Religion
History of Zionism
International Involvement
Current Events
Culture
100
All Palestinians are Muslim
There are Jewish, Christian, and Muslim Palestinians!
Also, the Palestine-Israel conflict is not a religious conflict; it's a clash between nationalities — Israeli and Palestinian — over secular issues of land and nationhood.
P.S. Jews and Muslims have been coexisting in the region, for the most part peacefully, since Islam was first born in the seventh century.
100
Zionism was established in response to the Holocaust to create a safe haven for the Jewish people.
Zionism was established in 1897 by Theodor Herzl out of a desire to unite Jews in one centralized location to create a majority.
100
The US government is a fair peacekeeper in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The US government has always supported and funded Israel, giving them weapons, international support, and aid. On October 8, 2018, Palestine filled a lawsuit against the United States for moving the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem and breaching the Vienna Convention.
100
The Israeli army (Israeli Defense Force or IDF) is a lawful and just army
Just like any military or police unit, the IDF uses unnecessary violence on defenseless citizens. Some would consider the IDF as a state-sanctioned terrorist organization.
100
There is no distinct Palestinian identity; Palestinians are just Arabs who made up the idea of a Palestinian identity in order to lay claim to the land.
Okay first of all, all national identities are social constructs to begin with. We have this thing called national self-determination sooo.
But then specifically for the Palestinian identity, it's agreed upon in the scholarly community that before WWI the people living in what is today Israel, Gaza and the West Bank had a regional identity. Economic, religious and cultural practices further bound the Arabs of Palestine separately from other Arabs. There are differences in food, in values, in every section of culture between Palestinians and other Arabs. Of course there are similarities between Palestinians and other Arab national identities, but that's expected.
(Also, at his talk last semester, Tal Becker perpetuated the idea that "there is no Palestinian identity without the Israeli conflict" which is very ... WRONG)
200
The Quran encourages violence
Just like every religion, literal interpretation is different from practiced interpretation.
200
Being anti-Zionist is antisemitic.
Antisemitism is the"hostility and prejudice directed against Jewish people" (OED).
Zionism refers to the movement to create a majority Jewish state, and thus support for the modern state of Israel on Palestinian land.
May critics say that the Israeli government and its supporters are deliberately confusing anti-Zionism with anti-Semitism to avoid criticism. Many also make the point that Zionism is a political project whose main support is non-Jews, including Western governments and many US evangelical Christians.
200
Arab countries in the region are anti-Israel because they are anti-semitic and do not want a Jewish presence in the region
In 1947 the UN proposed splitting the land into Israel and Palestine. Regional Arab leaders saw the plan as European colonial theft; their opposition to this plan had nothing to do with the Jewish people moving into the area, and everything to do with the growing Western control & colonization through the creation of Israel.
200
Day-to-day Israeli/Palestinian interactions are peaceful
Many Palestinians are killed or injured daily. There are additionally extreme psychological violence on Palestinians and limited movement through the West Bank, and no movement outside of Gaza.
200
What is Israeli food?
There is no such thing! Israeli food has been appropriated from Palestinians and other Arabs.
300
HAMAS is a Muslim terrorist organization that all Palestinians support.
HAMAS is a political resistance group that does employ violence as a means for revolution in the Gaza Strip. However, HAMAS is also controlling of the Palestinian people and dictates the resources they receive.
300
Zionism is not racism
Israel is a white supremacist state based on its foundation. In 1975, the UN article 3379 dubbed “zionism as a form of racial discrimination” but later redacted the statement in 1991 when Israel refused to come to the Madrid Peace Conference.
300
The US would not support Israel if they committed human rights violations
Israel receives $10.1 million dollars a day (around $3.7 billion/year). The US blocked UN investigation of Israel's human rights violations.
300
Palestinians are isolated in their struggle
The Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement was inspired by the apartheid in South Africa. Additionally, Palestinians and Black Americans have collaborate often between the Black Lives Matter movement and Palestinian resistance. (Ex: Ferguson)
300
What is Dabke?
A traditional folk dance literally translated as "stamping of the feet."
400
The land is sacred and holy to the Jewish people, and that is why Israel was established on Palestinian land
Theodor Herzl was also looking at creating a Jewish state in Kenya, Uganda, and Argentina. Palestine was chosen because of US motivation to control the SWANA region.
400
The Zionist movement receives all of its support from international (mostly American) Jews
AIPAC (The American Israel Public Affairs Committee) is a Christian run/funded organization. Some evangelical (and other) Christians believe that with the establishment of a Jewish state it will fulfill part of Exodus in the Bible, and allow Jesus' return.
400
Israel is the only democracy in the SWANA region
Democracy is defined by Western countries. Additionally, multiple SWANA countries vote on government leaders.
400
Palestinians imprisoned by the Israeli government are terrorists that threaten the safety of Israeli citizens.
According to the Israeli Military, 273 Palestinian minors were held in Israeli prisons, considered criminal offenders. Of course, these numbers cannot be verified considering they come from a source that would benefit greatly from lying. The most frequent charge is "throwing rocks." Further, these minors are not given legal counsel, fair trials, or basic human rights during interrogation. The sentencing system is also very subjective, allowing for abuse of this system by the IDF.
400
What is the Palestinian Keffiyeh?
A checkered black and white scarf that is usually worn around the neck or head, used to symbolize Palestinian nationalism.
500
Israel is a Jewish state
Israel is a white supremacist state as it was founded on imperialism and colonialism. Jewish people of color in Israel are treated extremely different than Ashkenazi (European-decended) Jewish people.
500
Israel is mostly supported by Orthodox Jews
The state of Israel is mainly supported by secular (non-religious) Jews. Several groups of Orthodox Jews (inside and outside of Israel) “deny the very legitimacy of the collective political return to the Holy Land and to Jewish sovereignty. For [Orthodox Jews], this is the handiwork of humans, violating the Jewish people’s oath of political quietism.”
500
Palestinians who fled to Jordan/Lebanon/other Arab states have the same rights
Depending on when/where Palestinians fled to they have more or less the same rights as those who are "native" to that country. For example, Palestinian-Jordanians have similar rights to Jordanian-Jordanians including access to citizenship for some. However, Palestinians who fled to Lebanon have no rights and have lived in refugee camps for decades.
500
Jewish settlers in the West Bank are supported by international law
The Geneva Convention prohibits the construction of Israeli settlements
500
What is Handala?
The refugee child who is present in every cartoon by Naji Al-Ali, aimed at depicting the complexities of the plight of Palestinian refugees, and remains a potent symbol of the struggle of the Palestinian people for justice and self-determination. Handala will not turn around until Palestine is free.
