It has been more than two weeks since the Israel-Hamas war took centre stage in world politics. People witnessed the death of innocent civilians in both Israel and Gaza. As an Indian student at the University of Haifa pursuing PhD on the Indian Jewish migration to Israel, I was forced to take a stand on whether or not I support Israel. It is a conundrum for anybody taking a neutral stance in support of humanity within the current geopolitical issue.
Having studied liberal social sciences in India, I have seen how Indian academics treat the Israel-Palestine issue. Most will subtly push you to take a stand loosely based on one premise: If you support Israel, then you are a Zionist. To many, this label connotes a racist attitude toward Palestinians. It confounds me to this day as to why experts associate Zionism with apartheid when it actually includes various strands of thoughts and ideologies. Would they call Ahad Ha’am’ — one of the foremost pre-State Zionist thinkers — and his view of Zionism racist too? The Hebrew journalist envisioned a Jewish “spiritual centre” where Jews could live with dignity with other communities.
The lack of identification with Israel often creates a dilemma for wholehearted support of the Palestinian cause and nation. In the Indian context, certain Hindu groups have expressed unwavering support for Israel, while many Islamic organisations have shown solidarity for the Palestinian cause. So, supporting Israel in India brands you as a sympathiser of the Hindus and an Islamophobe. I wish there was a category to address those who stand in the middle—and a way to escape this binary.
Moreover, the line between advocating for the Palestinian cause and supporting Hamas or other terrorist organisations that use methods of extreme violence to win a Palestinian State is often blurred. I view the Palestinian struggle with utmost respect. I hope that this protracted conflict — that is what the student community in India and the world calls it — reaches a solution where both Israelis and Palestinians enjoy a dignified living.
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Being called Israeli ‘mouthpiece’
My interest in Indian Jewish communities emerged out of a curiosity to know more about the various Indian diasporas spread across the world. I believe studying about Indian Jews gives one a greater understanding of diaspora studies. That I am from Kerala, a state known for a small yet vibrant Jewish community of Cochin Jews, spurred me to explore the subject.
The ‘liberal’ structure of academia has put me in a fix many times. Fellow academics have variously called me a Zionist sympathiser who takes Israeli money/scholarships, tries to promote the so-called ‘Jewish agenda,’ and whitewashes Israeli actions before others. One even labelled me a “mouthpiece” for Israel. Friends share articles criticising Israel, and I have no choice but to remain silent — I am not keen on arguing with them and defending my opinions. A friend even suggested I quit the current PhD programme and shift to Europe or the United States, for graduating from Israel “may harm” my future prospects in any Left, liberal-dominated academic establishments. I often receive YouTube or podcast videos showcasing the difficult life of Palestinians and atrocities committed by the Israeli State. In most cases, I am unable to verify these incidents, as disinformation regarding this subject has been rampant. Many try to challenge my silence by sharing video snippets of prominent Jewish academics, including Ilan Pappe and Norman Finkelstein, who criticise Israel and call it a “racist country”.
Despite the push-and-pull nature of the issue, I strive to remain unbiased and unaligned with either party. Only then can I pursue my research and critique both Israel and Palestine in an academic manner where facts and data are key to making conclusions instead of letting emotions get in the way of conflict resolution.
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Break the Zionists vs Palestinians binary
As a follower of both traditional and new-age media, I see that many Indians, mostly the liberal, Left-leaning, urban elites understand the West Asian crisis in a twisted way. It is difficult for them to address this issue as an Israel-Hamas war — instead, they compel themselves and others to believe that it is simply an ‘Israel-Palestine conflict’. From my understanding, Israel’s real war is with Hamas and the various terror proxies and not with innocent Palestinians. Missing such nuances can lead to flawed conclusions because even a small change in the wording can generate a completely new perspective and make the perpetrator a victim.
The protests by students of leading liberal academic institutions such as Harvard and Stanford calling Israel “an apartheid regime” and solely responsible for the 7 October attack were mind-boggling. The Left-leaning Indian academia, too, pushes one into either being a Zionist sympathiser or a part of the resistance. Rather than siding with either of these, I will now stand with truth — and truth is yet to be found. This may seem cowardly or outlandish to many, but only with a proper overview of the facts can both Israel and Palestine, along with world leaders, find a working solution that will preserve the fabric of society for generations to come. Right now, this may seem like tiptoeing on glass, but the risk must be taken if we want to see an end to the bloodshed and move to a brighter future.
Suraj Rajan Kadanthodu, the writer is a doctoral student of Israel Studies at the University of Haifa, Israel. Views are personal.
(Edited by Humra Laeeq)