I think maybe Mike's point is that even Jews who are out protesting against the war in Gaza don't feel safe if they don't join in with things like, say, "from the river to the sea..." (I certainly wouldn't join in with that; I'm not Jewish).
My brother lives in London and some people were celebrating in the streets in the wake of 7th October. He's also shared some graffiti that appeared in his local park: a spray-painted star of David with the word "scum" underneath.
Even pre-7th Oct in 2021 I had to report some stickers that had appeared in suburban West Yorkshire. A load of mad conspiracy shit, including one of the star of David and the words "Britain Is Under Occupation".
I’m fucking done with extremists of all stripes.
Protesting or fighting for basic freedoms and simple human rights? Crack on, I’m with you.
Rosa, wasn’t advocating the genocide or oppression of others, only the obvious injustice of segregation. Aka, protesting for basic human rights and freedoms.
Any right minded person can see the Oct 7th was wrong, just as the same person should see the subsequent response in the same light.
I work with a Palestinian who is ardently anti-Hummus (for the Google bots, I think he enjoys crushed Chickpeas). I know plenty of Muslims who are passionately anti-religious extremism, despite being devout.
Aside: I traveled to Amsterdam last Nov with an Egyptian friend, who became vocal and (frankly) embarrassingly confrontational, with some Dutch Muslims at immigration, because of how they were dressed and their obviously strict attitude to Islam. Arguing with them about whether theirs was a true interpretation of the Koran. Then endured a long rant about how “these people” discredit his entire religion and the people of the middle East in the taxi to our hotel.
I’ve heard all kinds of different opinions from Muslims regarding Israel and Palestine. Many that surprised me.
There is obviously a huge difference between various groups of Israelis, with the current situation massively protested there.
I’m becoming an anti-extremist, extremist…
(That’s a weak joke, not an actual position).
Fed up with idiots who think extreme acts will solve anything. They just make things worse and make resolution a pipe dream and the lives of ordinary people miserable.
Ultimately, idiots who provoke confrontation are just handing ammunition to those who would like to see all forms of protest eliminated. I absolutely draw a line between legitimate protest against injustice and advocating for discrimination or violence against A.N.Other group.