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Michael Cohen's avatar

As a Jewish person, I obviously find Khalil's performative anti-Israel activities offensive. But as an American, I defend his right to speak his mind. JVL is wrong on one thing - Khalil is not just anti-Israel. He is antisemitic (Israel's right to exist is a foundational belief in Judaism). Criticism of Israel is just a cover. What really troubles me though is the subset of Jewish Americans who are cheering the arrest of Khalil and support everything Trump does because of their infuriatingly single-minded obsession with Israel. I know these people; I have had conversations with these people. When I challenge them on their belief that only Trump is good for the security of Israel and their deliberate ignorance of issues of real import to Americans, they shrug as if to say, "Well that's the way it is." What I want to say but don't is "Then why don't you move to Israel?" It's very troubling.

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Jlm's avatar
Mar 12Edited

There’s a parent at my daughter’s school who is from Israel and very pro trump. (Since the election he has swapped his pro trump bumper stickers for “I ♥️ Elon” stickers.) He was understandably very impacted by the attack on Israel. What I don’t understand is why he isn’t equally upset by the Russian attack on Ukraine because everything Hamas has done to those kidnapped has been done to Ukrainians x 500. We tried talking to him before the election and all he cared about was Israel. I don’t even speak to him now because it is inexcusable to me that he helped destroy America because he cared more about Israel than any other country in which case, I think he should live in Israel and not the US.

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Leros's avatar

I'm pro-Israel and anti-Trump (voted against him 3 times), and some of my relatives in Israel were in a kibbutz attacked on Oct. 7th. I'm telling you this up front because I want you to understand where I'm coming from. Many Israelis and Jewish Americans with strong Israeli connections (spouse, relatives etc.) viewed Harris as weaker in terms of unequivocal support for Israel, despite Biden's overwhelming support for Israel after Oct. 7th, and the fact that Harris did not publicly deviate from Biden's position. I have a close friend here in the US (an American) who is married to an Israeli, and he's a lawyer (like me) and he voted for Trump. I asked him how he could do so, as we both knew Trump tried to steal the 2020 election (and would have succeeded if Pence did what Trump wanted him to do). My friend said in response: "I'm looking forward not backward." I wasn't having it and told him that was a frivolous response that really meant he viewed US support for Israel as paramount over any other issue, including putting the guy who tried to steal the last election back into the White House. He eventually conceded that was correct. These people are no different than Arab-Americans in Dearborn who voted for Trump. They are myopic 1-issue voters who hand-wave around the facts of who and what Trump is. As far as caring as much about Ukraine as Israel (or Gaza for that matter)-forget it. Ukraine is way down on the list of things US voters cared about in 2024 or care about now. Too many Bulwark podcasts can skew the truth about the American public and Ukraine support.

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Jlm's avatar

Re: Ukraine - not for me. I've never been to Ukraine and know far fewer Ukranians than Israelis, but my first thought after hearing the election results was about Ukraine.

I have wondered if the pro-trump parent at my kid's school isn't just voting based on Israel. I suspect that Trump's attitude in general appeals to him. My daughter is African American and I've decided that she isn't going over to their house to play again - it's hard to undo the psychological damage of even one stray racial comment and so it's not worth it to me to take the risk.

Re: your relatives who were in one of the kibbutz that was attacked -- I hope they survived and are doing okay all things considered.

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Leros's avatar

My relatives did survive Oct. 7th, thank you. Some of their friends were murdered or taken hostage by Hamas. I love Israel (but not Bibi or Likud) but I am an American first and detest Trump and his sycophants. How 49.8% of the voters convinced themselves to vote for him is the best evidence I know that our imperfect but once great Republic is collapsing around us.

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Josh Gill's avatar

The Bible says women should be subservient to men.

Being opposed to this religious precept does not make one prejudiced against Christians.

Even if Khalil doesn’t believe Israel has a right to exist (which I have not seen evidence for), I fail to see how that in any way reflects his attitude toward Jewish people.

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