To the author, first off, condolences for your losses.
Much in this resonated with me.
You wrote: "I’d argue that some aren’t all that interested in the well-being of Palestinians."
This brought me back to a seminal moment in my own thinking. Perhaps 15 years ago, I had just finished an article by a "pro-Palestinian" woman in Washington Pos…
To the author, first off, condolences for your losses.
Much in this resonated with me.
You wrote: "I’d argue that some aren’t all that interested in the well-being of Palestinians."
This brought me back to a seminal moment in my own thinking. Perhaps 15 years ago, I had just finished an article by a "pro-Palestinian" woman in Washington Post.
In the article, she talked about the need for Palestinians living there to stay focused on the cause. But her words were stark. It was essential that the people living there continue to suffer and fail. I recall my specific thought: Why shouldn't a Palestinian want to fail? Why would anyone be angry if a Palestinian came home and sat in a nice chair and watched a decent TV after doing a good day of useful work? She wanted none of that for Palestinians.
I've never had a friend who wanted me to fail and to suffer. At that moment, my thought process began to evolve and eventually led to this conclusion: Palestinians have the worst "friends" in the world.
The author describes his own similar, albeit far more personal, journey. It is incredibly clear to me these protests, which often glorify hamas and never push for return of hostages, are doing enormous damage to Palestinians. hamas is terrible for Palestinians and holding the hostages has been a complete disaster.
I saw an Israeli soldier who'd come out of Gaza and in his remarks, he casually mentioned how Israelis understood that both the people of Israel and Gaza were pawns in other people's games.
One can ask the question: who has lost more in this war, Israel or Gaza? But that is hamas' goal, that Israel loses more. There is no positive agenda for Palestinians.
The truth is, this conflict never needed to be a zero sum game. In 2023, it became a much greater negative sum game than ever before.
The author seems a rare voice, but ultimately, his IS the way forward. A positive vision for all. There are so many win-win opportunities -- and the protesters see none of this.
I wish Mr. Alkhatib well in getting this message out. The one thing for certain, the protesters he sees -- they are not his friends. They've never been his friends. And hopefully, he will never be someone else's pawn.
To the author, first off, condolences for your losses.
Much in this resonated with me.
You wrote: "I’d argue that some aren’t all that interested in the well-being of Palestinians."
This brought me back to a seminal moment in my own thinking. Perhaps 15 years ago, I had just finished an article by a "pro-Palestinian" woman in Washington Post.
In the article, she talked about the need for Palestinians living there to stay focused on the cause. But her words were stark. It was essential that the people living there continue to suffer and fail. I recall my specific thought: Why shouldn't a Palestinian want to fail? Why would anyone be angry if a Palestinian came home and sat in a nice chair and watched a decent TV after doing a good day of useful work? She wanted none of that for Palestinians.
I've never had a friend who wanted me to fail and to suffer. At that moment, my thought process began to evolve and eventually led to this conclusion: Palestinians have the worst "friends" in the world.
The author describes his own similar, albeit far more personal, journey. It is incredibly clear to me these protests, which often glorify hamas and never push for return of hostages, are doing enormous damage to Palestinians. hamas is terrible for Palestinians and holding the hostages has been a complete disaster.
I saw an Israeli soldier who'd come out of Gaza and in his remarks, he casually mentioned how Israelis understood that both the people of Israel and Gaza were pawns in other people's games.
One can ask the question: who has lost more in this war, Israel or Gaza? But that is hamas' goal, that Israel loses more. There is no positive agenda for Palestinians.
The truth is, this conflict never needed to be a zero sum game. In 2023, it became a much greater negative sum game than ever before.
The author seems a rare voice, but ultimately, his IS the way forward. A positive vision for all. There are so many win-win opportunities -- and the protesters see none of this.
I wish Mr. Alkhatib well in getting this message out. The one thing for certain, the protesters he sees -- they are not his friends. They've never been his friends. And hopefully, he will never be someone else's pawn.