Humbled by these powerful and supportive comments. Forgive me if I cannot reply to them all. Want to reemphasize that recognizing every person's humanity is the absolute minimum we must all expect out of each other. Let us continue to recognize the beauty in each other's diversity. ❤️✊🏽
And that is why I subscribe to your Substack Qasim. You bring reasoning, clarity, honesty and legal opinion all together in one place. I appreciate that.
Hate and anger are so emotionally draining.
Claiming to be a member of a religious group, doesn’t automatically become a cloak against hate.
Love and compassion are not luxuries, they are necessities.
You may have "lost" him (or them), but you just gained me :)
As a Jew, I do understand why people would say that the genocide is being carried out in the name of my People. As much as it pains me. That's Israel's claim, after all, that is is all for our safety. But I am extra grateful for your recognition of the fact that so many of us are rejecting the claim, and rejecting what's being done in our name. Not that you owe us that recognition, not with the more urgent fires burning. But I am grateful nonetheless.
I'm always here for an honest, nuanced discourse rooted in both love AND liberation <3
So often my Jewish and not as Progressive friends will say to me “but no one is ever speaking up for Jews” and then I send them posts like this one that make it clear that’s not actually true. Thank you, as always, for being a nuanced thinker who can do two things at one time: advocating for humanity AND calling out dehumanization at the same time. You’re a fucking gem, my friend.
No one speaks up for Palestinians, and all the other countries that Israel bombs on a regular basis. Jews don’t need anyone speaking up for them, the people being murdered do!! FFS!
Spot on! Beautifully written and very informative. Thank you so much for your valuable insights, contributions and voice. I’m immensely grateful and honored to be a paid subscriber. Peace, Qasim!
There is a whole country full of racists, it’s called Israel. The one committing mass genocide and are intent on creating a new world order. Part of their plan includes killing about 7.5 million of the world’s population.
I am so grateful for the work you do and your unrelenting integrity to do the right thing for all of humanity. It's so important to call out bigotry and ignorance when we see it and to educate when we can. Thank you for your work and for your commitment to human rights.
Incredibly important work. Antisemitism is alive and well and we must find a way to separate identity from gov criticism in the way we fight for justice for Palestinians
Thanks for making a clear distinction in a case of obvious discrimination in the case of a couple in Tennessee and the violence committed by the state of Israel.
One of the difficult challenges we face as anti-Zionists is the conflation Zionists make that Israel represents Jews writ large. It doesn't. In fact it represents an ever-shrinking majority. While we see their conflation as dangerous, as represented by the TN case, it is a greater harm to not push back directly against their conflation.
I shared an article once about Israel's many war crimes and I got a comment about how terrible jews was. I try to tell people as often as I can that I talk about jewish supermacy , zionism. Not about jews. But Israel blurs that line so well that instead of people getting anti-Israel sentiments. Many becomes antisemmites. And I see that on the left aswell.
I got a notification about a response to my comment, but I can't see it here. So I thought I would quote the response and explain myself without naming anyone:
"Excuse me, Jewish supremacy? Can you elaborate, because that sounds mightily close to the tropes I grew up with and still see and hear on social media by ignorant and unwitting people."
I'm talking about zionism here, and if that is not supremacy. I have no idea what is.
Because Zionism is what created Israel. The land was called Palestine prior to 1948.
Palestine has been ruled or controlled by over 10 major empires and distinct, foreign, or caliphate powers throughout its history. Key imperial powers include the Egyptians, Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, Greeks (Hellenistic), Romans, Byzantines, several Islamic Caliphates, Crusaders, Mamluks, the Ottoman Empire, and the British.
But they didn't attempt to ethnically cleanse the land. They didn't change the name, they didn't make laws that only applied to Palestinians. Jewish supremacy did, we can call it Jewish Nationalism if that is more acceptable. No one is superior to anyone else. And even the bible that christian zionists say justify that the land is jewish and belong to jews. It doesn't say jews alone. And the bible and the 10 commandments that is both in the bible and the Torah. Says what Israel does goes against the commandments.
Excuse me, Jewish supremacy? Can you elaborate, because that sounds mightily close to the tropes I grew up with and still see and hear on social media by ignorant and unwitting people. Please, stop with this anti Israel this and anti Israel that. How about posting anti Israeli government? Or, perhaps, educating yourself prior to elucidating
Excellent response, Qasim. ❤️ You demonstrated so much integrity here and showed that ignorant commenter what it looks like to truly live by one’s values and affirm humanity, honoring the inherent worth of all people. Hopefully they learned something and will reflect on their views and behaviors. And through sharing your response with us, you’ve positively influenced many other readers’ understanding and modeled how to firmly yet compassionately speak back to bigotry. Well done!!
Not enough people understand the concept of conflating things, one of many failings currently plaguing humanity, although I do understand how easy it is to do so - most members of every group are good people behaving well, to some degree, and assuming that if/when there is one bad apple in a group implies that every other member of that group is as much of a bad apple is just asinine. Hopefully the former subscriber will realize this some day; sooner rather than later, I hope.
Humbled by these powerful and supportive comments. Forgive me if I cannot reply to them all. Want to reemphasize that recognizing every person's humanity is the absolute minimum we must all expect out of each other. Let us continue to recognize the beauty in each other's diversity. ❤️✊🏽
And that is why I subscribe to your Substack Qasim. You bring reasoning, clarity, honesty and legal opinion all together in one place. I appreciate that.
Hate and anger are so emotionally draining.
Claiming to be a member of a religious group, doesn’t automatically become a cloak against hate.
Love and compassion are not luxuries, they are necessities.
You may have "lost" him (or them), but you just gained me :)
As a Jew, I do understand why people would say that the genocide is being carried out in the name of my People. As much as it pains me. That's Israel's claim, after all, that is is all for our safety. But I am extra grateful for your recognition of the fact that so many of us are rejecting the claim, and rejecting what's being done in our name. Not that you owe us that recognition, not with the more urgent fires burning. But I am grateful nonetheless.
I'm always here for an honest, nuanced discourse rooted in both love AND liberation <3
Well said!!! I so appreciate your ability to address this with clarity and grace. Being able to educate others effectively is such a gift. Thank you.
So often my Jewish and not as Progressive friends will say to me “but no one is ever speaking up for Jews” and then I send them posts like this one that make it clear that’s not actually true. Thank you, as always, for being a nuanced thinker who can do two things at one time: advocating for humanity AND calling out dehumanization at the same time. You’re a fucking gem, my friend.
Proving the point. All harmed people need people speaking up for them. No one gets left behind. We don’t get to decide who doesn’t deserve humanity.
Jews aren’t harmed people. They are doing the harming.
No one speaks up for Palestinians, and all the other countries that Israel bombs on a regular basis. Jews don’t need anyone speaking up for them, the people being murdered do!! FFS!
Spot on! Beautifully written and very informative. Thank you so much for your valuable insights, contributions and voice. I’m immensely grateful and honored to be a paid subscriber. Peace, Qasim!
Racism rears its ugly head. It boggles my mind that in 2026 there are still people like that
I was speaking of the USA, but thanks for making my point anyway. Lehitraot, fool.
There is a whole country full of racists, it’s called Israel. The one committing mass genocide and are intent on creating a new world order. Part of their plan includes killing about 7.5 million of the world’s population.
Thank you for this, Qasim. This idiot's argument is like blaming all Americans for Trump's behavior. He needs a course in logic.
I am so grateful for the work you do and your unrelenting integrity to do the right thing for all of humanity. It's so important to call out bigotry and ignorance when we see it and to educate when we can. Thank you for your work and for your commitment to human rights.
Incredibly important work. Antisemitism is alive and well and we must find a way to separate identity from gov criticism in the way we fight for justice for Palestinians
If you have integrity, nothing else matters.
If you don't have integrity, nothing else matters.
Wow ! 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏
The moment compassion becomes selective, it stops being justice and turns into a team sport.
You don’t fight dehumanization by redirecting it. You just move it around and call it moral.
Thanks for making a clear distinction in a case of obvious discrimination in the case of a couple in Tennessee and the violence committed by the state of Israel.
One of the difficult challenges we face as anti-Zionists is the conflation Zionists make that Israel represents Jews writ large. It doesn't. In fact it represents an ever-shrinking majority. While we see their conflation as dangerous, as represented by the TN case, it is a greater harm to not push back directly against their conflation.
I shared an article once about Israel's many war crimes and I got a comment about how terrible jews was. I try to tell people as often as I can that I talk about jewish supermacy , zionism. Not about jews. But Israel blurs that line so well that instead of people getting anti-Israel sentiments. Many becomes antisemmites. And I see that on the left aswell.
I got a notification about a response to my comment, but I can't see it here. So I thought I would quote the response and explain myself without naming anyone:
"Excuse me, Jewish supremacy? Can you elaborate, because that sounds mightily close to the tropes I grew up with and still see and hear on social media by ignorant and unwitting people."
I'm talking about zionism here, and if that is not supremacy. I have no idea what is.
Because Zionism is what created Israel. The land was called Palestine prior to 1948.
Palestine has been ruled or controlled by over 10 major empires and distinct, foreign, or caliphate powers throughout its history. Key imperial powers include the Egyptians, Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, Greeks (Hellenistic), Romans, Byzantines, several Islamic Caliphates, Crusaders, Mamluks, the Ottoman Empire, and the British.
But they didn't attempt to ethnically cleanse the land. They didn't change the name, they didn't make laws that only applied to Palestinians. Jewish supremacy did, we can call it Jewish Nationalism if that is more acceptable. No one is superior to anyone else. And even the bible that christian zionists say justify that the land is jewish and belong to jews. It doesn't say jews alone. And the bible and the 10 commandments that is both in the bible and the Torah. Says what Israel does goes against the commandments.
Excuse me, Jewish supremacy? Can you elaborate, because that sounds mightily close to the tropes I grew up with and still see and hear on social media by ignorant and unwitting people. Please, stop with this anti Israel this and anti Israel that. How about posting anti Israeli government? Or, perhaps, educating yourself prior to elucidating
Israel is the problem, and Zionism is based off of Jewish supremacy. Israel exists illegally and is an existential threat to humanity.
Excellent response, Qasim. ❤️ You demonstrated so much integrity here and showed that ignorant commenter what it looks like to truly live by one’s values and affirm humanity, honoring the inherent worth of all people. Hopefully they learned something and will reflect on their views and behaviors. And through sharing your response with us, you’ve positively influenced many other readers’ understanding and modeled how to firmly yet compassionately speak back to bigotry. Well done!!
Not enough people understand the concept of conflating things, one of many failings currently plaguing humanity, although I do understand how easy it is to do so - most members of every group are good people behaving well, to some degree, and assuming that if/when there is one bad apple in a group implies that every other member of that group is as much of a bad apple is just asinine. Hopefully the former subscriber will realize this some day; sooner rather than later, I hope.