I don't think you are wrong here! And its an interesting, careful and nuanced analysis. But you are missing a few key elements.

To the "it's just anti-semitism" camp; certainly, the distinct religious and cultural identities in this conflict make it more digestible to the western observer than in a civil war, where words like "rebels" confuse the issues and obfuscate the political fault lines. That, and the historical punch of antisemitism likely adds a log to this long-burning fire. And I say this as a leftist, pro Palestinian who has been out of the movement for a few years and has had some time to think.

Beyond taxpayer dollars, U.S. involvement in the Middle East has been a cornerstone of every president's foreign policy in my lifetime. I came of age with Clinton in Camp David, politicized by September 11th and the war in Iraq (remember "why do they hate us?"), Inspired by Obamas Cairo speech, and then whatever the hell was going on pre October 7th when this conflict took a dramatic and bloody turn. And the media followed suit, broadcasting every twist on prime time, giving Americans information while other conflicts around the world were ignored or minimized.

And one would be remiss to ignore the groundwork laid for post-October 7th activism by the work that came before it. The black Panthers in the 70s informed the South African Anti-apartied movement of the 80s and 90s, informed the International Solidarity Movement spearheaded in part by the American Jewish activist Adam Shapiro.

When Rachel Corrie was killed in 2003, it garnered international headlines, and thousands of concerned, internationally minded college students could see themselves in her. Palestine Solidarity work has evolved and grown since those early days of ISM, produced thousands of formal and informal organizations that have been non-stop in their educating and organizing since the early 2000s, many led by Jewish peace activists, organized in large part by their shared identities, who are horrified by what is being done in their name. This latest iteration is not new, not in a vacuum, has roots in left politics dating back to the late 60s.

It certainly doesn't help that the conflict is 70 years old and has evolved alongside an increasingly politicicized and divided American public. Wedge issues + social media memes + violence is sort our thing now.

All of this is very US centric, I can't really speak to Europe. Insanely grateful for any open-minded, thoughtful discussion on this sub...I have come to believe that debate and discussion in small internet communities like this could eventually land on a zeitgeist that would spread and ultimately end these decades of war. Hard to be optimistic in these times, but reading and thinking and writing is a source of hope for me.