The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict’s Impact on Southern Oregon

The War in Gaza has led to many protests in the United States. Specifically in cities like New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Washington D.C, etc. But what about here in Southern Oregon? Here are the many incidents and the lasting impact of the Israel-Hamas War in the Rogue Valley.

Ashland

There was an incident in Ashland regarding two former Southern Oregon University students. They have vandalized the Chabad Jewish Center in Ashland. They were caught on camera throwing eggs at the building and shouting antisemitic slurs as well as praises for Hitler. They have been arrested and charged with 2nd-degree bias crime and 3rd-degree criminal mischief. They are no longer attending Southern Oregon University.

Phoenix

In Phoenix, there was a lot of graffiti. The graffiti said things like “CEASEFIRE”, “PEACE”, “NO MORE WAR”, and “WHY ARE WE PAYING FOR WAR?”. All are referencing the failed ceasefire negotiations and the United States helping fund Israel in their war effort. No one knows who spray-painted the bridge and walls in Phoenix but they made their stance on the war known.

White City

Even the war has an impact on my current place of residence in White City. A car windshield had the words “End Zionism”. Zionism is a nationalist movement in which Jews believed in helping establish a homeland for Jewish people in what would be known as Israel. This perpetrator who wrote this on a windshield does not believe in the movement. Not sure if the car was vandalized or not but either way whoever wrote this does not believe in the Zionist ideology.

The conflict in Gaza has many people split on the conflict. Some believe that Israel is the victim and say that they have a right to defend themselves. Others believe that the Palestinians have a right to claim land that was originally theirs. Some see Hamas as freedom fighters and others see them as terrorists. But in reality, the citizens from both sides of the border are the real victims. They have either lost their homes or were taken away from them. Even in other parts of the world, the victims are people of Arab or Jewish descent. They have had to suffer through a lot of hate crimes. Even death itself. This conflict spreads a lot of hate.

There needs to be a solution to it. As long as the war goes on it’s gonna continue. Until there is a ceasefire signed, it ends. Or maybe a world superpower like the United States could help end it. But it depends on the government of the United States in the coming months, especially in an election year. Whoever is the next president needs to stop this conflict. Because it’s spreading to other parts of the world even in small towns like Phoenix, White City, and Ashland. The war simply needs to end.