For days now I have been seeing the constant fighting between Palestinian supporters and Israeli supporters. Its time I speak out and tell you my story.
I’m an Israeli international student and I served in the IDF before starting school in Canada: I hope you can spend a few minutes and listen to my story.
I grew up in Sderot a city from viewing distance of the gaza strip. From my earliest memory I can remember the fear of being hit by rockets from gaza and at that time there was no iron dome system so it was literally run and hide for your life. Basically from an early age I was taught to have animosity and hatred towards Palestinians and arabs in general. Understandably it makes sense we are surrounded by a lot of enemies and Israel had to survive multiple brutal wars just to stay in existence.
Before I go farther I would like to say Israel is my home , it’s the only place where I feel at home and its the place of my forefathers , it is the only Jewish land in the world.
Growing up I had a certain curiosity and did not believe something unless I saw it or experienced, I had a great love for humanity and the individual human condition this is the reason I stayed away from illogical conservative minds who thought of Palestinians no more than monkeys playing in the zoo.
Il skip to the time when I got drafted into the Israeli infantry. I was thrilled ready to defend Israel against its enemies and make my father and grandfathers proud. What I actually found was vastly different. Israel has won , we are the strongest nation in the middle east with f-16’s , cruise missiles and even nuclear weapons, we are unstoppable! The actual reality is something different, our job is essentially to make sure the Palestinians stay in line and obey our commands. That’s it , they walk where we want them to, they live where we want them to and they eat from where we want them to. I can recall a patrol in the west bank where a group of Palestinians were playing football in the street. My Sgt was annoyed by the sight of this and got the rest of our section of break this game up. Understandably this 11 year old boy was pissed off and decided to swear at us. What does our Sgt do? He decides to punch this boy in the face and shoot his soccer ball…… This is only one out of the numerous similar situations I have seen.
Before the Canadian Jews start calling me unpatriotic and start hating on me understand this. I served with distinction in my time during conscription and had the option of becoming an officer but I declined and ill tell you why.
As university educated young adults we are able to see the world more clearly, peel back those layers and see the world for what it really is. If other hostile nations decide to attack Israel I will gladly give up my life to defend Israel. No questions asked. this is my homeland and I will defend it. But what we are doing to the Palestinians is essentially apartheid I have no other words to describe it. They live in a cage, and under constant economic pressure due to the land and naval blockade. Its understandable where their frustration comes and they have an absolutely legitimate case. Yes there is two sides to this conflict but one is incredibly skewed. If you go to Israel the general concensus is not really of a two state solution , its rather of keeping this status quo and this is where the problem lies. If the generation you live in does not want a separate land for the Palestinians how can there really be peace?
FYI For the Canadian Jews out there, spending a one month summer vacation in Israel does not make you an expert in the area.
I truly hope in our life time there can be peace and us jews , muslims and Christians can live in this holy land. For we all our people of Abraham and come from the same god .
#freegaza