Current Events > Shapiro once wrote essay that Palestinians are too 'battle-minded' to have state

(+) Yeah! (+)

Disclaimer up front: Josh Shapiro wrote this when he was 20, and his staff when reached out claimed he has changed his views since then.
Still, this may be a potential blow to his VP candidacy considering the importance of this issue to young people and how it could impact swing state Michigan.

https://www.inquirer.com/politics/election/josh-shapiro-israel-gaza-peace-column-vice-president-20240802.html

In the opinion article, titled Peace not possible, Shapiro, then a 20-year-old student at the University of Rochester, argued that a negotiated accord between Israeli and Palestinian leaders would not end conflict in the region, writing: Using history as precedent, peace between Arabs and Israelis is virtually impossible and will never come.
He described the Arab world as fractious, and wrote that the then-Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat was in danger of being assassinated by his fellow belligerent Arabs.

Palestinians will not coexist peacefully, Shapiro wrote. They do not have the capabilities to establish their own homeland and make it successful even with the aid of Israel and the United States. They are too battle-minded to be able to establish a peaceful homeland of their own.

The op-ed was published in the Campus Times, the student newspaper at the university where Shapiro was once the student body president.An Inquirer reporter accessed the article this week in the newspapers archives, which are maintained by the schools library system.

Shapiro wrote the college newspaper op-ed in September 1993, days after the first Oslo Accord was signed and outlined a potential pathway to end conflict in the region. His piece came just after the famous handshake between Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and Arafat, chairman of the Palestinian Liberation Organization, on the White House lawn as President Bill Clinton looked on.

In the article, Shapiro said Arafat was an egotistical, power-hungry tyrant who is in danger of being assassinated by his fellow belligerent Arabs because he does not represent the majority opinion.

He continued, writing that the only way a peace plan will be successful is if the Palestinians do not ruin it.

I find it impractical to believe that factions of Arabs can miraculously unite in peace as Palestinians, so they can coexist with Israel, he wrote.

Shapiro concluded, writing, Despite my skepticism as a Jew and a past volunteer in the Israeli army, I strongly hope and pray that this peace plan will be successful. History is not made by diplomatic handshakes between two political leaders but rather when two age-old foes can have the courage to stop hating, begin healing and exist in peace and tranquility.

Khalil Jahshan, executive director of The Arab Center Washington D.C., a nonpartisan think tank, said Shapiros views expressed in the article would have been considered right wing at the time, and that the prevailing sentiment then was excitement about the possibility of a two-state solution.

He said the language used smacks of intolerance and a bit of racism.

I dont believe in litmus tests, Jahshan said, acknowledging that the article is three decades old. But at the same time, it is his own words ... His name is on it. He has to assume responsibility for it. If he is indeed, as everybody knows, espousing different ideas, then its his responsibility to explain that.

You gotta wonder, did Shapiro even know what the Nakba was when he wrote this?

The problem isnt that he wrote dumb shit as a 20-something, its that as governor he has cracked down on people who (according to him) wrote dumb shit as 20-somethings.

His actions are perfectly in line with this mentality, he's just less brazen about it now.

His actions and statements now show he still thinks this way. He's just better about not openly saying it.

Funny how he forgot to mention that an Israeli extremist assassinated Israeli PM Yitzhak Rabin for daring to propose peace

kaiolino posted...

The problem isnt that he wrote dumb shit as a 20-something, its that as governor he has cracked down on people who (according to him) wrote dumb shit as 20-somethings.

I agree, but I don't think it's gonna help him that he has his name on this piece that is so ahistorical and, let's be real, pretty hateful/dehumanizing to Palestinians and Arabs.

Kamala needs to heed Pelosi and pick Walz as her VP candidate.

kaiolino posted...

The problem isnt that he wrote dumb shit as a 20-something, its that as governor he has cracked down on people who (according to him) wrote dumb shit as 20-somethings.

What did he crack down on?

He called for a two state solution and a Palestinian state months ago and has been highly critical of Netanyahu during this conflict calling him one of the worst leaders of all time and an impediment to peace.

How he commented on protestors doesn't really have any bearing on what his views on the actual conflict are.

So many people are like totally fucking warped when it comes to the vp pick situation. You have mark Kelly clapping like a fucking seal at bibi's congress speech and shapiro despises bibi, yet if you poll the left I bet they'd take Kelly over Shapiro easily.

Shadow_Don posted...

He called for a two state solution and a Palestinian state months ago and has been highly critical of Netanyahu during this conflict calling him one of the worst leaders of all time and an impediment to peace.

How he commented on protestors doesn't really have any bearing on what his views on the actual conflict are.

So many people are like totally fucking warped when it comes to the vp pick situation. You have mark Kelly clapping like a fucking seal at bibi's congress speech and shapiro despises bibi, yet if you poll the left I bet they'd take Kelly over Shapiro easily.

Frankly Im not sure why anyone would pick Kelly. Hes a conservative dem. Fuck that noise

Tbqh anyone not voting for the Democrats because a VP has questionable views, over a dude who already given Israel whatever they want and outright wants to glass the entire Middle East doesnt actually give a shit about Palestinians. They just want to feel morally superior without actually taking any action.

MaxEffingBemis posted...

Frankly Im not sure why anyone would pick Kelly. Hes a conservative dem. Fuck that noise

To be fair, I think people have mostly changed their minds and the left is settled on Walz. Hes also my preferred pick.

I just think Shapiro still has a chance and its gonna make my head explode if the left doomer posts over Shapiro for 3 months over Gaza when he's literally in support of ending the war and establishing a Palestinian state.

BrohammedAli posted...

Tbqh anyone not voting for the Democrats because a VP has questionable views, over a dude who already given Israel whatever they want and outright wants to glass the entire Middle East doesnt actually give a shit about Palestinians. They just want to feel morally superior without actually taking any action.

While I agree, it still doesn't excuse the dems from potentially risking this entire campaign and slowing momentum No. Its not the right pick, its not the right move, and if they make that decision it calls into question everyone around Harris, and if they really are listening to the people/have good strategy long term.

Shadow_Don posted...

To be fair, I think people have mostly changed their minds and the left is settled on Walz. Hes also my preferred pick.

I just think Shapiro still has a chance and its gonna make my head explode if the left doomer posts over Shapiro for 3 months over Gaza when he's literally in support of ending the war and establishing a Palestinian state.

Im all in on Walz or Beshear but Ill be super disappointed in Shapiro. Ill still vote for them regardless but I want to see the lead up to the election

BrohammedAli posted...

Tbqh anyone not voting for the Democrats because a VP has questionable views, over a dude who already given Israel whatever they want and outright wants to glass the entire Middle East doesnt actually give a shit about Palestinians. They just want to feel morally superior without actually taking any action.

Yeah, but turnout is turnout. If we can get a VP pick who appeals to the Midwest and is a competent politician without poking a huge issue that splintered opinion of Biden's presidency, all the better. Shapiro also has that sexual harassment lawsuit one of his advisors got hit with that his office settled with an NDA on the victim. I just don't see him being a first term PA governor outweighing his baggage.

[LFAQs-redacted-quote]

It is. NOTHING should risk slowing the momentum. Momentum is everything.

MaxEffingBemis posted...

Hes a conservative dem.

People still think Biden and Harris are commie scum because they're slightly more to the left than most of the Democratic party. (And even then, barely.) I think any hope of actually running any progressive candidate at the Vice President or President level in this cycle died when they chose Harris to be the presumptive Presidential nominee.

people do dumb shit when they are 20, this isnt an issue

Doe posted...

Josh Shapiro wrote this when he was 20

Shapiro is 51.

For fucks sake, people need to stop digging up shit from 5+ years ago as some half ass gotcha moment.

Is Shapiro doing something in the present that actually merits bringing up something from literally 3 decades ago? Or are purists doing what they do best?

Ah well, Shapiro just failed the purity test.

On to the next candidate!

NatsuSama posted...

Is Shapiro doing something in the present that actually merits bringing up something from literally 3 decades ago?

To the same extent he had in his 20s? No. To the extent that stands against Palestinian self-determination, condemns solidarity movements with Palestinians, and makes it harder for state employees to exercise their First Amendment rights? ...Somewhat, yeah. It's complicated. Shapiro himself is a Jewish man with strong ties to the Jewish community in the US and there have definitely been instances of antisemitic behavior he has rightly called out surrounding the entire issue of protests erupting across the US over the issue.

https://www.inquirer.com/politics/election/josh-shapiro-israel-gaza-peace-column-vice-president-20240802.html
https://www.spotlightpa.org/news/2024/05/pennsylvania-josh-shapiro-israel-gaza-protests-palestine-executive-order/
https://www.politico.com/news/2024/04/24/josh-shapiro-campus-protests-latest-00154157

But like others have already mentioned, he is in favor of a ceasefire and highly critical of Netanyahu's government.

When Buttigieg was 20 he was a Bernie fan, people change.

Shapiro will lock us back into many of the same dynamics that had Democrats at each others throats for months now. It's just an unforced error to pick him. We'd escaped this, why go back? Walz, Beshear, Pritzker, none of them will cause these issues.

legendary_zell posted...

Shapiro will lock us back into many of the same dynamics that had Democrats at each others throats for months now. It's just an unforced error to pick him. We'd escaped this, why go back? Walz, Beshear, Pritzker, none of them will cause these issues.

kelly and walz are better picks imo but the kinds of 'democrats' who constantly attacked biden with gop talking points and are shitting on harris are going to keep doing that no matter who the vp pick is

The ONLY thing that matters is who can bring in the most votes, because the ONLY thing that matters is not electing Trump/GOP. If that's the whitest white guy that ever did white, then fine. If that's somebody who doesn't have perfect views on a far-away conflict, then fine. Keep your eye on the ball during this crisis. Please.

I think it kinda matters how the next Democratic administration will govern, actually.

On the other hand, "a man who used to support Israel now say that Israel has crossed the line" could become a good point. So what matters is what he's doing now.
And he's not picked as VP candidate yet, so I'll just wait until Harris announce her pick.

Im pretty sure Shapdawg supports a two-state solution now but didnt when he was a kid.

tankboy posted...

The ONLY thing that matters is who can bring in the most votes, because the ONLY thing that matters is not electing Trump/GOP.

That's pretty clearly becoming Not Josh Shapiro, then.

Ben Shapiro was a lot cooler at 20.

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/d/d76a53b1.jpg

MaxEffingBemis posted...

Frankly Im not sure why anyone would pick Kelly. Hes a conservative dem. Fuck that noise

That's literally why. Like my dad is a life-long Republican. He despises Trump so he begrudgingly voted Biden. He'll begrudgingly vote Harris this year but it would be a lot less begrudgingly if he thought the ticket was a bit more conservative.

I'm not saying it's the right plan, but that is the idea behind it. Kelly is basically what little Gen X boys said they wanted to be when they grew up. He's the guy Boomers wanted their daughters to marry. It's a reassuring bit of masculinity for the more fragile voters worried about a "radical" woman candidate.

kaiolino posted...

The problem isnt that he wrote dumb shit as a 20-something, its that as governor he has cracked down on people who (according to him) wrote dumb shit as 20-somethings.

Agreed

https://twitter.com/JoshShapiroPA/status/117305483567702016

Shapiro praising 2011 Netanyahu speech as "one of the finest, fact-based speeches". In the speech, Netanyahu denies there can be a Palestinian state without the Israeli military occupying it, denies that Israel's 'settlements' programs are a problem, etc