First-hand views are always interesting.
Q: As a Palestinian (Arab) Muslim citizen living in Israel, what do you think about Israel?
A: While I am not Muslim I am an Arab citizen so I thought I’ll give my opinion about this matter:
I don't see my self as Palestinian. I was born in Israel and I have an Israeli citizenship and I never felt the zeal towards the Palestinian cause simply because I wasn't raised as one.
While not viewing my self as a Palestinian I fully support Palestine’s right of existence, independence and the two state solution.
I disapprove of my government’s actions in the West Bank and east Jerusalem. The settlements in the west bank are illegal and must be disbanded or otherwise when not possible swapped with other pro Palestinian villages located in Israel beyond the green line in a future two state solution.
Along with many Israeli Arabs (Muslims/Christians/Druze) I too serve in the IDF. The anti-Israel movement’s portrayal of the IDF as “baby killing civilian molesting murderers" is wrong on so many levels. There have been many cases where IDF officers expressed views that were too “pro Palestinian” or too “leftist” according to the current government. Whenever a soldier acts on his own and violates Palestinians’ rights the army punishes him/her (rightly so) often ending in imprisonment unlike the propaganda videos on YouTube where it’s claimed that the IDF actually approves and encourages these violations.
Having talked until now only about the Israeli side I'd like to say something to the Palestinian side: abandon any way of violence and commence in peaceful protests. Stop inciting your own population into violent actions and show real commitment for peace without conditions. As long as organizations like Hamas exist there will never be a peace agreement and the situation will only get worse for both sides. (Some of these points apply also to the Israeli side. I only wish we are smart enough to follow these steps)
Q: As a Palestinian living in Gaza, what do you think about Hamas?
A: As Gazan, I think Hamas is more well-organized comparing with other resistance movements, but.. let me describe more..
Each movement have social wing as well as military wing, Having said that, I think Hamas is taking the military path as the only solution to get rid of the Israel’s occupation
In 2006 Hamas won the parliamentary elections, Fatah lost it. A conflict started between them in 2007 due to the lack of resistance approach, Obviously Hamas used power to take over Gaza, According to that, the siege began from Egypt, UN and the Palestinian authority ( Fatah regime ).
Since then, Gazans are living in an open air-prison. No freedom of movement, lack of health facilities and big economic issues. For those reasons, people of Gaza divided to two parts, People who agree with Hamas in term of fighting the occupation and another part which are more likely to hate Hamas.
Nowadays, voices started to rise up calling for their rights, blaming Hamas for the current living situation.
Both respondents make good points. But they are only two voices. What about the the millions of others?
Same story different names. It is so sad humans seem completely unable to stop focusing on why one group is not the same as them and then using that difference to hate them. From maps of the 1950s and ones of today, it is clear Israel expanded into areas illegally.
First Israel has to get the fuck out of those areas.
and
Palestinians need to get rid of Hamas or at the very least get it the fuck under control.
Finally, Muslims and Arabs need a reformation. There is no world on this planet where Jews will not exist. It's a hard fact and the sooner the people who hate Jews get that the better off everyone will be.
I can say the same for those who hate blacks and other minorities - in my very east coast way - it's 2023 snap out of it! Or get the FUCK over yourselves!
Why does Israel have to get out of those areas?
@Esprit_de_Corp Look up the maps. Pretty much the whole world is in agreement there are lands Israel took illegally in the 1960s.
Can you name any nations whose land was not taken illegally???
So why does Israel have to leave???
@Esprit_de_Corp For the same reason Putin need to get outta Ukraine. OR put in place a 2 state solution NOW.
I feel that Israel has already killed the Hamas members that started the war but they are not done yet. If you want this to stop then stop supporting Hamas.
We need to stop letting Isreal take more land that isn't theirs. We should have done that years ago. The U S. Isreal, and Hamas are wrong. Their are no good guys in this mess. Everything we have done in the Middle East since the end of WWII has been wrong except for Carter negotiating a peace treaty between lsreal and Egypt.
i think the arab Muslim citizens living in Israel have diverse opinions about Israel. Prior to one of the articles I read some weeks ago. While some appreciate the democratic system and opportunities for education and employment, others feel marginalized due to discriminatory policies and restrictions on their rights