Hailey HancockI have not been told personally that supporting Israel prevents me from supporting the Palestinians. However, I have seen images or infographics reposted by people on social media that argue that Palestine is oppressed by Israel. In many of these cases, this is from well-meaning people that are very misinformed about the history and current state of the region. The people who hold this view may see all Israelis as opposing the Palestinian’s right to exist as a state, which is not the case. After taking this course, I can better discern the issue through knowledge of the history of the region. Those who truly believe in pluralism and peace defend the right of both the Palestinians and Israelis to have their own state, thus supporting the “two-state solution.” My response to this accusation would include the retelling of history and the efforts made toward compromise and peace by Israel that have been so far rejected by the Palestinian authorities (despite generous land offers). A Pro-Israel/Pro-Palestine stance involves advocating for peace efforts still being pursued by Israel. Once a person understands multiple layers of the conflict, he or she will understand that it is possible to be a friend of both the Israelis and Palestinians.
