Middle East Conflict.
Differences Between the Left and Conservatives Part II
Middle East Conflict.
For the left, Israel is seen as an expansionist or even colonial state that must either pursue a two-state solution or be removed from the geographical debate altogether. Most protests in the United States not only denounce Israel but also support Palestinian statehood, sometimes even backing groups like Hamas—though not all left-leaning activists go that far. Many of these protests take place on ideological left-wing campuses, where the rhetoric often includes calls "from the river to the sea," a phrase understood by many to mean the complete removal of Israel. The climate has become so charged that Jewish students often feel unsafe or unwelcome at certain universities, especially during times of heightened tension. In some tragic instances, this hostility has escalated to violence, such as the case of Elias Rodriguez, who did not know his victims but deliberately chose them based on their Jewish and Israeli identities. Rodriguez shot and killed Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Lynn Milgrim outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C., reportedly proclaiming "Free, free Palestine" and stating he acted "for Palestine" and "for Gaza" during his arrest.
For many conservatives, there is a clear recognition that several Middle Eastern states and groups have historically sought Israel’s destruction. Since the modern establishment of Israel, the country has had to stop invasions by Egypt, Jordan, and Syria, while also facing ongoing attacks from terrorist organizations funded by Iran and Qatar. Conservatives believe that if the states surrounding Israel accepted peace, the conflict would end. However, if Israel gave up its arms, it would be destroyed.
The reality for Jews is that, outside of Israel, living openly as a Jew in most Middle Eastern countries carries significant risk. For Palestinians, the unfortunate situation is that Gaza is run by Hamas—a group designated as a terrorist organization by the US and EU—which refuses a two-state solution and rejects Israel’s right to exist. From a conservative perspective, Jews have a historic and moral right to Israel and would prefer a peaceful settlement with the Palestinians, but they do not support a Palestinian state governed by Hamas or controlled by groups hostile to Israel.
