[runarberg]

You talk of Palestinians as if they have no agency.

Let me ask you this. Were Catholics in Northern Ireland brainwashed to hate the English? Or is it simply more plausible that living under occupation where the rulers of your state seem to not recognize your existence naturally develop hatred towards their occupiers.

And then, who do you consider your occupier is also a subjective matter. Surely many militant Sinn Féin members felt all English were guilty for the occupation, and wanted all Protestants of their lands. Similarly I have no doubt many Hamas members feel the same. But I’m equally sure much more Irish Catholics had much more complex feelings. Most probably made distinctions between involvements of the military, parliament, civilians, etc. and wanted some mix of control over their own affairs, equal rights, police reform, the British military off their lands, etc.

I actually don’t believe your simple narrative. The feelings Palestinians have of Israelis are equally complex as the feeling Irish Catholics had over the English. Nobody has been brainwashed (and frankly it is a bit racist to claim that) but rather have developed their own feelings with full agency.