I've really loved the rest of your historical content, but as I fundamentally disagree with your point of view on this, I will be ending my subscription.
A Zionist perspective is believing in the existence of Israel. To that, we certainly do. We also believe deeply in a Palestinian state and hope that future leaders of the Palestinian people will want to live peacefully next to Israel. Hamas has clearly stated they don't want that.
This is extremely biased and one sided. What should be clear as a historian or someone who studies current affairs, is that you must look at both sides. This very specifically shows only one narrative: that Palestinians did this to themselves and their acts are barbaric. This misses huge amounts of important details, such as all of the offers of hostage releases that Israel has rejected.
Hi Colette, thank you for your feedback. We certainly hear you on the need to look at both sides and do strive for that. But, in our opinion, some things don't have a both sides perspective (i.e slavery, the Holocaust). October 7 is such an event. What happened that day was barbaric, and was done during a ceasefire time. And Hamas leaders commentary after the day does suggest that they wanted to start a war, even with knowing the effect that would have on the people in Gaza.
As for the hostage release offers. We don't agree that civilians, especially young children and the elderly should be exchanged for people who have committed terrorism, and especially with the Hamas demands for each hostage. At the very least, all those hostages should have been released without any trade. As they weren’t, the Hamas offers don't seem like reasonable proposals, especially given Hamas’ vow to continue attacking Israel.
I am very disappointed to see this current affairs piece. I do not agree with any part of this piece as it downgrades the Palestinian argument to being worthless and the Israeli argument to be justified. For a historian to make this argument makes me question your judgment otherwise. This reads like an argument you'd find on the Likud website or in a press conference by Netanyahu, or any of the reportedly liberal publications in the U.S., with a siege mentality toward Israel, ignoring it is the aggressor in this conflict. The current conflict is not something that the Palestinians did to themselves. Such a narrative is faulty. I'm not sure how "non-violent solutions" are possible when Israel is bombing Gazans to death. There HAVE been calls for release of hostages by many organizations (including in U.N. resolutions and even in the ICJ preliminary decision arguing that there is probable genocide in Gaza by Israel against Palestinians). But, Israel has rejected deals to release them in exchange for Palestinian prisoners time and again, and refuses to end the conflict. Hamas only exists as a reaction to Israeli actions. You can disagree with what they've done, but to ignore this fact is a problem. To post this after tens of thousands of Palestinians have died is not only unfortunate, but sickening. If you actually want to recognize the "horrid nature" of the war, read some perspectives from Palestinians and others critical of Israel's military actions. Hear what Palestinians are saying! Like another commenter said, I will be un-subscribing and will not be including links to your newsletter within mine going forward.
Hi Burkely, thank you for your feedback. While the current conflict isn’t something the Palestinian people did to themselves, it is something that their government chose to do. Hamas chose to attack on October 7, commit all the heinous acts done that day, and take hostages, many of whom are young children and elderly people. Then, Hamas officials publicly stated they would do it again, and again. It’s reasonable to take away from their comments that Hamas wanted war.
As for the hostage release offers. We don't agree that civilians, especially young children and the elderly should be exchanged for people who have committed terrorism, and especially with the Hamas demands for each hostage. At the very least, all those hostages should have been released without any trade. As they weren’t, the Hamas offers don't seem like reasonable proposals, especially given Hamas’ vow to continue attacking Israel.
And while the argument that Hamas exists as a reaction to Israeli actions may have some truth, why do they have language in their founding charter about killing all Jewish people?
Zionists are lying about their own religion. They are NOT Gods chosen-they are imposters. The Torah forbids Jews from having a nation state until their Messiah arrives. Their Messiah has not arrived, yet, CLAIMING the identity of the Torah Jews, they went ahead and created a Jewish state, nullifying their own Torah. Then, they broke Gods tenents, and continue to do so. 1. ALL LIFE IS SACRED (thou shall not kill); love thy neighbour. The Israeli Zionists are a political entity - whose goal is to steal the land from the indigenous, Palestine people. God have mercy. The world has its eyes opened to the 75 years of occupation-yes. The IDF routinely terrorizes the Palestinians.
I've really loved the rest of your historical content, but as I fundamentally disagree with your point of view on this, I will be ending my subscription.
We understand, but do hope you stay and share alternative points of view. Thank you for your kind words about our history stories.
I feel exactly the same way. It is clearly a Zionist view and this conflict has really unmasked people who have that viewpoint, sadly.
A Zionist perspective is believing in the existence of Israel. To that, we certainly do. We also believe deeply in a Palestinian state and hope that future leaders of the Palestinian people will want to live peacefully next to Israel. Hamas has clearly stated they don't want that.
This is extremely biased and one sided. What should be clear as a historian or someone who studies current affairs, is that you must look at both sides. This very specifically shows only one narrative: that Palestinians did this to themselves and their acts are barbaric. This misses huge amounts of important details, such as all of the offers of hostage releases that Israel has rejected.
Hi Colette, thank you for your feedback. We certainly hear you on the need to look at both sides and do strive for that. But, in our opinion, some things don't have a both sides perspective (i.e slavery, the Holocaust). October 7 is such an event. What happened that day was barbaric, and was done during a ceasefire time. And Hamas leaders commentary after the day does suggest that they wanted to start a war, even with knowing the effect that would have on the people in Gaza.
As for the hostage release offers. We don't agree that civilians, especially young children and the elderly should be exchanged for people who have committed terrorism, and especially with the Hamas demands for each hostage. At the very least, all those hostages should have been released without any trade. As they weren’t, the Hamas offers don't seem like reasonable proposals, especially given Hamas’ vow to continue attacking Israel.
I am very disappointed to see this current affairs piece. I do not agree with any part of this piece as it downgrades the Palestinian argument to being worthless and the Israeli argument to be justified. For a historian to make this argument makes me question your judgment otherwise. This reads like an argument you'd find on the Likud website or in a press conference by Netanyahu, or any of the reportedly liberal publications in the U.S., with a siege mentality toward Israel, ignoring it is the aggressor in this conflict. The current conflict is not something that the Palestinians did to themselves. Such a narrative is faulty. I'm not sure how "non-violent solutions" are possible when Israel is bombing Gazans to death. There HAVE been calls for release of hostages by many organizations (including in U.N. resolutions and even in the ICJ preliminary decision arguing that there is probable genocide in Gaza by Israel against Palestinians). But, Israel has rejected deals to release them in exchange for Palestinian prisoners time and again, and refuses to end the conflict. Hamas only exists as a reaction to Israeli actions. You can disagree with what they've done, but to ignore this fact is a problem. To post this after tens of thousands of Palestinians have died is not only unfortunate, but sickening. If you actually want to recognize the "horrid nature" of the war, read some perspectives from Palestinians and others critical of Israel's military actions. Hear what Palestinians are saying! Like another commenter said, I will be un-subscribing and will not be including links to your newsletter within mine going forward.
Hi Burkely, thank you for your feedback. While the current conflict isn’t something the Palestinian people did to themselves, it is something that their government chose to do. Hamas chose to attack on October 7, commit all the heinous acts done that day, and take hostages, many of whom are young children and elderly people. Then, Hamas officials publicly stated they would do it again, and again. It’s reasonable to take away from their comments that Hamas wanted war.
As for the hostage release offers. We don't agree that civilians, especially young children and the elderly should be exchanged for people who have committed terrorism, and especially with the Hamas demands for each hostage. At the very least, all those hostages should have been released without any trade. As they weren’t, the Hamas offers don't seem like reasonable proposals, especially given Hamas’ vow to continue attacking Israel.
And while the argument that Hamas exists as a reaction to Israeli actions may have some truth, why do they have language in their founding charter about killing all Jewish people?
This War is tragic. Too much death & destruction. However, the facts you cite are 100% valid. There was and is an easy ending:
1. Release the Hostages.
2. Destroy Hamas.
3. Elect new Leadership, both sides.
4. Secure Israeli Borders.
5. Provide International Humanitarian Aid to Gaza.
Then peace.
All else is Ignorant Antisemitism, Terror. Death. Unholy.
🕊🤍💙🇮🇱💙🤍🕊
Zionists are lying about their own religion. They are NOT Gods chosen-they are imposters. The Torah forbids Jews from having a nation state until their Messiah arrives. Their Messiah has not arrived, yet, CLAIMING the identity of the Torah Jews, they went ahead and created a Jewish state, nullifying their own Torah. Then, they broke Gods tenents, and continue to do so. 1. ALL LIFE IS SACRED (thou shall not kill); love thy neighbour. The Israeli Zionists are a political entity - whose goal is to steal the land from the indigenous, Palestine people. God have mercy. The world has its eyes opened to the 75 years of occupation-yes. The IDF routinely terrorizes the Palestinians.
Someone finally shares the truth. Thank you Katherine