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To Simone Zimmerman, from a schoolmate — and IDF soldier

“We challenge the press to find a single person displeased about Bernie hiring @simonerzim who doesn’t have far right views on Israel.”
[additional-authors]
April 15, 2016

“We challenge the press to find a single person displeased about Bernie hiring @simonerzim who doesn’t have far right views on Israel.”

Me. 

My newsfeed lit up this week with posts on the Bernie Sanders presidential campaign appointing Simone Zimmerman as “Jewish Outreach Director.” I usually avoid political conversations at all costs. It’s not worth the arguments. I’m not a politician and I’m definitely not politically correct. But I feel I need to speak out now. 

I studied at the same high school as Simone Zimmerman. Over the past 48 hours, I’ve read her different articles and statements, and watched her stances on YouTube. I’ve read the comments people have left on her articles, and it quite honestly scares me — because the people commenting don’t seem to have any firsthand experience or knowledge about the issues. 

The Sanders campaign suspended her position almost as quickly as it gave it to her. Now the hashtag #IStandWithSimone has gone viral — where her supporters blame her getting fired on her support of ending “the occupation.” No, it was her foul language and rude rants that came back to haunt her. Enough people support finding a solution and creating two states — this wasn’t the reason behind her getting fired. She has been morphed into a talking piece for the far left — she avoids looking at the good Israel does stand for and the unfair treatment of Israel in the world and focuses only on the bad. That is not pro-Israel. That is not pro-peace.

In her Internet rants on Israeli politics and politicians, Zimmerman also insults our high school and teachers, claiming that she was not provided real content. One of the great experiences in high school is absorbing the knowledge put forth by our teachers and using what we’ve learned to engage and evolve as we enter the real world. Our high school did all of that — and beyond. We were provided a safe environment where we could ask hard questions. Our teachers were educators but were also friends. Our high school taught us Torah, instilled the values and teachings of our religion in us while also providing us with the opportunity to build our own bond with Israel. 

The school taught us tikkun olam — or how to make the world better — starting with our communities. Most graduates move on to college and are expected to remember where they came from and to continue fighting for good, not blindly spewing Israel support. But to listen and engage, to build bridges and not barriers — this is where Zimmerman apparently lost her way. 

I served in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF)proudly. I stood at the checkpoints everyone always talks about. I checked IDs, I checked cars, I checked bags. I was easily the most hated soldier at checkpoints, the one everyone tried to avoid. I approached my job professionally and as compassionately as possible, with the highest level of respect for human life and dignity. Knowing dogs are impure in Islam, we were taught to request that Muslims remove any religious article from their cars and belongings before dogs were sent in to check. At the same time, I had activists groups yelling I was an occupier, a human rights violator, and other profanities I won’t repeat here. But where were they when my dog found a bomb? 

There are real security issues Israel deals with every minute of every day, and the Palestinians need to take accountability for their propagation and promotion of continued hatred and violence in their educational and political systems, and in their homes. This is by no means Israeli “occupation” of a passive peace-seeking population, and any characterization of this conflict as such is ignorant naivete. 

I finished my service. Went to school. Started a business. Got married and had kids. I see the world a lot differently than I did when I was 20, even though it was not that long ago. I know the status quo isn’t working for either side. I see the pain the Palestinians experience on a daily basis. I also see the pain Israelis experience. It’s been almost 50 years since the 1967 Six-Day War and there have been too many political mistakes on both sides that have led us to where we are now. 

I don’t see any point in looking at all the mistakes or pointing fingers. Nitpicking through the past won’t change our future. That’s not going to make Israel safe and it’s not going to give the Palestinians the state they want. 

When it comes to deciding Israel’s future, some spoiled American Jew with no real experience or knowledge of the issues won’t be making the tough decisions. Her children won’t be the ones on the front lines protecting our homeland and our people from the many real threats Israel faces every day. My children will be. And I will fight for a better future for them — but I’ll do so being moderate, being fair, and not trampling on the people who added to my education and helped turn me into the person I am today. 

I’m the first to criticize Israel. I hold Israel to a higher standard because it’s my country. I want it to be the best it can be for all of its citizens. There are days we take steps forward and days we take steps back. However, at the end of the day, I know my country stands for all things good. 

I’ve always hated the term hasbara, or “explanation.” I don’t feel Israel owes anyone an explanation for anything. I certainly don’t see other countries being held to the same standard as Israel. The anti-Israel rhetoric and actions of the U.N. only fuel Israeli skepticism over peace. With all the atrocities going on in the world (and I am definitely not ignoring the pain and suffering of Palestinians), how is it that Israel is always the bad guy? 

If Bernie Sanders really cares about Israel, as he claims he does, he would appoint someone who actually wants a better Israel, not someone who is trying to make a name for herself by spreading anti-Israel rhetoric.

Zimmerman sttates in one of her more recent articles that millennials are angry. What millennials? Young Jews are more interested in “Keeping Up with the Kardashians” than keeping up with what’s going on in the world or Israel. Most young Jews want a free trip to Israel so they can extend their trip and jump on over to Europe and spend their time in Israel cavorting with the Israeli soldiers as they partake in tourist-laden activities devoid of any real native authenticity. 

In fact, a majority of the Jews I know don’t care. Don’t have an opinion. When there are talks about getting Jews of the Diaspora involved, it’s to actually connect them with what is going on, not show them Israel is good and everyone else is bad. So many are entering intermarriages, are not involved with synagogues or keeping with traditions — this is the problem. The different trips and programs are made to involve them more and connect them with their religion and heritage, not to turn them into Israeli propaganda mouthpieces. 

Although Israel is far, far from perfect, and I disagree with many of its policies, Israel is not a pariah. And when anyone attacks the morality of the IDF, Israelis in general, or Israel, I will not be silent. I won’t engage in anti-Israel or anti-Palestinian rhetoric, and I denounce all the NGOs trying to add fuel to the fire, ones on both the right and left wings. We are so busy demonizing the other side that we are steering ourselves away from the dialogue we so desperately need to have. 

It’s easy to say we can boycott or protest. We’re not talking about a pipeline being built or a building being torn down. We’re talking about one of the most complex conflicts in history, one that so many people over the past 50 years have tried to solve. 

I would love for there to be peace. What mother wants to send her child to war? However, saying, “End the occupation” or “Justice for all people” just goes to show how ignorant these individuals are. 

The idea that Israel can just “pull out” of the West Bank is more sad than dumb. The fact that people think there is a quick fix or solution to the West Bank is absurd. Peace cannot be forced. Both sides need to want it. When we get there, both sides will have to make painful sacrifices for the future of the two states. But right now, we don’t have leaders who can lead us through the dialogue. Instead, we have leaders leading us away from the dialogue and outside factors further complicating the already complex situation. I am confident, however, that my children and their generation will be better and that my generation will continue to evolve and work for a better future for our children. 

All Jews should be involved in Israel, should be engaged and should criticize constructively. We need more programs where we can build bridges with the Palestinians and learn to work together. However, how can we make progress when we are not firmly rooted in who we are? After all, if I am not for myself, who will be for me? I think I remember learning the importance of this in high school.


Katie Iulius was born and raised in Los Angeles. She attended de Toledo High School – formally known as New Community Jewish High School and served as a combat soldier in a special forces unit of the IDF.

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