I would have no problem with Ms. Rachel's position as long as she was equally supportive of Israeli children who were murdered or lost family on October 7.
I doubt she made any statement of support for Israeli children.
If October 7th continued happening for 2 years, I have a hunch she would have done just that - and if Gaza had only been struck on one day, however atrocious, I doubt she would have said anything about it. I'm a firm believer in Israel's right to defend itself, and I place the overwhelming bulk of the blame for what's happening in Gaza on Hamas, but I don't think this is a fair criticism to levy.
Palestinian children, Israeli children, children in the US — Muslim, Jewish, Christian children — all children, in every country,” she wrote in response.
“Not one is excluded.”
The week after she launched the fundraiser, and amid a backlash, she released a song on her show in support of “all the children,” including hostages and those in Israel.
I did, and you made me think I had missed a place in the article where Miss Rachel talked to someone who had been held hostage or had to live in a bomb shelter or anything like that. I took another look and I still don't see it.
(The fact that she didn't doesn't mean she's anything bad. I think it would be good in theory, but without some skill it becomes a clumsy attempt at "balance." The adults are fighting and the babies don't understand why is a very normal concept.)
Because she didn't say on her show that she talked to a hostage or someone who had to live in a bomb shelter (Newsflash: Palestinians often do) she can't show sympathy towards suffering children? Not sure what you point is?
I have nothing against Zaid and this is a very well-written article. I also can see where he’s coming from and that his heart is in the right place. But I must vehemently disagree with this piece. I see a number of problems with his argument and what he wrote here. I would like to start off by saying that as a Zionist, I care very deeply about the children of Gaza. Their suffering is real and is heartbreaking. Palestinian children who are sick, injured, have lost their parents, or are starving is a horrific tragedy.
I also want to counter what Zaid said about people like myself, not being able to distinguish the Palestinian people from the extremists in their society like Hamas, Islamic Jihad and the PFLP. I can and do differentiate between the two. I don’t hate the ordinary Palestinian people at all. I recognize the hardships the Palestinian people have to endure living under Israeli security measures, the injustices done to them as a result of the occupation and the settlements and the horrible violence done to them by Jewish extremists.
But I simply can not agree with Zaid’s argument here. Comparing Miss Rachel to Mr. Rogers and her one-sided advocacy and ill informed advocacy for Gaza to the brave stand Mr. Rogers took for civil rights in the 1960s is with no disrespect intended to Zaid, just ridiculous. Miss Rachel has never said a peep about the children killed and kidnapped on October 7th nor the Bibas Twins who were murdered by Hamas nor the Israeli children who cling to their parents and sob hysterically as they hide in a bomb shelter as rockets strike their city.
Where’s her sympathy and love for them? Where’s her compassion for them? This is NOT by any means to say the children of Gaza don’t deserve that compassion but rather to say it should be extended to Israeli children too. Also, why has she never condemned Hamas? That is very troubling to me too. Zaid and many others have also completely misunderstood what Douglas Murray said in his debate with Dave Smith on Joe Rogan’s podcast. Mr. Murray wasn’t saying that you have to visit somewhere or be an expert to comment on something, he was saying we should listen to people who’ve made an effort to be knowledgeable which Smith and Rogan have not, they simply repeat whatever they hear on the news.
The part where Zaid makes mention of Mr. Murray not being able to speak Arabic or Hebrew and never visiting without “government handlers” and “writing whatever they tell him to write.” seems like an unnecessary swipe and a low blow to me. Miss Rachel shouldn’t talk about Gaza or the war at all unless she intends to showcase the suffering of children on BOTH sides and calling for peace, coexistence and a two-state solution.
As a Zionist, I am not an unfeeling, uncaring monster with no regard for human life. I do care about ordinary Palestinians including children. But Israel is not responsible for their suffering. Hamas is, it is Hamas who steals much of the aid sent to them along with organized crime families and bands of thieves. I did not agree with Israel’s decision to cut off aid and electricity to Gaza, but I also understand they aren’t doing it to be cruel but because they don’t want to feed or give power to the enemy.
Furthermore, other counties like the United States and the UAE are continuing to send in aid to Gaza which Israel is not stopping them from doing. Israel isn’t killing Gazan children on purpose either. In fact, I don’t know of any army in the history of the world that takes greater measures to protect civilians than the IDF does.
I believe anti-Zionist Jews to be misinformed and misguided, but I applaud the brave stand their taking in voicing their political views about the war and I would oppose any accusations of them being traitors to their community. I despise Neturai Karta for example. I find their embrace of dictators and terrorist groups disgusting. But at the same time, I admire that despite all the flak they get they still openly voice their beliefs and their advocacy on behalf of the Palestinian people.
I am aware of how for a long time like other people of color, Arab-Americans and Palestinians were stereotyped in Hollywood and the media. I am very glad to hear that that is changing and Arab-Americans, Arabs and Palestinians are being humanized and portrayed accurately and as they really are. However, glad as I am to hear that, I would like to see a Netflix or HBO Max show starring Palestinians AND Israelis living together as neighbors and friends and fight for peace, coexistence and mutual security for both peoples.
"Although he was a lifelong registered Republican, he was a minister first and foremost" - because registered Republicans - those rascals who passed the CRA - by definition DO NOT "believed, more than anything, that children everywhere deserved the dignity bestowed upon them by their creator"? Your biases are showing, Mr. Jilani. But it's helpful to know where you're coming from.
I take offense to two things in this article. First, Mr. Murray has spent an extensive amount of time in the Middle East. His remarks about Mr. Smith were not aimed at his right to have an opinion rather that his opinion should be based in fact which apparently it was not.
Second, much aid has been sent into Gaza and has not gone to the masses but rather to support Hamas. They used schools and hospitals as staging grounds for their war on Israel, hence innocent civilians have been killed.
I do not take offense to Miss Rachael and her desire to humanize Palestinian children, but there are children , not only Jewish children who are suffering today but children both abroad and in our own country who are suffering. Let us not lose sight of their suffering. I believe her message about the suffering of Palestinian children is aimed at the adults in the room!
Good column but maybe I see one aspect of this differently. As a relatively observant and definitely politically progressive Jew, I have never seen the entertainment business accurately and sensitively reflect life in our community here in the U.S. or anywhere else. It’s the rare film or TV show that is the exception that proves the rule. Caricatures abound. Novels and other print platforms have better served us. Just because a producer or a writer in TV or film happens to come from a Jewish background doesn’t mean they understand their own community.
Zaid, I don’t know if you know this already, but it is WILDLY difficult to like or comment on your posts! I use substack on mobile browser and yours is the only subscription this happens with.
Now I think I understand why most of your comment sections are disproportionately criticism - people like me who want to say a simple thanks might get deterred by these speed bumps.
Thanks for writing this and other pieces! Please know that we’re out here appreciating you and just don’t want to spend 10+ minutes lost in a seemingly hopeless login loop!
I would have no problem with Ms. Rachel's position as long as she was equally supportive of Israeli children who were murdered or lost family on October 7.
I doubt she made any statement of support for Israeli children.
If October 7th continued happening for 2 years, I have a hunch she would have done just that - and if Gaza had only been struck on one day, however atrocious, I doubt she would have said anything about it. I'm a firm believer in Israel's right to defend itself, and I place the overwhelming bulk of the blame for what's happening in Gaza on Hamas, but I don't think this is a fair criticism to levy.
Palestinian children, Israeli children, children in the US — Muslim, Jewish, Christian children — all children, in every country,” she wrote in response.
“Not one is excluded.”
The week after she launched the fundraiser, and amid a backlash, she released a song on her show in support of “all the children,” including hostages and those in Israel.
I can support that statement.
Did you even read Zaid's article?
I did, and you made me think I had missed a place in the article where Miss Rachel talked to someone who had been held hostage or had to live in a bomb shelter or anything like that. I took another look and I still don't see it.
(The fact that she didn't doesn't mean she's anything bad. I think it would be good in theory, but without some skill it becomes a clumsy attempt at "balance." The adults are fighting and the babies don't understand why is a very normal concept.)
Because she didn't say on her show that she talked to a hostage or someone who had to live in a bomb shelter (Newsflash: Palestinians often do) she can't show sympathy towards suffering children? Not sure what you point is?
No, I said she's under no requirement to do some clumsy "balance" nonsense.
I think suffering children, regardless of their background, is something we can all agree is bad and should not require "balance" in reporting.
I have nothing against Zaid and this is a very well-written article. I also can see where he’s coming from and that his heart is in the right place. But I must vehemently disagree with this piece. I see a number of problems with his argument and what he wrote here. I would like to start off by saying that as a Zionist, I care very deeply about the children of Gaza. Their suffering is real and is heartbreaking. Palestinian children who are sick, injured, have lost their parents, or are starving is a horrific tragedy.
I also want to counter what Zaid said about people like myself, not being able to distinguish the Palestinian people from the extremists in their society like Hamas, Islamic Jihad and the PFLP. I can and do differentiate between the two. I don’t hate the ordinary Palestinian people at all. I recognize the hardships the Palestinian people have to endure living under Israeli security measures, the injustices done to them as a result of the occupation and the settlements and the horrible violence done to them by Jewish extremists.
But I simply can not agree with Zaid’s argument here. Comparing Miss Rachel to Mr. Rogers and her one-sided advocacy and ill informed advocacy for Gaza to the brave stand Mr. Rogers took for civil rights in the 1960s is with no disrespect intended to Zaid, just ridiculous. Miss Rachel has never said a peep about the children killed and kidnapped on October 7th nor the Bibas Twins who were murdered by Hamas nor the Israeli children who cling to their parents and sob hysterically as they hide in a bomb shelter as rockets strike their city.
Where’s her sympathy and love for them? Where’s her compassion for them? This is NOT by any means to say the children of Gaza don’t deserve that compassion but rather to say it should be extended to Israeli children too. Also, why has she never condemned Hamas? That is very troubling to me too. Zaid and many others have also completely misunderstood what Douglas Murray said in his debate with Dave Smith on Joe Rogan’s podcast. Mr. Murray wasn’t saying that you have to visit somewhere or be an expert to comment on something, he was saying we should listen to people who’ve made an effort to be knowledgeable which Smith and Rogan have not, they simply repeat whatever they hear on the news.
The part where Zaid makes mention of Mr. Murray not being able to speak Arabic or Hebrew and never visiting without “government handlers” and “writing whatever they tell him to write.” seems like an unnecessary swipe and a low blow to me. Miss Rachel shouldn’t talk about Gaza or the war at all unless she intends to showcase the suffering of children on BOTH sides and calling for peace, coexistence and a two-state solution.
As a Zionist, I am not an unfeeling, uncaring monster with no regard for human life. I do care about ordinary Palestinians including children. But Israel is not responsible for their suffering. Hamas is, it is Hamas who steals much of the aid sent to them along with organized crime families and bands of thieves. I did not agree with Israel’s decision to cut off aid and electricity to Gaza, but I also understand they aren’t doing it to be cruel but because they don’t want to feed or give power to the enemy.
Furthermore, other counties like the United States and the UAE are continuing to send in aid to Gaza which Israel is not stopping them from doing. Israel isn’t killing Gazan children on purpose either. In fact, I don’t know of any army in the history of the world that takes greater measures to protect civilians than the IDF does.
I believe anti-Zionist Jews to be misinformed and misguided, but I applaud the brave stand their taking in voicing their political views about the war and I would oppose any accusations of them being traitors to their community. I despise Neturai Karta for example. I find their embrace of dictators and terrorist groups disgusting. But at the same time, I admire that despite all the flak they get they still openly voice their beliefs and their advocacy on behalf of the Palestinian people.
I am aware of how for a long time like other people of color, Arab-Americans and Palestinians were stereotyped in Hollywood and the media. I am very glad to hear that that is changing and Arab-Americans, Arabs and Palestinians are being humanized and portrayed accurately and as they really are. However, glad as I am to hear that, I would like to see a Netflix or HBO Max show starring Palestinians AND Israelis living together as neighbors and friends and fight for peace, coexistence and mutual security for both peoples.
"Although he was a lifelong registered Republican, he was a minister first and foremost" - because registered Republicans - those rascals who passed the CRA - by definition DO NOT "believed, more than anything, that children everywhere deserved the dignity bestowed upon them by their creator"? Your biases are showing, Mr. Jilani. But it's helpful to know where you're coming from.
Although he was a Jew, Mr Goldberg never overcharged me interest on my loan.
I don't usually like blacks, but you're different.
I take offense to two things in this article. First, Mr. Murray has spent an extensive amount of time in the Middle East. His remarks about Mr. Smith were not aimed at his right to have an opinion rather that his opinion should be based in fact which apparently it was not.
Second, much aid has been sent into Gaza and has not gone to the masses but rather to support Hamas. They used schools and hospitals as staging grounds for their war on Israel, hence innocent civilians have been killed.
I do not take offense to Miss Rachael and her desire to humanize Palestinian children, but there are children , not only Jewish children who are suffering today but children both abroad and in our own country who are suffering. Let us not lose sight of their suffering. I believe her message about the suffering of Palestinian children is aimed at the adults in the room!
Good column but maybe I see one aspect of this differently. As a relatively observant and definitely politically progressive Jew, I have never seen the entertainment business accurately and sensitively reflect life in our community here in the U.S. or anywhere else. It’s the rare film or TV show that is the exception that proves the rule. Caricatures abound. Novels and other print platforms have better served us. Just because a producer or a writer in TV or film happens to come from a Jewish background doesn’t mean they understand their own community.
Hasbara running damage control in the comments sections.
Valid counter-arguments disagreeing with the author? Must be Hasbara 🤣🙄
Zaid, I don’t know if you know this already, but it is WILDLY difficult to like or comment on your posts! I use substack on mobile browser and yours is the only subscription this happens with.
Now I think I understand why most of your comment sections are disproportionately criticism - people like me who want to say a simple thanks might get deterred by these speed bumps.
Thanks for writing this and other pieces! Please know that we’re out here appreciating you and just don’t want to spend 10+ minutes lost in a seemingly hopeless login loop!
Good article, thank you for writing it.
You're literally a nazi
You literally do not know what a Nazi is.