Re Jon Lansman’s article (How can I, as a leftwing Jew, show support for both Palestinians and Israelis?, 20 November), those who want peace are not at fault; it’s those who use this conflict for their own disgusting means who keep the situation so volatile. To them, this is a time to advocate for their side and make a case for extremism against those they see as their mortal enemies. Both sides are guilty of this, believing that their suffering gives them a pass to encourage further suffering in others. So long as “their team” isn’t the one being hurt, it is justified.
The solution is to keep talking about peace and reconciliation, and to stamp out toxic ideas and prevent them from taking root. I, as a leftwing Muslim, have seen “progressives” ignore the plight of Jews to bolster their cause for Palestinian freedom. But that line of thinking is antithetical to progressivism, and responsible for isolating Israel and fuelling radical action undertaken by them. Tolerance must be universal, because hatred too is universal – anything less than the protection of both peoples ensures the destruction of both.
Support of Palestine is not inherently leftwing, and neither is support of Israel rightwing. This conversation goes beyond the realm of politics, crossing through the treacherous badlands of religious extremism. There is an assumption that only one side can be right, that only one side can be the victim, which destroys the possibility of peace. In reality, both sides are victims of a conflict that could have been avoided had the world been more kind towards Jews and more respectful of Palestinians.
Amaan Bhimani
Atlanta, Georgia, US
• I’m a leftist, American, Ashkenazi Jew in my mid-70s. I have Israeli relatives whose ancestors migrated there before the second world war. It has been a place of refuge and safety for my relatives ever since. But I have also been aware of the displacement of the Palestinians since the Nakba. Ever since the 7 October attack and the start of this present war, I have been struggling even more with the issues of fairness and justice. Thank you, Jon Lansman, for helping me better understand this long, complicated history and what’s happening in the present. Maybe I can rest my old soul a little.
Rev Rachel Gorn Tedesco
East Bridgewater, Massachusetts, US
