r/JewsOfConscience • u/PeterBeinart Jewish • Dec 01 '25
AMA AMA-Peter Beinart
Thanks to everyone who joined and for the great questions. I really enjoyed it
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u/ContentChecker Dec 01 '25
Hi Peter. Thanks for coming here. My question:
Any ideas on how can we get the international community to do something concrete to end the illegal occupation and to stop terrorists settlers from destroying and stealing Palestinian land, all with the determination to finally bring a lasting peace?
Thank You!.
PS:
Have purchased your book, skimmed it (excellent so far) and will read it in the near future when I have time.
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u/dazedan_confused Dec 01 '25
Hi Peter, probably not the easiest question to answer (definitely wasn't easy to ask!), but how much credibility is there in the theory that Netanyahu is prolonging this conflict deliberately (as opposed to diplomatic shortcomings or Hamas not wanting to pursue peace), and what would he have to gain from doing so?
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u/ContentChecker Dec 01 '25
My (Jewish) mom and I had one big argument about Gaza in the spring of 2024 where I realized that she was still staunchly pro-Zionist in the midst of the war, even though the rest of my immediate family has moved significantly towards sympathy towards the Palestinians.
Since that argument, I haven't brought up the topic with my mom at all and prioritized talking to her about things we don't fight about. Am I a coward?
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u/PeterBeinart Dec 01 '25
I don't think so. I think it's legitimate to think about which political conversations will have a positive impact and which will just blow up relationships that are precious. There are lots of other ways you can contribute to Palestinian (and Jewish) liberation other than fighting with your mom
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u/Amir616 Dec 01 '25
I want to thank you for what you're doing, particularly providing an entry point for liberal Zionists into greater critique. My liberal Zionist mother and I both say we agree with you 80% of the time - but we don't agree on which 80%.
Is there anything that you think groups like If Not Now, who are more focused on outreach to other Jews, should be doing more of? How can we make inroads in the parts of the community that are less open to our message?
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u/PeterBeinart Dec 01 '25
i love that 80% line. I think it's worth taking every opportunity to speak people people who live in spaces where we might think they wouldn't agree--and to specifically answer their arguments, especially about safety. It's important to make the case that equality under the law creates greater safety than Jewish supremacy because it gives people a non-violent way of influencing their government
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u/ContentChecker Dec 01 '25
The Jewish anti-Zionist movement did not start on October 8, 2023: the original platform of American Reform Judaism as laid out in 1883 eschewed Jewish nationalism and the concept of a singular Jewish homeland, the Jewish Labor Bund declared itself anti-Zionist in 1897, Neturei Karta has existed since the 1930s, the American Council for Judaism was founded in 1942, and JVP declared itself anti-Zionist in 2019.
But virtually all mainstream Jewish religious institutions in the US have been run by Zionists since the 1960s. Since 10/7 here in New York City, Jews en masse have been quitting their Zionist synagogues and founding new Jewish congregations that are explicitly anti-Zionist or otherwise decenter the Jewish apartheid ethnostate from Jewish life. And despite the rich tradition of Jewish religious, political, and moral opposition to Zionism, dissenting Jews are still accused of being fringe, self-hating, or out of touch with our Jewishness.
And the new Jewish anti-Zionist communities that are forming are disconnected from one another and getting virtually zero media attention. It’s like we don’t exist. How do we dissenting Jews cement our legitimacy? How can dissenting Jews forming new communities strengthen our connections to each other?
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u/PeterBeinart Dec 01 '25
I think people need to do the hard work of simply building institutions--and while there's not a ton of money out there behind such efforts, i think there is tremendous human talent. And over time, I think it becomes harder to ignore how many Jews there are living committed Jewish lives in a way that respects the principle that Palestinian lives are equal to ours
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u/crossingguardcrush Dec 01 '25
What would your top reading recommendations be for Jews who are questioning the Israeli narrative?
And just to say--thank you for all the work you do. I can't tell you how many pieces of yours I've forwarded to folks saying, "Read this NOW!"
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u/ContentChecker Dec 01 '25 edited Dec 01 '25
Hi everyone,
The AMA is now closed.
We would like to thank Peter for taking the time to be here once again!
And thanks to everyone who participated.
While the AMA is closed, you can still discuss the questions which are answered - but no expectations about responses from Peter.
Thanks again everyone! And thanks to our headmod, u/conscience_journey for coordinating the AMA!