THREAD: Why I’m no longer anti-Zionist, why I condemn Hamas (not that I’ve ever supported them), why I believe in peace for Israelis and why I take back the nasty, ignorant things I have said in the past (last year).

Please listen and have an open mind.

1. Being Palestinian, I grew up being conditioned to think a certain way and I’ve never put the effort to have a fair, level-headed perspective on the issue regarding Palestine and Israel. Because of that, I was a follower and not the leader I am today in the way that I think.

2. I’ve spoken to Israelis and/or Jewish persons, I have done my own personal research online and through communication with people targeted in my hate speech. I apologize to their communities alike and thank them for enlightening me on a side of this issue I’ve neglected.

3. I made a comment about throwing rocks at Israeli soldiers. This comment was wrongly justified, and soldiers have actually died from this form of violence. Regardless of political view, this is wrong, violent and as a non-violent person, does not represent me.

4. Anti-Zionism is anti-Semitism, and I have nothing but love for the Jewish people and believe in their right to co-exist on the land I also call home. Therefore I am not anti-Zionist, but I am anti-violence, and that’s where I condemn Hamas as a terrorist organization.

5. I apologize sincerely to Israelis, Jewish people and those who identity as both, and I believe in a future where we can co-exist, and I support the journey to that future. This has been a huge self-development and it won’t change. This is a view I chose, not conditioned into.

6. Last note: I want to emphasize my sincerest apologies to Israel and the Jewish people. I want to emphasize co-existence. I want to emphasize that this doesn’t change my love for my people, and I want to emphasize that hamas has made this dream a war.

Thank you for reading.