again, move their muscles with their minds. chris bury, al jazeera, columbus, ohio. >> a reminder, go to aljazeera.com, the video on demand, the live blogz and streaming are available at aljazeera.com 24-7. >> hi, i'm lisa fletcher and you're in the stream. are they more polarized than ever, how the military is handling the crisis. after decades of turmoil what's different now?

my co-host and digital producer wajahat ali is here. israel and palestine there's obviously a lot of conflict but sometimes there's also agreement particularly this mutual dislike of what their mutual governments are doing and how they're doing it. >> the third rail of, sweet scribe has a sweet note. great irony. boast jews and arabs are semites. canned we just get along? to quote hemingway, wouldn't it be good to think so? i believe the only way is a one

state solution, that allows for equal for palestinians and israelis. >> if there are many things that palestinians seem to agree on its their opposition to actions in gaza. >> let me ask you sir -- >> is hamas a terrorist organization, let -- yes or no? is hamas what part of it can't you get through your thick head? >> school? >> is hamas a terrorist organization, yes or no? >> consume? >> that clip has got b gotten a lot of attention, attracting millions of views. although most question sean hannity's posing of that

question, how has the latest political opinion over gaza directsince 2006? vice president of arab american democrats of california on skype, from prague, and from brooklyn, new york, and out of boston, massachusetts, asmat jober. human rights activist and entrepreneur. ahmed, whether hamas is a terrorist organization, many do question. who is hamas? >> very relevant question. within the context of politicization, and the process of democratization, they begin to join the legitimate conversation.

within israel itself, begin and shamir, two state palestine later became prime ministers. a question of what hamas is reacting to has to be contextualized. in the late 1980s, 1987, counterweight to the terrorist du jour plo. the palestinian authority, representative arm of the plo in the territories is regarded as the ideal moderate, the partnership piece which underscores the argument that shams another political player that got to be permitted to engage in the political conversation, a legitimate part of the palestinian people, elected legitimately in 2006, free and fair elections, alleviate ledges -- legislative elections.

>> yes do you think that palestinians are more focused on getting services, getting schools built, having sustained water and power than they are with the politics absorbed with hamas? >> absolutely. and israel will try to use hamas as a scapegoat and deliberately trying to use it to dehumanize the palestinians. as somebody who was born in jerusalem and grew up in a village in the outskirts of northwest jerusalem can i can tell you how inhumane is the occupation. and bring that sense of the problem, and that springs the root of the problem. the problem here is the occupation. as someone lived under the military occupation i could tell you, how collective punishment that have been imposed on palestinians by israel, that if i did not find the right people

and i did not find the right resources, i wouldn't be here today. because most of my peers, they passed away or they were killed before they even reached their teen years. now, in terms of fixing the infrastructure, is not something easy because israel come and destroy, and as benjamin netanyahu said over and over, he is mowing mowing the lawn. so every time the palestinian build, israel come back and destroy everything. so palestinians right now they are focused on fetting the -- getting the basic human needs which is water and electricity. i just got off the phone with my sister 15 minutes ago to get the up to date status quo what's been going on. they have been without water for couple of days right now, while

israeli settlers on the border are enjoying their swimming pool. >> during this crisis, criticize fatah, our community says susan, in fact to do so would actually further the palestinian cause throughout the world in ways it desperately need. susan says, that's the heart of matter, the criticism, can the palestinians be accused, is it a sign that you shouldn't really criticize the leadership during the gaza crisis because it will undermine the cause or is there some openness to criticize the leadership? >> i mean for me personally, in the past couple of weeks i've been an antisemite, i've been pro-hamas, my criticism of the state of israel and the war crimes that are being committed in gaza right now have really labeled many palestinian americans and have actually chilled speech among many

palestinian americans definitely not me because of the crisis that's happening right now. look i don't support indiscriminate rockets from hamas to israel that is a fact. but if that is in fact what is happening that too is a war crime. but let's remember, there have been 1900 plus gazans who have been killed more than 30% of them children. that is the question here. saying. this is a 66-year military occupation. this started way before hamas was there. hamas was not in in 1948, when 750,000 palestinians were driven from their land. hamas was not there when the massacres occurred when thousands of palestinians were killed. i feel like hamas again is being scapegoated and while our government here has deemed them a terrorist organization, the question really is, could we equate hamas with the state of israel or is israel given a free pass because they're actually quote, a legitimate government

recognized by the u.s? i think a lot of the conversations we're having is basically based on the position as the u.s. i don't have the same positions as the united states government as an american and i think that's the larger conversation. >> ahmed the u.s -- >> can i say something, can i add something -- >> sure go ahead. >> as a palestinian american i agree with and i add to what linda said. this is a humanitarian crisis. and we have to treat it as such. and by having an embassy to the people in gaza, the civilians in gaza doesn't make me pro-hamas or anti-israel or anti-semite, this is a pure reaction to the crisis that's taken place in gaza. >> ahmed, linda mentioned that the u.s. considers hamas a terrorist organization. why do you think hamas is

considered as a terrorist organization? >> breaking up. >> i'm curious why do you think the u.s. takes that position? >> it happens for a number of reasons. the united states has spent a whole lot of effort and i think some of it in good faith, resources as well building on the palestinian authority to reinforce the oslo process which commenced in madrid 1991 later on oslo in '93 and then into the '90s and today. really a 20-year process of building up what's called a moderate palestinian partner for peace. in reality, from the perspective of palestinians, the palestinian authority is little more than an outsourced occupation, native occupation on and so when you ask the question, can we criticize our leaders, i think i could say and i think i'd be

fairly relevan representative wi make the statement, when palestinians go out to protest the west bank, the first group that's there to prevent them from demonstrating are palestinian authority policemen, people who were trained by the americans, general keith dayton, underground in the west bank, whose primary responsibility is to keep quiet in the west bank. the whole objective that the americans thought they could demonstrate to the palestinians in the gaza strip good governance in the west bank, good governance really what they saw it was the pass fisk pacification, just reiterating reiterating reiterate

thawr apartheid there. >> as all of you know, most palestinians are not living inside historic palestine as we know it today. and we do need a leadership that is implement strategy based on resistance and anti-normalization, until israel complies with international law and until palestinians have full equality everywhere. >> i think that's a point that's worth emphasizing as well. this isn't a palestinian struggle, it is a struggle for justice in palestine. so many of our friends and people who stand in solidarity with the palestinian people whether they be arabs or muslims or crufnts o christians or american of different types, jewish voices for peace in the united states

today it's really a motley crew of people who are pursuing justice in palestine. >> for the sake of time let me get this video comment in from a palestinian viewer. give a listen. >> palestinian citizens because of the arab sincerity that exists in society. they constantly are linked to being part of hamas. >> why don't you think palestinian americans haven't been able to mobilize as well as apac right here in america? >> because the palestinian american community we do have internal issues and competing interests. we have organizations that don't represent the palestinian cause like american transport for palestine, which dines and wines with the ambassadors and don't represent the palestinian community. we're part of the country where we're being attacked

by islamophones. this is -- islamophobes. to be honest, the opposition doesn't have more money than us or a larger population than us, we need to sit down and strategy and you know, wajahat, i think we're committed to that. >> we're out of time, i want to thank all of our guests. coming up next where do jewish americans stand on these issue and can supporters of israel oppose the government's action without being accused disimloyalty within their community? >> al jazeera america presents >> it's a beginning of a new life for me. i can't keep running from everything. >> 15 stories one incredible journey edge of eighteen

coming september only on al jazeera america >> al jazeera america >> this is the very tail section it was burning when we got here >> unbiased reporting... >> the violence has continued >> the violence has continued just a couple of miles from here >> in depth coverage... >> we've got a military escort allowing us to feel a further than everyone else... >> real global perspective >> this was clearly an attack against them... >> from around the world, to the issues right here at home >> ...shouldn't been brought here in the first place... >> we're not here to take over >> real stories... real people... real understanding... >> where you scared when you hear the bombs? >> al jazeera america real... news...

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stream. >> welcome back. we're exploring how the gaza-palestinian crisis is crossing the ocean . raquel sacs. and out of new york, rebecca, and from los angeles, corie feinstein . ariel chessler. thank you for being here. 7 million jews in the united states. they all know the answer to not. what is the significance of the state of israel to american jews? >> i think that depends. so many other questions depend on who you are, broad and diverse community, just like any other community in the united states, i think what's happened,

as this gaza assault has unfolded, we're critical of action he but can't offer israel un, support. >> raquel, do you think the current crisis is polarizing the american jewish community? >> i think more than polarizing, giving the american people the have a voice. some people try to shy away from talking about this conflict but now it's gotten to a point where they can't be quiet, they want to be heard. you see it more than ever, israelis are supporting the government and you'll see that among the jewish community. >> i do think there are a growing part of the community who are very, very, hopeful, presenting presentingpresenting a united fh

doesn't exist. >> is commitment to israel an intrat part of modern -- integral part of the american community? j street would certainly argue, and j street is seeing leastie as the opposite view of apac. jessie says i think so but not necessarily supporting lekd. supporting supporting >> what should.itbe? >> american jews should understand, if you look at all the rallies and protests and chants in europe and elsewhere, that's a very painful reminder of how important israel is as a

refuge for jews around the world. >> corrie, waj mentioned j street. which supports israel without supporting the government policies, do you see increasing space for groups like that? >> i would actually say even with regard to the last question, the recent kind of crisis in gaza i think the crisis is causing some jews, even progressive anti-settlement jews to really see israel's right to defend itself, when they seek hamas and gaza, you see whole sections, they don't agree with the operation. they don't agree the operation is doing in gaza. they are struggling but they don't know how to address the terrorist issues that israeli ha --israel has to do with. they disagree with israel's right to defend itself in much of the same way they see people

on j street kind of behaving. >> rebecca, polls indicate that seven in 10 identify as democratic, they lean democratic. is there a rub between liberal jews in america and the conservative israeli government and what's the effect of that? >> there's a phrase we eing say pep, progressive , accept palestine, as the american jewish community remains general liberal, there is a divergence between the american jewish community and their ability to support what israel is doing. >> if i may add, i think you're talking about the american jewish community as being democratic and the israeli community as an opposite. i don't think that your values

of being pro-israel means you can't be a democratic democrat here. israel is one of the most progressive countries in the middle east. you can be an openly gay man and serve in the military where that's not true for other countries in the region. >> we asked this question for some american jews is it possible to be pro-palestine now and pro-israeli, what does that look like? shim says most likely yes but no to pro-terror. all who care about humanity are pro-israel and pro-palestine, yes you can support your own heritage without stealing and taking from others. corrie, how can you be pro-palestine and pro-israeli? how could that look like? >> i would say throughout community you can follow the trends on facebook and twitter and such like that. you see this framing as israel

versus hamas. kind of frame this as this is a war that israel is having against hamas not against the palestinians. and i see a lot of jews kind of forming this kind of opinion. no we aren't pro-palestine, not supporting the are situation. >> i'm going to put this conversation on pause. still ahead, is the next generation of jewish americans upholding their parents' values

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>> it's really the duty ofamerin obligation to be critical of that israeli government because what the israeli government does, they do in our name. i think particularly young american jews are becoming much more critical. >> welcome back. we're discussing how the gaza-israel crisis has impacted the american view of the situation. pro-palestinian, pro-israel what do you think about that? >> i consider myself pro-israel and pro-palestine, i want to see peace between these sides. you can be both and the majority of american jews are. >> cory. is there a widening generational shift on the part of americans and their reactions to the israeli don't?

>> yes, i woulding say that juice jews are under attack from the rest of the world, and really, israel was under attack its first 30 years. most are under the impression that israel is weak. current generation millenial grew up to where, fraimtio framings of what israel is as a society. so i think young millenial older generations definitely fear a lot more than the younger generation. >> you both have young daughters, i want to ask each of you and respond sort of succinctly if you don't mind, how do you talk to them about israel? ariel, you begin. >> i was

actually having to cancel a trip we were doing there. i want my daughter to have strong connections to israel. i talked to her about bad guys, hamas, not the palestinian people. she has a very simple understanding of it. i wanted to respond to the millenial thing you asked. younger generation are losing sight of the context and history. even though israel is a military powerhouse now, there is a reason it has to be that way. centuries long jew-hatred in the region and many, many wars that have been started against israel. so maybe that's been lost. >> rebecca how do you talk to your daughters about israel? >> yeah, well my daughters are actually israeli as is my husband and we lived in israel for many years. this is very personal for all of us. the message they need to hear from me is to be jewish is to be

pro-social justice and pro-equality, that is a fundamentally jewish value. part of our application as jews is to speak out even when it means criticizing israel. i encourage them not to be loyal to a state per se but to the values we hold most dear equality and justice. >> sarah writes, i'm an american jew, i'm critical of all parties' actions. what we are witnesses is the nuances not us versus them it's imperfect. >> as being equally critical of yourself as others. >> everyone wants to get to that promised land of peace how we get there is a debate but we should have a dialogue. >> thanks omy guests. until next time waj and i will online

you >> welcome to al jazeera america. i'm del walters. these are the stories that we're following for you. the u.s. sending in more manpower into iraq to help those stranded on a mountain. israelis and palestinians waiting for word about ongoing peace negotiations in egypt. plus there has been another shooting in those st. louis issues where police shot and killed a teenager.