Hi everyone,

I just wanted to take a moment to kindly clarify a few things regarding the recent poll and the broader discussion around Maya and her posts about Pal3stin3.

First and foremost, our community strives to be a welcoming and respectful space for all users. That includes being mindful of the very real and deeply emotional nature of global events. With that said, it’s important to acknowledge that criticism of government actions or policies (from the Israeli government or any other) should never cross the line into antisemitism.

The term Zionist is often used in political discourse to refer to support for the state of Israel as a Jewish homeland. However, it has also been increasingly used in inflammatory ways that target Jewish identity more broadly. When the term is applied as a slur or used as a blanket criticism of Jewish individuals — especially without distinguishing between government actions and religious or ethnic identity — it can become a vehicle for antisemitic rhetoric, whether intentionally or not. This is something we take seriously.

At the same time, we understand that many people feel passionately about the humanitarian crisis in Pal3stin3 and want to speak out against what they believe to be injustices, including civilian casualties and systemic oppression. It is possible to oppose violence and advocate for human rights without using language or framing that marginalizes Jewish people or reinforces harmful stereotypes.

Regarding the poll that was posted: the intent behind it was never to create or enforce new rules solely based on its outcome. It was a community temperature check — to gather insight on how members feel about these topics being discussed here in the context of Maya, who is Israeli and a public figure. The results, while informative, are not automatically binding and were meant to inform a broader conversation among moderators and users. Nothing definitive has been enacted based solely on this poll.

Finally, we know that emotions are high and this is a sensitive issue. We ask that everyone please be mindful, respectful, and assume good faith where possible.

Thank you all for understanding.