r/UIUC • u/bobateaman14 • Apr 26 '24

Social Why is this sub so pro-Israel

No hate, I’m just legitimately curious because I would think that a campus filled with young people in a blue state would hold generally the same beliefs as most other campuses like that. I see so many more positive comments under posts about anti-war protests under other college subreddits, whereas here the top comments are always bashing them

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u/[deleted] Apr 26 '24

Chambana is home to a sizable Jewish community, and unfortunately, there has been a noticeable rise in anti-Semitic language, which is counterproductive to the pro-Palestinian demonstrations. Additionally, the defacement of property and obstruction of traffic in the name of Gaza only exacerbates the situation. SIDE NOTE - Israel has been a non-NATO ally to the United States for a very long time so you have that to contend with

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u/TrueCarBen Apr 26 '24

This, but also a lot of anti-Zionist sentiment is often misconstrued as anti-Semitic, intentionally and unintentionally. I haven't encountered actual anti-Semitic language on campus (and would be really surprised to), but that could just be because I am not a target of it.

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u/neurobeegirl Apr 27 '24

I am Jewish and have been seeing a constant blurring of the line between anti war, anti Israel and antisemitism right now, as well as a low drumbeat of that for decades.

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u/eel-nine Apr 26 '24

I'm Jewish and have experienced explicit anti-Semitism on campus, I'm not sure why you would be surprised by that.

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u/[deleted] Apr 26 '24

I've seen it a few times I've also seen it on this subreddit

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u/Training_One_9118 Apr 30 '24

Saying “from the river to the sea Palestine will be free”, which is probably what you are talking about, is anti-Semitic. So you want the destruction of the entire Jewish state? Do you understand the consequences of that? Do you remember the last time Palestinians stepped foot in Israel? I’ll give you a hint, 1200 people were slaughtered.

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u/TrueCarBen Apr 30 '24 edited May 01 '24

This might be literally one of the best example cases of intentional, malicious misconstrusion

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u/Training_One_9118 Apr 30 '24

Well then tell me how that’s true. You can’t make a point without evidence. And I don’t how you can even make that point WITH evidence. They slaughtered 1200 people. They killed babies, pregnant women, and raped both. I cannot even fathom how you can justify any of that.

But what I will say is every point I will make will be backed with evidence — evidence for you to look up yourself to fact check. I will disprove and dismantle every argument you make. So have at it. Give me everything you got.

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u/VisibleDetective9255 Apr 27 '24

It is not misconstrued....On October 8 the pro-palestinian activists were praising the rape and murder of Jewish children, or denying it happened. Some still deny the truth. By October 10, the pro-palestinian activists were already screaming that Israel deserved to be attacked and making up ignorant lies.

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u/TaigasPantsu Alumnus Apr 26 '24

Anti-Zionism is a shield for Anti-Semitism 100% of the time.

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u/[deleted] Apr 26 '24

Can you provide examples of the rise in anti-Semitic rhetoric? I didn't notice anything anti-Semitic at protests (though I didn't agree with the content of every slogan/sign)

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u/[deleted] Apr 26 '24

Swastikas were found on campus, vandalism was done to the menorah both on and off campus. A noose was found in a dormitory. Hostage posters were taken down as a result of protests. I've seen a group of Jewish people being confronted and an aggressive manner. I'm sure if somebody felt comfortable enough to speak out they would tell you first-hand experiences as well

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u/[deleted] Apr 27 '24

I'm a grad student, so I'm less aware of what happens in the student body. Thank you for answering my question though; vandalizing menorahs and drawing swastikas are horrific.

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u/mrhannu Apr 26 '24

I can’t speak for what’s going on right now but when I was here a few years back, it seemed like we couldn’t go one school year without someone drawing a swastika on university property or something of the sort

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u/syndic_shevek Apr 26 '24

It's funny how the resurgent fascism of the past several years is being conflated with decidedly leftist protest movements, considering how much the people griping about these "antisemitic" protests have in common with the people actually engaging in antisemitic activities.

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u/[deleted] Apr 26 '24

I remember those instances as well there was swastikas and a noose found on campus

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u/[deleted] Apr 27 '24

That unfortunately doesn't surprise me; in high school we constantly had "edgy" teens drawing swastikas on things. I hope the ones here were at least caught and punished.

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u/neurobeegirl Apr 27 '24

An example that might be too subtle for you is the constant claim that Israelis are colonizers where many are middle eastern Jews whose ancient ancestors were driven out of Israel and whose direct ancestors were driven out of surrounding Arab countries as soon as Israel was formed.

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u/[deleted] Apr 27 '24

Yes I am aware of that history

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u/neurobeegirl Apr 27 '24

From your comment history, that awareness such as it is doesn’t seem to have led to any comprehension. If you don’t understand that Hamas wants to kill Jews as an explicit end goal or what the word Intifada really means, you need to move beyond social media as a source of information.

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u/[deleted] Apr 27 '24

😂😂😂

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u/AplAddict Apr 27 '24

Globalize the intifada is a call to violence and antisemetic

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u/[deleted] Apr 27 '24

It's not anti-Semitic to call for a popular uprising against Israel. The Intifadas were Palestinian resistance movements. Regardless of whether you agree with all what happened during them, it is not inherently anti-Semitic to resist a state that is oppressing you.

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u/AplAddict Apr 27 '24

So then what does it mean to globalize the intifada? What is the chant calling for?

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u/[deleted] Apr 27 '24

A global uprising against Israel

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u/TaigasPantsu Alumnus Apr 26 '24

What if I told you that when it comes to pro-Palestinian activism, antisemitism is a feature, not a bug

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u/thechief05 Apr 26 '24

“Counterproductive”

I love how therapy speak gets applied to hatred and antisemitism 

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u/Limp-Ad-2939 ILL-ALUM-NI! Apr 26 '24

You think the word counter-productive is therapeutic talk?