Can't speak honestly about Israel

 When class ended, I turned off the lights and stepped into the dark hallway — and out of the shadows, a white T-shirt suddenly appeared right in front of me. It was one of my students. She seemed to have waited until everyone else had left. She hesitantly opened her mouth. “I’m a political science major and my professor is also critical of the Taiwanese government’s attitude toward Israel….”

In class that day, we started with the news about Netanyahu’s speech at the UN — how so many delegations walked out, and how the area outside the UN was packed with protesters. From there, we talked about government manipulation of information, and Taiwan’s stance toward Israel came up. That must have been what she was referring to. In the dim hallway, she went on. “But if Taiwan joins in criticizing Israel, it’s obvious that would upset Trump. That would be dangerous for Taiwan when it comes to China. What Israel’s doing is unforgivable but… we can’t say that out loud. I don’t know how to explain it — it’s just so frustrating.”

It sounded like what she really wanted was for me to understand that frustration. Most of the other students didn’t even know what stance the Taiwanese government is taking toward Israel. Since it wasn’t something being talked about much in the news — or on social media — some even said maybe the government was neutral. She, the political science major, didn’t speak up during class. Maybe it was because she didn’t, or couldn’t take part in that discussion that she was still standing there in the dark afterward.

As she talked, she began to struggle to find her words. I could tell her emotions were building up. I wanted to tell her, “You’re not the only one who feels torn like this.” People who don’t know much about Gaza or Taiwan’s pro-Israel stance probably don’t feel that kind of conflict — but nothing ever comes out of ignorance and/or apathy. People just end up being deceived and jerked around.

“Emergency!” they say. “No time to think! China’s about to attack!” ―I wanted to tell her: don’t get swept up in that. Take your time. Stop and think. It’s okay to hesitate, to feel lost, and to ask yourself what kind of world you actually want to live in in the future. That’s what really matters.

I’m not sure if I managed to get that across. But after talking for a while, she seemed a bit lighter somehow and went home.

It seems to me that among young people in Taiwan, there’s this growing belief that “I want peace, but since China might start a war, we need to strengthen our military and rely on the U.S. and Japan’s military assistance.” So even though Abe did real harm to Japan’s democracy, he’s still seen by many as “a true friend of Taiwan” just because he said, “if Taiwan goes to war so does Japan.” The same goes for Trump — and for Israel, which is supported simply for being anti-China and pro-Taiwan. (Hardly any young people know about the history of Israel supplying arms to Taiwan when the U.S. Congress hesitated to approve sales.) I can’t help but think — I hope — that more people, like that student, can stay in that space of confusion and frustration a little longer, instead of rushing to take sides too quickly.　（Achuan）