Elizabeth Arif-Fear is an award-winning writer, activist, and British Muslim. In a recent Twitter thread, she described her transformation from Israel hater to someone with a more balanced, nuanced view.
2. I said I’d never go. I felt u comfy at the word Israel. I avoided certain drinks as I felt I’d be letting down Palestinian kids. Kosher stuff fine but didn’t want from Israel
— Elizabeth Arif-Fear (@Voice_of_Salam) November 15, 2019
3.. I separated in my mind Jews + Israel. I didn’t hate Jews but I sure didn’t like Israel. I didn’t know what Zionism really meant. I didn’t know what having a Jewish State meant to Jews. I didn’t know about the farhud. I knew less about Sephardi Jews.
— Elizabeth Arif-Fear (@Voice_of_Salam) November 15, 2019
4. I sure didn’t know about Mizrahi Iraqi Jews kicked out and killed just for being Jewish
— Elizabeth Arif-Fear (@Voice_of_Salam) November 15, 2019
5.what did these views do? What does such activism do? Nothing but hurt ppl. Both Jews and Arab Palestinians. Did I even know about Arab Israelis? No. I was ignorant, ill informed. I had good intentions. I liked Jewish ppl. But it was all BS
— Elizabeth Arif-Fear (@Voice_of_Salam) November 15, 2019
6. This hurts Jewish ppl. This hurts Israelis and Palestinians and cannot end conflict.
— Elizabeth Arif-Fear (@Voice_of_Salam) November 15, 2019
7. I learnt that its not one sided. That both ppl suffer. That Israelis like all humans want peace. They just want belonging, home, safety, security.
— Elizabeth Arif-Fear (@Voice_of_Salam) November 15, 2019
8.i saw Israelis as selfish. I always thought I was anti-Zionist not antisemitic. But looking back I was. I picked Neutra Karta – didn’t even know who they were. Now I know what I believed excluded 95% of Jews. Their feelings, their history, their suffering, their longing.
— Elizabeth Arif-Fear (@Voice_of_Salam) November 15, 2019
It is very rare that someone holding such views is willing to learn, own up them and ultimately grow. I commend Ms Arif-Fear and certainly hope she is joined by many others.
