I’m no Middle East expert. And I bet most of you out there aren’t either. That doesn’t mean I can’t have an opinion, though. Unfortunately, emotions are running extremely high due to the nature of the conflict.
Dissent and disagreement were a given when we created this blog nearly five years ago. I expect and covet those who might not like my take on things. Not only is that healthy, but it also makes me think in new ways I may not have even considered. You’re never too old in this short life of ours to learn. Having an open mind is something we should all aspire to attain.
That said, I’ve learned since October 7, 2023, that the Middle East, even though it has faded from the news for various periods, remains one of the world’s most volatile and complex areas. And the terrorist attack on that horrific day confirmed it.
Ironically, I was in bed scrolling through Twitter at the exact time the terrorist attack was unfolding. I began seeing tweets from Israel from folks experiencing it in real-time. At first, I was curious to know if what I was reading was true. Whether we’re seeing real or fake news, it never used to be a thing; it is now. (If you noticed, I’m calling the platform in question Twitter, even though Elon Musk has changed it to X. I’m sorry, it’s still Twitter to me).
After several minutes, I concluded that the attack was indeed real. And when I woke up the next day, I began to realize how horrific it was. Indiscriminate killings, rapes, and kidnappings were going on as the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas was able to penetrate what was once thought to be an impenetrable Israeli security apparatus. 1,200 Israelis perished.
I knew at the time that Israel’s response was going to be overwhelming. I feared that they would go too far. I was correct.
As much as I detest what Twitter has become under the tutelage of Musk, I still frequent the space. It’s become, at times, a cesspool of misinformation, racism, anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, and the spreading of hate from numerous groups. Some were taken off the platform before Musk took over. Now, those same people are amplified. While Musk says it’s all about free speech, in essence, it’s been about promoting the worst form of human behavior we could ever imagine.
And the current Israeli, Hamas conflict has only exacerbated the problem. I’ve gotten into several arguments with folks on both sides of this conflict. And what I’ve determined about the whole ordeal is that understanding it requires nuanced thinking. These are disputes that have gone on for thousands of years. Nobody’s hands are clean.
Unfortunately, we have many in the United States and worldwide who do not have the ability or desire for such thinking. It’s black and white, with nothing in between. You either choose sides or sit this one out. That’s not how I see it. If I’m critical of one side, I can also be critical of the other.
For instance, the terror attack, in my opinion, was Israel’s 9/11. They’ve referred to it as that, and I think the comparison is accurate. Hamas committed unspeakable acts on unsuspecting innocent civilians. Israel had, and has, every right to defend itself against such a heinous and disgusting act of violence on its population.
However, I also believe that Israel must take greater care in not killing innocent Palestinian civilians as they conduct the war. So far, my fear of Israel going too far has been realized, with over 15,000 dead, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. And, after a slight pause when hostages were being released, the bombardment continued, with hundreds more being killed in just the last few days.
I can also state unequivocally that the current Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, is not a good man. He and his far-right government need to go. He should resign immediately, but I realize it will not happen because of the ongoing and fluid war.
According to Tom Friedman, the longtime New York Times columnist and Middle East expert, Netanyahu and the disgraced 45th United States president are cut from the same cloth. He joked that they were brothers from different mothers. Both are autocratic narcissists. And both are trying to dodge corruption and various charges from their judiciaries. Netanyahu tried to change the court several months ago by weakening it to the point he’d be much more likely to escape jail time.
The people of Israel protested by the thousands, taking to the streets in the months leading up to the massacre of October 7. Many experts blame Netanyahu for the attack due to the inner domestic turmoil he created. In other words, they were distracted and not prepared.
But blaming the current prime minister and his far-right government does not make me an anti-Semite. It’s entirely possible to be critical of the government and not the people of Israel. I can also criticize Hamas and its failure of governance in the Gaza Strip and not be considered Islamophobic. I don’t blame the Palestinian people. They deserve better.
It’s also okay to be critical of the current president of the United States, but some are going way too far. Yes, Biden went to Israel and embraced Netanyahu, pledging as much assistance as needed. You may not like that the United States has considered the country of Israel an important ally since its inception in 1948. But Genocide Joe? Is that how we should refer to President Biden? It’s how many on social media are referring to him, as well as the thousands protesting Israel’s bombardment of the Gaza Strip. The derogatory reference epitomizes the highly combustible nature of the current discourse.
Again, you may not like what the Biden administration is doing. But what they’ve been saying in public, and what they say they’re saying privately, demonstrates the nuanced view the conflict deserves. Sure, Israel has every right to defend itself. However, it must also protect civilian life much better than it’s presently doing.
And yes, the conflict is hot and ongoing, but the administration is pointedly telling Israel that they must decide what happens when the battle is over. The so-called two-state solution, the administration’s chosen goal, while certainly not perfect, must be the goal once hostilities end.
But there are some, in Israel, and quite frankly, among Palestinians themselves, who do not want a two-state solution. There are those on the far right in Israel who do not want to live side by side with Palestinians, just as there are Palestinians who won’t even recognize Israel’s right to exist. Hamas, to this day, is calling for the destruction of Israel. It’s what they believe.
How do you deal with those individuals who refuse to take yes for an answer under any circumstances? There is no nuance with them.
In the West Bank, a disputed area inhabited by nearly 3 million Palestinians, Israel has continued to build settlements. There are approximately 700,000 Israelis who live there. Netanyahu continued to allow building in the region, completely ignoring America’s demand that they stop. Some of the so-called Israeli settlers have engaged in violence against Palestinians. It’s just another hot spot in an area that explodes with intense hate and division even when there isn’t an ongoing war.
I worry that this conflict between Israel and Hamas risks even further damage to the overall fabric of our society in America. When you think it can’t get worse, something like war in the Middle East breaks out. And now it’s all out there for everyone to see. The anti-Semites are out in full force, as are the Muslim haters. The shooting in Burlington, Vermont, of the three Palestinian students encapsulates the continuing downward spiral of the political and religious discourse in America.
Many Muslim Americans are already declaring they will not vote for President Biden in 2024 due to his actions regarding the current conflict. Many young people, especially those on college campuses, also are declaring the same thing. They’ve taken sides; some are protesting outside Jewish restaurants, for example. How protesting outside a private business, simply because a Jewish person owns the place, is supposed to make a difference is anyone’s best guess. But that’s where we are.
Night after night, since October 7, I’ve watched the news, engaged with both sides on Twitter, and even had a few discussions with family and friends. I always try to be civil and explain where I’m coming from. I implore everyone to look at this conflict from a perspective that requires thinking that may not come easy.
I can only hope that a resolution comes quickly. World pressure is mounting against Israel. They’ve already gone too far, in my opinion. There must be a better way to root out Hamas. The longer this goes on, the risk of other countries and bad actors getting involved increases exponentially.
And that means the United States may get pulled deeper into the conflict. It would be a disaster that would only please a few dictators around the world, Vladimir Putin being number one. It takes the world’s eye off of his bloodthirsty terror campaign in Ukraine. The war in the Middle East couldn’t have happened at a better time for Putin.
Once again, understanding geopolitical foreign entanglements requires us to reach inside ourselves and try to sort it out. I’m all ears if anyone has a solution to the Middle East right now. Because I don’t see one. We can’t help but be horrified by what’s happening every night. We hear the stories of children dying, hospitals overrun, and the kind of humanitarian disaster we can’t even imagine.
Perhaps Israel decides to pause their offensive – only this time for a much more extended period. Maybe Hamas will release more hostages. Would they ever lay down their arms and ask for a negotiated end to the conflict? I highly doubt it. After all, to them, Israelis aren’t even humans worthy of existence. How can you deal with a group like that?
Let’s all agree that the conflict must come to an end. Sooner rather than later. Are we, the American people, capable of nuanced thinking regarding this conflict?
I’m not convinced we are.
On The Fence Voters 
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