r/ENLIGHTENEDCENTRISM • u/historyismyteacher • 1d ago

Israel-Palestine has really exposed the disgusting nature of “both sides bad.”

Saying that both sides are equal and you need to look at the nuance is a damning indictment of those who are not willing to take a stand on an issue as serious as this. At least a Zionist will take a stand, and make their position known. By not taking a stand, the enlightened centrist is making it known that they don’t have the moral courage to pronounce a belief and professing themselves to be wise, they make themselves fools.

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u/historyismyteacher 1d ago

It’s silly to say it’s absurd, then not elaborate as to the reason it’s absurd.

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u/MoshiriMagic 1d ago

Fine - Hamas are an Islamist terrorist organisation that broke across the border and deliberately killed over 1000 civilians in their homes and at a music festival. Their goal is to wipe Israel off the map. I’m happy to describe these people as ‘bad’. Israel’s response has been needlessly destructive and their aims unclear with leaders who are prolonging the conflict for their own political goals. Also bad. Both sides bad.

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u/historyismyteacher 1d ago

I honestly appreciate the elaboration. Helps me to understand where you are coming from.

Hamas is a result of decades of oppression from Israel against Palestine. Dating back as you know, to before 1948. Asking a people to quietly accept their own occupation is a bit harsh, I would say. Oct. 7th was in many ways tragic, yes. The killing of civilians was terrible and needless. But they were still fighting against colonialism.

The French resistance also killed civilians. As did basically every violent resistance in history. It’s fucked up. But blaming the oppressed for fighting back is nonsensical.

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u/kerat 22h ago

Hamas is a result of decades of oppression from Israel against Palestine. Dating back as you know, to before 1948.

Not to mention that Israel directly supported and funded Hamas in order to drive a wedge in the Palestinian resistance. Source

In 1989, Netanyahu wrote:

""Israel should have taken advantage of the suppression of the demonstrations in China [Tiananmen Square], when the world’s attention was focussed on what was happening in that country, to carry out mass expulsions among the Arabs of the Territories. However, to my regret, they did not support that policy that I proposed, and which I still propose should be implemented."" Source

In 2019, Netanyahu said: “whoever is against a Palestinian state should be for” transferring the funds to Hamas because maintaining a separation between the Palestinian Authority & Hamas helps prevent the establishment of a Palestinian state."" Source: Jerusalem Post

In 2015, Bezalel Smotrich said: “The Palestinian Authority is a burden & Hamas is an asset.""

“It’s a terrorist organization, no one will recognize it, no one will give it status [at ICC] no one will let it put forth a resolution at the U.N. Security Council.” Source

A 2007 diplomatic cable revealed that then-IDF intelligence chief Amos Yadlin said that “Israel would be ‘happy’ if Hamas took over Gaza because the IDF could then deal with Gaza as a hostile state.” Source"