January 7, 2009 -- Isaac Shuisha, an Israeli citizen and student involved in the Palestine solidarity movement in Sydney, spoke to Green Left Weekly’s Simon Butler about the reasons behind Israel’s assault on Gaza and the campaign for a free Palestine. Shuisha is a member of the socialist youth organisation, Resistance. [See also ``Jewish and Israeli opposition to Israel's slaughter in Gaza''.]
What has motivated you to be a part of the campaign against Israel’s ongoing oppression of the Palestinian people?
Growing up in Israel, you are exposed to a very
specific narrative about the history of Israel/Palestine. In this
story, all that “we Israelis” ever wanted is to live in peace, but
alas, all the Arab people surrounding us want nothing less than to
drive us all into the sea.
In Israel, this is considered to be the indisputable truth, which
you hear every time you read the paper, every time you go to school,
every time you talk to your parents.
This is why most Israelis support the current attacks on Gaza:
after being exposed to this overwhelming brainwashing, people really
believe that this attack on Gaza is the only way to defend ourselves.