The state of Israel currently controls an area of land comprising four distinct regions: the 1948 green line territory (what could be considered “Israel proper”), the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, and the Golan Heights.
In total, about 14.8 million people live in this combined area, with a plurality (but NOT a majority) of them - 7.2 million - being Israeli Jews. That means that the rest, the majority, are non-Jewish - they include Gazans, West Bank inhabitants, and non-Jewish Israeli citizens (aka ‘48 Arabs).
Are Americans aware of this? It doesn’t get brought up very much, but to me this seems like a pretty significant fact. We’re sending billions of dollars a year to Israel so that a minority of the people who live there can have a special set of rights over the majority.
I did not know this prior to October 7th. I was pro-Palestinian prior to that anyway, but I mistakenly thought that Israel was, at least, oppressing a numerical minority rather than a majority.
I don’t really think it matters? Why is the specific demographic make up of a genocidal state, or any state, that important?
I agree it’s not a huge deal, but I do think it further adds credence against the tired arguments of “Anti-Israel = Anti-jewish”
No reasonable person makes that argument. Those specific arguments are made in bad-faith by Zionists, same with the constant sleight of hand where Israel doesn’t represents all of Judaism, but also if you criticize the actions of the Israeli state, you are an anti-semite. It’s not an argument you should entertain because it’s designed to waste time and distract both online and at press-conferences or statements.
It’s so that congress people like those in the “squad” have to constantly defend themselves against antisemitism instead of pointing out that the Secular Government of Israel is committing genocide.
I brought it up because it kind of disproves the idea that “Jews have a special relationship with that region and/or are uniquely entitled to it.” They’re not even the majority there currently! And they weren’t in 1948 either.