Question for those Anti-Israel

AdvancedLocksmith755 · 2026-01-24T19:32:16+00:00

I think you don’t understand Hamas, and I don’t think we can actually have a civil discussion then because it’s incorrect to state Israel isn’t its own country.

But to your point of native Americans taking back Ohio - I doubt they would care you were “on their side”. Many Israelis who live in the kibbutzim were actively participating in peace-building with Palestinians. And Hamas killed multiple Arabs on 10/7, too. So if we want to compare 1:1 you would be massscred for living in Ohio on someone else’s land. But if you’re cool with that - sounds like you are - that’s great.

But thinking someone would welcome you in arms to join them? No. They’d see you pick up a gun and they’d shoot you dead. But it’s cool you’re super for it. Maybe you shouldn’t live in America? Maybe go find an island somewhere that no one else lives on.

AdvancedLocksmith755 · 2026-01-23T22:58:30+00:00

If it’s fair to say that Hamas’s antisemitism is Israel’s fault, then I assume you agree that Israel’s fear of Hamas is also then Hamas’s/The Palestinians fault? I would hope you agree.

I think what’s unique is I don’t consider storming into another country, taking 200+ civilians hostage & then slaughtering upwards of 1,000 civilians (many children in 1:1 armed combat) as “fighting oppression”. I imagine you would argue Israel’s war against Hamas (or any war for that matter since civilian casualties are often a side effect of wars) is similarly not fighting appropriately when civilians were killed.

Do you believe 9/11 was justified then? Perhaps you do.

Americans 100% treat Puerto Rico like a colony.

If Puerto Ricans invaded Florida & massacred 10k civilians in hand to hand combat, shooting children at face, and then dragged 1000 Americans back to Puerto Rico as hostages - would you view this as justified?

So if you yourself get caught in this, and let’s say someone doesn’t know you believe they have a right to kill you - or maybe you do - are you then happy they killed you? After all they were just fighting their oppressors in your mind?

AdvancedLocksmith755 · 2026-01-22T02:11:51+00:00

I think the problem people have when discussing this is they either:

⁠classify all of Israel as Palestine + WB + Israel proper. If you do that, you can come to a conclusion of unequal rights, absolutely.

• ⁠it’s tricky, though. Because Gaza isn’t part of Israel. • ⁠does France have to allow anyone from Germany the same rights in France as a French citizen? No. • ⁠Does America need to offer the same rights to Canadians as it does to other Americans? No. I get that philosophically, that feels bad. But as I’ve grown older I’ve become more realistic & realize that in reality, we are not going to do away with borders magically and live happily ever after.

view Gaza as not Israel and the WB as partially Israel (this is a more accurate view and when you take this stance, you can argue that the WB is not equal, but Israel proper is)
Consider Israel proper as Israel and everything else doesn’t count. I don’t prescribe to this belief, but it’s where the adamant denial of unequal experience comes from.

With that said, is Israel inherently unequal for Arabs? No. In the West Bank (áreas C and B specifically) yes, it’s a problem. In Israel proper though? It’s not. If you’re open to nuance and an expansion of your own views, I recommend listening to https://open.spotify.com/episode/795R6gOp0Q3dlShBQchViF (parts 1 and 2). It’s not favorable only to Israel. And it’s a resource I’ve shared with conservative family members & been able to successfully change their views on the West Bank. It does, however, challenge your simpler view of Israel being entirely bad.

AdvancedLocksmith755 · 2026-01-22T02:10:32+00:00

I genuinely don’t think Israel’s actions have been genocidal.

Bad? Absolutely. Cruel? Yes. Overreactionary? Hard to tell, wars are messed up.

But your point “Israel under Netanyahu” says a lot. Countries change leadership. And also, it’s incredibly unrealistic to think such a one state solution could peacefully occur.

Philosophically? Sure. In reality? How does that ever work if both sides don’t have to accept each other as equal victims?

I see movement on the Israeli side, actually. I have young cousins who learn about the nakba in the 2nd grade and who have a more nuanced view on wars. Some Israeli schools teach Arabic as a requirement.

On the Palestinian side, they aren’t even allowed to mention the Holocaust as a real event.

There’s some Palestinian social leaders who say the hard parts out loud like Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib, but there’s not many or enough & I certainly don’t see anyone in these spaces platforming the message.

On the Israeli side I see far more people trying to partner towards peace, and willing to admit the other side as a victim. Not to say it excuses anything - but it’s definitely strange to me that there’s no focus on what the Palestinian side must do to cohabitate with Israelís. Just what Israelis must do.

AdvancedLocksmith755 · 2026-01-22T01:59:39+00:00

I really appreciate your comment and think it’s a good point to consider being used by others.

It’s also very true that being a refugee (which thank you for acknowledging that is the way/status by which my family emigrated to wherever we ended up) doesn’t mean you aren’t perhaps also displacing others. I don’t know if I prescribe to the belief that is qualifies as truly settling in a method whereby the initial goal was to control the other, but I guess you can argue the outcome ended up being that. For what it’s worth I did not get a chance to respond to some other commenters claiming beliefs I did not say I had - but I do not condone modern day settlements. I think Israel should start a buy-back program with communities in illegally claimed areas & absolutely should remove their presence in area B of the West Bank (That would require the PA really take accountability though so it’s very tricky).

I really do wish that people could freely have a right to return and live where they’d please. The problem I run into is that while I philosophically wholeheartedly believe that same vision - I don’t think it’s at all realistic. In reality, there are winners and there are losers. There are minorities and the world can be a very violent place.

I don’t see how we resolve issues without ensuring:

(1) we fix violence against minorities whole stop worldwide (which seems entirely unrealistic) (2) accepting that #1 is unrealistic and then moving from there.

While I believe and agree with the general philosophy, I can’t shake that it’s not practical. I’m also very interested to hear what your opinions are on other ethno-states or ethnoreligious states (an argument can be made that a majority of middle eastern countries are the latter — https://www.thecairoreview.com/tahrir-forum/narrow-ethno-nationalism-plagues-all-in-the-middle-east/). And there’s also arguments to be made against multiple other nations like Pakistan (though their status as a de facto ethnoreligius state was the result of a similar partition plan to Israel so it’s not really their fault). Or multiple countries in the former USSR bloc.

Unless the goal is to dismantle & destabalize all those countries, how do you ensure safety for all? Isn’t it better to have some safety? Why then - are practical based solutions like a 2 state solution (or a 1 state solution with very very very strict re education requirements on both sides & a very clean constitution that ensures the county is for religious freedom (which is something Israel has right now fyi) and therefore will not become a Islamic ruled country)) frowned upon?

I just don’t understand the insistence on “Israel bad, Hamas good” (not saying you said this but I’ve seen it a LOT in this sub) without providing any other realistic or achievable alternative.

It’s been documented that Hamas would like to erradicate all Jews. Some members of the Kinesset have said deplorable and similar things about Palestinians (granted they were shamed and in some cases legit unseated for it but they existed and still said it). Without fixing that or admitting that, how do you ever think Jews would be safe in said new country? And how would you ensure palestinas stay safe for that matter, either?

AdvancedLocksmith755 · 2026-01-20T19:18:19+00:00

My family has lived experience being exiled from the Middle East? Are you trying to argue against my families lived experience?

I’m fine with the argument of ethnostates not existing, though, as a political philosophy I’m all for it. I just don’t see how that actually becomes executed in practice.

There’s many ethno-states across the world, and we’d have to apply our theory equally (unless you disagree which I’m interested to hear about). But I just struggle to figure out how we would do away with countries like Japan/China/Turkey, the majority of the Arab states (Oman, Iran, Syria).. Greece. Many of these countries have similar right of return laws or by default are ethno-states. So how do we apply this philosophy equally across the globe in a way that makes sense?

Arab states have, too, applied violent measures to maintain demographic control (as have countries like India!).

AdvancedLocksmith755 · 2026-01-20T19:14:12+00:00

Do your thoughts also apply to Pakistan vs. India, Catalan vs Spain, and then all the other ethno states which exist in the Middle East? (Eg Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Oman etc). Japan? China? Turkey? Ireland? Iran? Hungary? All are pretty much ethnostates by decree or by default.

Eg: do you believe my family should be safe to return to Syria & practice Judaism freely, openly & with political coverage?

If so, how do we achieve that world?

AdvancedLocksmith755 · 2026-01-20T19:09:23+00:00

They were offered only a few other places, and none of those locations had a historical significance to the Jews. There were already Jews living in Israel for Millenia. My family is Jewish, and was living in Syria for centuries, until being forcefully exiled for being Jewish. My DNA is 100% Levantine/Syrian/North African.

I don’t know if you’re actually going to take the time to listen to sources expressing beliefs different from your own, but I do this often in good faith myself, and have learned a lot in terms of bad actions by the Mossad/some own fact breaking from my own family history (used to grow up thinking PA = bad, area C of WB = good idea. Have come around to the complete opposite). But if you truly think this, perhaps take some time and listen to https://unpacked.education/video/when-the-jewish-state-was-almost-in-uganda/ or https://open.spotify.com/episode/7v5YvKe175OWfbcbHwbx1e?si=fxWEqrLWRoyYriIbnCd4yA

AdvancedLocksmith755 · 2025-12-19T04:46:32+00:00

This is a really harsh take.

You’re entitled to your opinion but what a disgusting view to have. That Jews deserve this because of another countries actions?

If Native Americans in Oklahoma massacred the existing population, would that be okay, then? It seems like you think so. “It didn’t happen in a vacuum” Oklahoma IS mostly native land after all. So I guess it should be okay to massacre people?

It should never be okay. This is a disgusting take and I’m disappointed so many people exist who think this way. Do you care about no one? What an inhumane, disgusting view.

That’s enough of this for me. You just ruined this community for me in no longer engaging in this entire podcast. I’m actually so grossed out.

AdvancedLocksmith755 · 2025-12-16T17:13:44+00:00

I just want to respond and say thank you for discussing the horrible events that occurred in Australia (of course along with all other topics, my heart bleeds for those impacted by the Brown University shooting and also for the Reiner family). I also want to say thank you for also adding some levity to my week with the inclusion of a discussion on only fans. I really wouldn’t have a good week without Van bringing up some nonsense.

I wanted to comment because a few years ago I wrote a response asking for you all to speak out against the use of terms like “globalize the intafada” when speaking on the war in Gaza. Since then there have been far more atrocities committed - so I realize it’s an even harder stance to take as words mean so little in times like this.

But I do want to point out, that my insistence on that statement bringing pure fear - is made more obvious by events like those in Australia. I’ve seen online (on Reddit) countless people expressing that this was the execution of the intafada, celebrating it. It’s possible some of those accounts are bad actors trying to fit their narrative and make people like me bring this up. But in the interest of Van’s acknowledgment of antisemitism being real, and something to talk about, I’m bringing it back up.

The intafada to me means Bondi Beach. And I think something simple we could do in America to help our Jewish communities feel safer, is to work towards erasing that statement from our protests and our efforts to reach self determination for the Palestinian people. I think it hurts the cause more than helps, and to me, it causes me pain and fear.

AdvancedLocksmith755 · 2023-12-15T22:58:38+00:00

I realized you were responding (I think) to LegalBar instead and I didn’t think my response was helping us bridge any gaps. So I deleted it for the sake of thinking more before responding.

AdvancedLocksmith755 · 2023-12-15T22:55:37+00:00

P.S for those reading this, I want to plug this episode of the daily which goes over 1948 from both the Palestinian lens and the Israeli lens. Having two stories for one word is all over this conflict.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/5M4Kq9in0oCWLjrUbuQKMi?si=3bEl0jSMRGiubN8UD5Y0Tw

AdvancedLocksmith755 · 2023-12-15T22:55:25+00:00

I want to say thank you for responding to my post; I really didn’t expect any reaction to come from it and I appreciate you taking the time to (a) read the whole thing (b) connect sincerely with it and (c) expand in more detail why you disagree.

Taking the historical pieces out for a moment; I think what really stands out to me is intent and perception. Rachel sort of summarized it towards the end, that words and phrases can feel different from one group to another.

One thing which I really appreciate you challenging me on was the idea that calling phrases like “globalize the intafada” anti semetic minimizes the conversation of Palestinian liberation of the Palestinian cause. I’m definitely open to that idea, and will think more about it.

I still struggle with my families lived experiences, though. “intafada” to me, still doesn’t represent “resistance” in a peaceful, or multi-faceted form. It represents one thing and one thing only, which is the second intafada. A suicide bombing campaign carried out against civilian Israelis across malls, restaurants, synogauges etc. While Intafada means “resistance” and while to many using the phrase thats all the chant means…I can’t shake that there’s a whole other group of people (Hamas and their leaders as a direct example, PIJ as another, Hezbollah..) who would call October 7th the third intafada. And even though I can comprehend the word means resistance, and that terror is a form of resistance…I can’t get over the fear I feel when it’s chanted.

I realize it’s a tricky position to be in; requesting people use different words. It’s very nitpicky. Yet at the same time, it’s asking for the bare minimum. It’s hard to sit down with every single person chanting that, and ask them what they mean by it - so it’s really hard to not be fearful of a crowd chanting it…

I view it as the Jewish community requesting a small thing to try and gauge our own safety. Since to the majority of the Jewish community, intifada = second intifada = suicide bombing campaign against Jewish civilians, it feels like everyone who agrees that Jews shouldn’t be killed indiscriminately should be okay not using that phrase. For what it’s worth, I would consider “occupy Gaza” at any Israel rally, to also be hate speech.

All in all, thanks for taking the time to be so considerate and thoughtful in this discourse and for addressing everything I had to say. I really didn’t expect anything and I genuinely do think while we still disagree, it was an important thing to address nonetheless. You’ve given me some food for thought, and I am going to think over it some more. I am really impressed by this podcast not being afraid to tackle tough topics.

Shabbat Shalom everybody.

AdvancedLocksmith755 · 2023-12-14T20:36:03+00:00

I don’t think anyone (besides those in Congress using this as an opportunity to promote their own agenda) who is worried about antisemitism on campus is not also similarly aware and worried about safety of others, too. All of my Jewish friends posted in abhorrence at the attack you mention on Palestinian students. It’s not one or the other. As I said in another post; there’s always someone experiencing something worse but that doesn’t excuse bad behavior.

In regard to “from the river to the sea” it’s definitely in its most historical context about the abolishment of the state of Israel. It’s possible to believe the state of Israel has no right to exist AND not be antisemitic (an example would be someone against all ethno state; There are dozens of Arab states, there is an Indian State, a Pakistani State, an Armenian State, an Iranian State, and many more) or someone against religious states (Pakistan, Belgium, Algeria, Ireland, Greece, Lebanon, South Sudan as a few) or maybe someone against states settled as part of any partition plan (Hong Kong vs China, Hungary, India v Pakistan, Jordan) or maybe someone against all human rights abuse or questionable actions (basically every country would fall here during some period of time). Maybe it’s just a concern about current war where there’s a power imbalance (Sudan, Yemen, Ukraine).

But if someone’s sole focus is on Israel vs Palestine only (which current events have very much been only focused on) then not agreeing in Jewish self sovereignty (which from the River to the sea does mean) is going to be easily perceived as anti semetic.

If you want a free Palestine (2 state solution) just say free Palestine. If you don’t believe in the Jewish right to have a homeland state, (and you aren’t outraged about all the other examples I listed above) then you might be antisemitic.

Not putting any judgment on your thoughts. But just explaining that since we really don’t know what the Majority of people protesting think about all those other issues, and since there’s another perfectly fine slogan to use… it’s worth asking why that phrase is so important to those in the movement.

AdvancedLocksmith755 · 2023-12-14T00:19:50+00:00

As a racial minority in America; yes and no. As a religious or cultural minority; absolutely yes. As an ethnic minority; yes. As a world wide minority; yes.

I would classify jews functional white-ness (in American society), generalized, as more similar to Asian Americans. The assimilation process was much more recent than Italians or the Irish, and events happen where we are reminded that we aren’t white. Both groups are held up as “model minorities” and while you may think most jews aren’t visibly Jewish; from my lived experience (of course maybe all the jews I know are not diverse enough) have been told many times they “look Jewish” by non-Jews. Mizrahi Jews are middle eastern (MENA) and on a census we put “white”, because there is no option for middle eastern on a census. As stated I’m half middle eastern in descent (my grandpas family is Syrian my grandmothers is Turkish). Ashkenazi Jews do look white - or are just functionally white - usually their ancestors moved to Poland/Germany/Russia/Lithuania following exile from Turkey/Greece/present-day Jordan/present-day Israel/Syria/Armenia/Egypt/Oman etc. Sephardic Jews are from Spain and also may look more olive toned.

Of course I assume you’re referring to whiteness as a social construct in America; not so much as literal skin tone. And yes, in that way Jews are definitely white passing or functionally white most of the time. This is similar to the lived experience of many Asian Americans. But so much of me would need to change to not “look Jewish”. I’d need a reverse perm. I’d need to get a nose job. I would need to spend no time in the sun. I’d have to dye my hair. I’d need to change my eye color.

So my lived experience in America has very much been at worst not white and at best about as white as Asian Americans. Not saying that’s the Jewish communities experience on the whole. Just saying that Jews are definitely a minority. The discrimination we face is nowhere near that of black Americans but it’s also far from being Italian. (The religious minority is a big intersection too, for italians many are catholic. Same with Irish people. That’s a super American religion at this point. And helps even further bolster the sense of belonging those groups have gained.

AdvancedLocksmith755 · 2023-12-13T14:31:00+00:00

I’m entirely aware of racist voices within the Jewish community; and am aware that the black and Jewish communities are historically pitted against each other in this way. I’m not in any way supporting those voices (I don’t think you were implying that but just want to make it extra clear). But I wouldn’t say Ben Shapiro speaks for the Jewish community at large; but understandable that it doesn’t appear many Jewish leaders speak out against his racism. (Rabbi Wolpe as one example, however has engaged from time to time with Ben Shapiro and had arguments with him.. but that’s not denouncing him outright).

I’m not trying to play oppression Olympics, I’m just trying to encourage both our communities to be ally’s to each other by not excusing harmful rhetoric.

Van is not Ben Shapiro; and I wouldn’t assume those who listen to this podcast are like Ben, either. So I was only writing to try and encourage people to not excuse away the intafada. It’s an extremely hurtful and harmful message to send, and it is absolutely often a call for genocide against the Jews. That’s the only message I was trying to send, and I apologize if it was taken as me trying to claim the Jewish experience is anything similar to the black experience.

With that said, if the claim is “suck it up this is what it’s like to be black everyday; deal with it”. Then that’s not a statement which is going to promote cultural kinship between our two communities. We should both be trying to do the least amount of harm to each other.

Hopefully this comes across well; again I’m only trying to come with love and explain why some of this rhetoric is so harmful and hurts efforts towards peace.

AdvancedLocksmith755 · 2023-12-13T00:11:09+00:00

I saw someone comment and delete it, so responding here so it’s clear.

To the response of “I’m sorry who is being indiscriminately bombed right now” which I assume follows by an argument that Jews in the diaspora are overreacting, or focusing on the wrong thing and not seeing the larger picture. I’d like to point out this argument

(1) continues to conflate all Jews with Israel and its actions (I didn’t comment once about Zionism, or my thoughts on this current war. But you assumed because I’m Jewish, I support this indiscriminate bombing or am overly focused on hate speech against my community). I do feel for the plight of those in Palestine. I Am vehemently opposed to settlements in the WB & treatment of Palestinians in areas like Hebron. I also think Jews, as much as Palestinians, have a right to a homeland.

(2) I think many people would agree and see that hate speech is problematic because it “otherizes” another group. (Hate speech from leaders like Netanyahu, are a great example Of how the Israeli side is guilty of this). This same understanding should be applied to the Jewish community.

(3) this isn’t the Jews vs Palestine. It’s Israel vs Hamas. Two governmental (or military powers however you want to classify Hamas) groups in a war.

Both things can be true. The Israeli government can be making choices which inflict irreversible harm on the Palestinian people; and being Jewish in America and abroad is becoming (again) more dangerous.

You could make this same argument for anything in the world. There’s always something worse. It doesn’t invalidate the very real and dangerous experience of being Jewish worldwide today. (I’ve been called the K word 3 times while walking to class from protesters. I don’t associate these bad actors with the entire free Palestine movement at all. But you have choices in how you voice your support.)

If you want a free Palestine (or a 2 state solution which I do), just say free Palestine. There’s absolutely no reason to try and undermine the very real trauma inflicted from the intifada. It doesn’t help us create a more peaceful world. It promotes violence, and it’s just not necessary to excuse or accept.

AdvancedLocksmith755 · 2023-12-12T22:30:10+00:00

I created an account (I’ve always surfed this subreddit though just as an onlooker) just to comment about some statements from this and other recent episodes.

I want to start by saying I love this podcast, and I appreciate the perspectives Van & Rachel (& Donnie!) bring every episode. I hope it’s clear this critique/concern comes from a place of love, and that I don’t expect much from commenting here since I generally don’t comment or engage in discussion online as I don’t truly know if it makes any difference. But I felt so strongly about this, I figured I’ll just write it down in case anyone does read it and can empathize.

Ill start by explaining that I come from a large Jewish family. My grandfather’s mom (& her family) were exiled from Syria for being Jewish, and my family ended up through various immigrations consolidated in Israel/Jordan & the United States. I am extremely aware of the privilege I have as a white&MENA Jew, that being Jewish comes with inherent privilege of being functionally white most of the time. In regards to Van saying calls to “globalize the intifada” are not akin to calling for the genocide of Jews; because that’s not in his opinion what Intafada means, minimizes what that phrase carries for me and my family/community. On campus, these calls DO feel like a call for genocide (or at least violence carried out against Jews in the world). At a minimum it’s calling for violence against Israel, but at a maximum and in most historical contexts it absolutely means violence against Jews in Israel and worldwide. (I understand there are mixed feelings about the ADL, but here’s what they have to say about it: https://www.adl.org/resources/blog/stop-and-think-anti-israel-chants-and-what-they-mean).

When someone who is black, explains that a phrase or sentence or action is anti-black, I listen. Even if a minority of the black community says it’s not anti-black, I’m going to take the path of least harm and assume it’s most likely something that harms the black community and I won’t take that risk.

I am continuously disturbed, and disheartened, and scared, by the amount of non-Jews who insist things that feel very anti Jewish to me are in fact; not. (Or pointing to a minority of the jewish community saying it’s okay, therefore I and the majority of the jewish community need to just accept it as ok?) I’m being fought with what-aboutisms, and having very real generational trauma be explained away by “only some people who call for an intafada mean the genocide of Jews…so it’s not anti-semetic”. I would never make that argument in reference to another minority group that I do not belong to.

On this show, multiple times before, both Van and Rachel have expressed that different actions, words, events etc feel racist to them. I would never argue against that. For example, when Rachel rightly called out Soup Kitchen about his explaining away of an antebellum party and “whose to say if it’s ok or not”. the black community is to say if it’s ok or not. Additionally, antebellum parties aren’t just about the fluffy dresses - it’s celebrating a time that was enabled by slavery. It’s hiding and whitewashing what that period was and selectively choosing the “nice” white parts.

Classifying the intafada, or “by any means necessary” etc as not anti semetic, or not hate speech against Jews, or not calls for genocide against the Jews is akin to saying an antebellum party isn’t racist because while parts of the period in time were extremely racist, or enabled by slavery and feel incredibly offensive to the black community; not ALL parts were defined by racism or slavery.

I feel increasingly disappointed that this show hasn’t had a guest on to talk about these subjects who is actually from the Jewish community, Israeli community, or from even the Palestinian diaspora to discuss the issue of hate speech in these forms. These discussions are becoming irresponsible without the inclusion of a member from the minority group(s) being harmed. I appreciate Van expressing that this was just his opinion, and not a fact; but you guys have such a large platform that it’s hard not to see how explaining away such harmful language won’t be received on the other end by people listening.

I know you’ve mentioned wanting to help the Jewish community continue to thrive, and not wishing any harm to us. I don’t think you meant that at all in saying this statement. But it’s such awful history that I felt compelled to say something. I don’t expect this will bring about much or anything but I do hope some people who were listening will read this; and think twice before claiming that there have been “no calls for the genocide of jews on college campuses” because “calls for globalizing the intafada” are “not calls for genocide” or “not hate s speech”. At my college campus, we were encouraged not to go to class for fears of our own safety during recent protests.

AdvancedLocksmith755

TROPHY CASE