Jsocs can't be one-sided

Liv, University of Birmingham

I am a first year student at Birmingham University, studying International Relations. I was involved in LJY Netzer for a number of years, and continue to be active within the Liberal Jewish community. I have also done a lot of work with Solutions Not Sides, which aims to educate in a non-partisan way about the Israeli/ Palestinian conflict. Having travelled on a number of occasions to Israel, and the West Bank, and as a Liberal Jew, the issue is of immense importance to me- the only way of ending the conflict and creating a viable way to achieve peace is through collaboration and shared understanding. This campaign is so important to me, as I feel that Jsocs, including my own take a very one-sided view to how the topic of Israel should be approached: one of immense and complete support without any form of criticism, which is seen as an attack on the existence of Israel as a state. As a Jewish student, who fully supports the existence of the state of Israel, however also supports a two-state solution and the end to the violence in the region, I have experienced hostility from those in Jsoc who do not understand, or are not willing to understand that you can legitimately criticise Israel’s actions, without criticising the existence of Israel itself. And it is for this reason that I think that taking an inclusive approach to Israel- listening to all opinions, and valuing each opinion is necessary, instead of adopting a single opinion, which leads to alienation and possible hostility, is a crucial role for Jsocs around the country.