Quiz: Is it a Peter Beinart Op-Ed or Taylor Swift Breakup Song?

Sometimes it’s hard to keep track of whether you are reading Peter Beinart’s latest impassioned critique of the Jewish State or Taylor Swift’s latest breakup song. Like, it’s an honest mistake. One of them is moody, self-absorbed, and uses the pen to lash out at perceived betrayals when a relationship ends…… And the other one used to date a Jonas Brother.  But anyhoo, we thought we would quiz the loyal readers of Israellycool. Good luck!


On Empathy for the Other

A) I’ll encourage them to read real histories of Israel’s war of independence, histories that explode the myth that most Palestinian refugees left their homes willingly. I’ll encourage them to consume as much Palestinian poetry, literature, journalism and film as possible. I want them to see how Israel looks from the other side.

B) So hey, let’s be friends
I’m dying to see how this one ends
Grab your passport and my hand
I can make the bad guys good for a weekend

On Sneaking Around

A) I heard, oh, that you’ve been out and about with some other girl, some other girl.
He says, “What you’ve heard is true but I
Can’t stop thinking about you,” and I…
I said, “I’ve been there, too, a few times.”

B) Last summer we took our children to Israel for two weeks. We went to the beach, and the desert, and spent Shabbat in Jerusalem, and I ducked off for a day to participate in a protest in Hebron. My kids deepened their connection to Israel; I assuaged my conscience.

Self Image

A) I have no idea how the new law will be enforced. I suspect, as often happens, that the greatest victims will be people who lack my Jewish privilege — particularly Palestinians

B) I go on too many dates [chuckle] But I can’t make them stay
At least that’s what people say, mmm-mmm
That’s what people say, mmm-mmm

OMG I HATE HATE HATE my EX!

A) And the saddest fear comes creeping in
That you never loved me or her, or anyone, or anything, yeah
I knew you were trouble when you walked in

B) Now, in my long-running battle with Netanyahu for my children’s identity, the Prime Minister has struck an unexpected blow.

On Difficult Breakups

A) You go talk to your friends, talk to my friends, talk to me
But we are never ever ever ever getting back together
Like, ever…

B) Now, it seems, the Knesset wants me to choose. Either stop visiting Israel or stop opposing the occupation. In a variety of ways, that’s the deal Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been offering American Jews for close to a decade now. Embrace Israel at the cost of your principles or embrace your principles at the cost of Israel.


Tune in next week for the answers to our quiz!

3 thoughts on “Quiz: Is it a Peter Beinart Op-Ed or Taylor Swift Breakup Song?”

  1. Wow. What incredible narcissism. He doesn’t sound like Taylor Swift, he sounds like an emo teenage girl, who listens to Taylor Swift. The Knesset doesn’t want you to choose. The Knesset doesn’t really care about your emo angsty dilemmas, it’s just that one generally doesn’t invite pests into ones kitchen.

  2. This is rich. This guy lives in the U.S., but thinks he has as much right as an Israeli citizen to proffer his opinion or criticism of Israel? And then he is delusional enough to express how he is actually offended by Israeli government policy and that it doesn’t represent HIM? Mr Beinart, in any reality, you would need to pay your taxes here and serve in the army, and put up with insane drivers, and people waiving their fingers folded together, right in your face, all the time, not just for 2 weeks. By all means, criticise Netanyahu, Bennett, and anyone else. You might also consider criticising Assad, Abbas, Mugabi, Kim Jon Un, etc, but at some point you do need to remember that this is not your fight. It’s not your life being threatened for being a Jew and wanting to continue to live in your ancestors’ land. It’s not your blood being called to be spilled as part of someone’s idea of gaining honour. By the way, why didn’t you take the kids along to the protest in Hebron?

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