oppose, strongly oppose, don't know

Where we see total difference is in desired outcome: most Palestinian citizens of Israel overwhelmingly want ceasefire, most Israeli Jews Jews overwhelmingly want war until regime change is achieved.

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INSS poll on Israeli public opinion and the war. Bottom chart: Arabs in green, Jews in light blue., overall in dark blue. From left to right: Highly support, support, oppose, strongly oppose, don't know

Finally, notice 38% of Palestinian citizens of Israel support the war in the survey (47% oppose). That's much lower than Jewish support (91%) - but still striking! showing that the view of Iran as a threat is widespread even among Palestinians.

6/

The gap here between Israeli/US public opinion is not only in attitudes to the war but also the urgency of the issue. For Israelis this is far more important. If and when this starts impacting ordinary life of Americans - it would rise in urgency.

5/

So in the US, we have a president hoping that a successful war distracts people from domestic issues, and in Israel, a PM hoping that a popular war wins him back the voters he lost three years ago.
Unclear if this would work for either of them.

4/

That's what he hoped for in June 25' - and it didn't work.

Israelis supported the June 25 war even more. And they considered it a victory. It didn't change Netanyahu's position in the polls one bit.

So he's trying again - maybe it would work this time?

3/

That support is the reason Netanyahu was so keen to launch the war. Most Israelis don't like him or his government. But war with Iran gets back-to-back support, and Netanyahu is hoping to ride the waves of victory to early elections (June?).

2/

Preliminary comment: People are never their governments. Sometimes they support their governments doing terrible things and sometimes they don't - but the distinction is always there. Society is not the state.

More specific comment re Israeli society overwhelmingly supporting the war ->

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119 UK Parliamentarians call for further sanctions on Israel and a total ban on all trade and interaction with illegal Israeli settlements in letter to @yvettecooper-mp.bsky.social following yet further illegal Israeli government measures in the occupied State of Palestine. caabu.org/news/news/11...

if you are "asking the question" - about Jews, Muslims, Armenians, whatever group it is - you're asking the wrong question

"They"? the entire Jewish population of LA? the USA?

calling anyone "disingenuous" is an ugly thing to say, I don't understand why you follow me if you think I'm a liar

This gets into the question of how useful ethical language is in politics. I generally prefer not to make ethical arguments because I think they already assume common understanding and knowledge about the world which doesn't necessarily exists.

Jewish Groups Are Backing a War Americans Don’t Want And they’re setting up American Jews to take the blame.

PS this thread is following @joshnathankazis.bsky.social piece, and some critical responses to it jewishcurrents.org/jewish-group...

Limor Son Har Melech and her husband Yehuda in their Purim costumes.

Death, occupation, ethnic cleansing, colonisation: this is the Israeli government's version of Zionism and Judaism, 2025. This is Kahanism. This is the hegemonic state ideology in Israel. Only a minority of Israeli Jews pursue it (25-40%) but there's no coherent political alternative.

Limor Son Har Melech and her husband Yehuda in their Purim costumes.

Her husband dressed up as the right wing's political project:
-Occupation (gun)
-Expulsion (airplane that will take Palestinians away)
-Settlement (house)

Limor Son Har Melech and her husband Yehuda in their Purim costumes.

Purim costumes:
MK Limor Son Har Melech, deputy speaker of the Knesset and member of Jewish Power (Ben Gvir's party), dressed up as an executioner, to celebrate the death penalty law her party are pushing (with government support, to apply only to Palestinians).

מניח שזה בגלל שהם הסכימו לדרישת הפנטגון לאפשר להם לבנות סוכני בינה מלאכותית שהורגים בני אדם בלי ביקורת אנושית
להבדיל מאנתרופיק שסרבו ולכן הם עכשיו אויבי האומה האמריקאית

But if you're not convinced by all these, please consider the risks of this going all wrong for the US and becoming an antisemitic rallying cry: the Jews are to blame. This is playing with fire.

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