Thread by @sfrantzman

Thread: I blocked two people last evening because I saw them discussing whether Palestinians should pursue "armed struggle"...I felt bad, but they aren't Palestinian, and I find it macabre for people to discuss others engaging in war that can harm civilians so cavalierly

One of the entitled notions of discussing the "conflict" in the West has tended to empower people to feel that they can discuss the lives of people in the Middle East using what seem like sterile terms such as "armed struggle" without admitting what they are discussing.

The people discussing the "armed struggle" don't pay any of the consequences, so for instance they won't live under curfew or rocket fire or sirens or tanks in the street. That feels to me like colonialism. Colonizing someone else's "conflict" to encourage suffering

If Palestinians want to discuss what approaches they should have towards Israel or the region, great. But when people relaxing in NY or London want to discuss how there should be "one state" or "armed struggle" without listening to people in Ramallah or Jerusalem, it's colonial

The only people who can decide if they want one state are the people living in Israel, Gaza and the West Bank. They are the ones who must take responsibility and face consequences for such a decision. No one else gets to decide that for them.

Almost everyone in the West who talks about one state (and I've heard this since University in 1998) never listens to anyone from Gaza or Ramallah, Jerusalem of Tel Aviv, Yatta or Kiryat Gat. They never listen, they just tell others about a state. That's colonial.

People of course can take an interest in the Israel-Palestinian conflict and learn about it, and discuss it. But doing so without ever including voices from the region and discussing what people should do is arrogant and misplaced. Certainly mentioning "armed struggle" is gross

If you want to be honest about "armed struggle" call it "war" because it is war. And then admit that what you're talking about is rocket fire on civilians, bus bombings, checkpoints, tanks in the streets, drone strikes, and suffering for everyone involved.

I believe I have some knowledge of the conflict because I have lived in Jerusalem for 16 years and taught at a Palestinian university for five years and covered three Gaza wars and other incidents. But still I have a lot to learn and know. If I have a lot to learn, imagine others

You never see any recognition by those sitting abroad that "we should listen to Palestinians and Israelis," you just hear total arrogance of "Palestinians will have to do X"...just like John Kerry always predicting an "explosion" of violence, without listening to anyone.

For too long the Israel-Palestinian conflict was a plaything, which catered to neo-colonial tendencies. It was this inviting "instant expertise" in the "conflict" that enabled generations of people to say "what is best" for people in Jerusalem and Ramallah, without listening

That's why you have panels where three non-Palestinians will discuss a "one state"...and no one raises their hand and says "umm, how come there are no Israelis or Palestinians on your panel." Colonial.

I guess I'm a bit sensitive because I spent almost 10 years covering war and refugees and I think one needs to have a bit of respect for locals before talking about them being plunged into another conflict that most of them don't want. And I rarely hear that respect.

I remember that one formative experience for me was the 2014 Laylat al-Qadr ( لیلة القدر) clashes at Qalandiah, so when people relax and talk about "armed struggle", they need to listen to those who saw it first hand
sethfrantzman.com/2014/07/26/lay…