Here is what I believe.
- Israel has the right to exist
- However, Israel does not have the right to rule or control the Palestinian people.
- Israel has the right to defend itself against terrorist attacks.
- However, the current war has gone beyond self-defense into systemic erasure and genocide of the Palestinian people. They are committing war crimes and violating the Geneva Convention. Hopefully, some nation has the ability to stand up to them and try them. Support for Israel's current actions means support for genocide and war crimes.
- Ceasefire ASAP.
- Antisemitism is absolutely unacceptable.
- I believe in speaking out against Israel's genocide, not against Jews or the Jewish faith. People protesting and vandalizing Jewish temples, people harassing Jewish students and clergy, and people tearing down posters of missing Israeli civilians are wrong.
- Hamas is a terrorist organization
- Even Palestinian people cannot live in peace as long as Hamas exists
- Palestinian civilians cannot be systematically eliminated as collateral damage in the war against Hamas
- Islamophobia is absolutely unacceptable.
- I believe in speaking out against Hamas' terrorism, not against Muslims or Islam. People spewing Islamophobic hatred, people attacking Muslims, and people calling for the death of innocent civilians are wrong.
Ten years ago, I probably would have spent hours on this forum arguing against every person who did not align with this thought process. But amidst a real war in the world, I honestly do not have the time or energy for a toxic flame war online. I'd be happy to engage in constructive discussion on fairer grounds, but this ain't it. All I hope for is that people see the humanity in Palestinians.