Rawan Osman روان عثمان
The most unexpected backlash I’ve faced since becoming an outspoken advocate for Israel has come from the European Left. Not the far-right. Not Islamists. But left-leaning journalists, students—even former friends—have accused me of being a fascist simply for supporting Israel’s right to exist and defend itself. I’ve been pressured to appear “neutral,” as if moral balance requires standing at the same distance between Israelis and Palestinians. But when was the last time a pro-Palestine activist was asked to be “neutral”? This isn’t just coming from fringe mobs on campus. It’s also coming from so-called moderates—those who claim moral superiority while ignoring the reality on the ground. I’ve realized that much of their hostility isn’t just about politics. It’s personal. I don’t fit their stereotype of what a Syrian woman is supposed to believe. They are uncomfortable with someone from the Middle East who thinks differently from their curated circle of “authentic voices.” They want to dictate what I feel, what I say, what I stand for — while calling me fascist. This is not progressive. It’s paternalism in disguise.