New York Jews have strong feelings about what’s happening in Israel and Gaza. They don’t always agree. This subject is so potentially divisive that they often avoid talking about it at all.
For Jews, discussing post-October 7th events can be like stepping on the proverbial third rail, similar to our Thanksgiving table flareups after the 2016 election. Relationships can go up in smoke, in an instant.
So what does a certain Jewish writer – Yours Truly – decide to do? Run around the Village finding Jews to talk to about Israel and Gaza. Now that a fragile peace is in place, hostages returned, Palestinian prisoners released, and bombing mostly stopped, it seemed as good a time as any to venture into this ideological landmine.
Andrea: It’s an incredibly complicated situation, of course. I’m thrilled that the hostages have been released. That’s number one for me. But I was also thrilled that there was no more bombing, that aid was getting into Gaza, that the destruction and the suffering seemed to be under control. But we still don’t know the specifics of the deal that’s been made. Are they talking about one state? Two states? Are they really going to disarm? And even if they are…it’s still complicated.
Of course I’m hoping, but also somewhat skeptical about how they’re going to be able to work it all out.
Josh: Yes, it’s a very heavy topic. I, you know, support the motherland, I support Israel. But right now most of my friends are very pro-Israel in terms of everything they do. I don’t really get the hardline Zionist perspective.
Me: Well, I’m from an older generation. Many of my contemporaries think that whatever Israel does is fine. I’m a writer, and I wrote a commentary shortly after October 7th, and it was very balanced, and I got a lot of negative feedback from my loved ones for expressing any sympathy for the Palestinians.
I’m sorry to hear that!
Just today one of my good friends, asked me if I’m a Zionist. And I said yes. I believe that Israel has a right to exist. But I think the meaning of the word has become corrupted.
I’ve been friends with a handful of Palestinians, and I think that some of them think of Zionism as Jewish nationalism, not just Israel’s right to exist.
Zionism meant one thing, and the way people use it now, it reminds me of how people call Bernie Sanders a communist.
I think some use the term as a form of propaganda, to gain leverage in the war for other Palestinians. It’s all political. And the Israelis do the same thing. I see your paper endorsed Mamdani for mayor. Is your paper unbiased?
You know, it’s a Village paper with a a liberal perspective. I get all different points of view for my column. I’ve interviewed Trump supporters. Today I’m talking to my fellow Jews, and I’m going to get all kinds of opinions and reactions, because our feelings about Gaza and Israel run the gamut.
I don’t think the government of Israel is necessarily representing most of its people. I think a lot of Israelis aren’t on board with what’s going on.
Barbara Cohen: Well, who knows what’s going to happen with the peace treaty. We certainly can’t trust it. But particularly, as far as the way the Gazans have been treated by the Israelis, I am horrified, appalled, and in ashamed. Because they have been starving babies. Not allowed food to get in there! As Jews we are ashamed of what our fellow Jews are doing. That’s definitely how I feel. Okay, October 7th happened, and of course, it was horrible. The Israelis were right to fight back. But they never stopped. They wanted to wipe out everybody in Gaza.
Isn’t it terrible for Jews, of all people, to be accused of genocide?
It’s a terrible thing. But it gives me some comfort is that there is a peace movement in Israel. There are always a lot of Jews that are on the right side.
Ken Peterson: It’s a humanitarian disaster for the people of Gaza. It is a morally destructive course for the people of Israel, who are so committed to human rights, and justice, to be allowing themselves to be led into morally unacceptable, horrific treatment of other people by a leader who deserves to be in prison and not head of Parliament.
For me, it’s a tragedy to see that happening. This is not who the Jewish people are. I mean, unless you roll back to Old Testament biblical times. There are people in Israel who would say to slay all their enemies — I think we’re beyond that. Certainly the values that my Jewish relatives grew up with were diametrically opposed to that. I have Jewish friends who are, you know, whatever Israel does is the right thing.
Yes. All a lot of people talk about is October 7th.
And that was that was horrific. That was terrorism of the worst sort. But what we saw was not just an eye for an eye, it was a disproportionate response being taken by people who are more extreme than, I believe, most of the people in Israel are. So these are the things that it pains me to see… whether it’s like a revisiting of the Holocaust, or what’s happening in Sudan, or any time we see people turning a blind eye to other people being exterminated, you know, how do we allow this? How do we, as individuals, allow this?
And it so painful to hear people that we know, and people that we respect, accusing other Jews of genocide. I don’t think a lot of younger Jews see the irony, but you and I can see it…
Yeah. But younger Jews who are moral are going to say, oh, my gosh, yes, this is a genocide. And now we’re watching the systematic destruction of democracy in the United States at the same time. How have we grown up thinking all of these institutions were so solid, and now we’re seeing them collapse without people taking any action to stop it?
Eric Cook: (Resident artist selling his work in Washington Square Park – the only technically non-Jew I interviewed for this piece but after our talk I granted him the title of “honorary Jew.”)
So can you tell me how you feel about the peace treaty between Israel and Gaza?
In ten words or less? I. Don’t. Have. A. Lot. Of. Faith. In. Its. Success.”
That sums it up pretty well. Can you please elaborate?
Well, it has a lot going for it right now, it has a little momentum. But I’m not a young guy, and so I’ve seen things like this roll around and around. I think any ceasefire is great, but it looks like the initial proposal is that Israel takes over half of Gaza and Hamas or whatever the authority is in Gaza takes the other half?
Israel will have authority over one part of Gaza and the Gaza authority will control the other part? Oh, my God, that sounds like a big ask. I mean, okay, the bombing stopped, the hostages were released. Some aid is getting in. But it’s very hard to tell what is happening right now because there’s a lack of transparency, which is tied into the politics…
We all want to have hope, but looking at it realistically, the odds are very steep against it. It’s not a strong chord. It’s a hair’s breadth. Like I said, I’m hopeful for peace. But how do you redevelop that entire destroyed land in a way that’s equitable for the folks that have lived in it, and also takes into account the dreams and hopes of the Israelis that hope to turn that into a whole other thing?
People keep using the word complicated.
It’s not complicated, though, because it’s all based on greed.
Well, thank you so much for talking to me. And good luck selling your work.
Lucas: To the extent that I have been paying attention I feel like, you know, any step towards peace is important. I’ve heard a little bit of talking about how some of the terms have not been held up within Gaza, but I don’t know how much of that has been verified.
Every ten minutes you hear something new.
Yeah, but I hope for the best for this treaty.
Well, some good things have happened. The hostages were returned, the bombing stopped, and Palestinian prisoners were released…
You can’t argue with all of that, but a lot of people are saying, well, you know, how long is it going to last? I don’t know if I would call myself skeptical. I do very much want it to end, because this conflict has been going on for a very, very long time.
