An almost logical exchange about Israel and Palestine
On the one hand, you have raging anti-semites who smile nonchalantly as they dogwhistle for another holocaust on the streets of London.. On the other hand, you have rational people who sometimes critcize Israel’s actions as a nation state (myself included). The mainstream left-wing pro Palestine position seems to be somewhere between those two. It might look something like this:
Statement: Even if the attacks on Israel on Oct 7 were excessive, the Palestinians are justified in their struggle — which sometimes includes violence — as they live under dire conditions with limited political rights. This situation is a result of Israel's actions.
Question: Does the Palestinian leadership share some blame? And if so, does some of that blame extend to the Palestinian populace who've elected, those leaders?
Statement: No, the Palestinian people have been cornered. They've faced oppression for years. While the Palestinian leadership may share some blame, they are largely a product of the conditions Israel has imposed.
Question: Which conditions has Israel imposed?
Statement: Such as the blockade on Gaza and restrictions on the freedom of movement for the Palestinian people.
Question: As the Palestinians act under these constraints, are the Israelis also responding to their own circumstances, like feeling threatened or unsafe? couldn't the Israelis have concerns that a militarized Palestine might pose an existential threat?
Statement: No, the Israelis are not the oppressed party. The Israelis arrived and claimed Palestinian land. They should be ready to face the consequences of that risk.
They had choices to make. Being the dominant power, they should’ve granted Palestinians full political rights.
Question: So, by this logic, if you're oppressed, your actions are entirely reactive and without agency? when the Jews migrated in large numbers post World War 2, weren't they fleeing persecution and oppression?
If the asymmetry isn't evident already, here's the breakdown: There’s an inclination to ascribe excessive autonomy to the Israelis while denying any agency to the Palestinians. The conflict is framed as one where Palestinians are merely responding to their environment, while Israelis continue to consciously oppress them. Such reasoning is flawed, as becomes obvious when recalling the events that led to the creation of Israel in the first place, unless one holds deeply problematic views about inherent characteristics of these groups.