On Gal Gadot, the IDF, Palestinians, and Zionism
I have seen a plethora of people on tumblr, as well as other social media platforms, that have been painting Gal Gadot as a “genocide encouraging Palestinian killer”. I dismissed these posts initially, but their popularity has risen and I have decided to address some of the most popular claims that have been laid against her.
“She was in the Israeli Army. She killed people."
Gal Gadot served in the Israeli Defense Forces in order to complete her two year mandatory service. She was conscripted by law, it wasn’t a choice she could make, like many people might assume. In Israel, all able bodied people starting at the age of 18 are drafted into the army, although there are exceptions but I won’t be getting into the specifics. Gal Gadot was a fitness instructor, a non-combative position among many others that can vary from administrative positions, to vehicle operators to cooks. There is a high chance that she most likely did not see combat, and most definitely did not kill anyone.
The conflict surrounding Israel and the Palestinians is a very, very complex one, and I will not be delving into that topic. What is important to remember is that we are all humans, and we arrogantly do what we believe is right. There is no "right” or “wrong” side in this conflict. Both parties have committed unspeakable acts. Likewise, when Gal stated her support for the IDF, she was just trying to show her support for the young soldiers that are plucked from their homes and spend 2-3 difficult years in service to their country. What was not on her mind when she wrote that post was what might’ve occurred between the IDF and the Palestinians, and not who was killed and who was not. Her brothers and sisters at home were on her mind. She has shown to support peace and co-existence. She wishes that her country would no longer need to have a conscription army because, she too, does not want to send her two daughters into war when they become of age.
Please look up the definition of Zionism before using it as a derogatory term. Zionism is a belief that Jews should have a place to call home. Do the Palestinians not also believe they should their own land to call theirs? Do you not believe that you should also have the same?
Painting Gal Gadot as a “genocide supportive Palestinian killer” is quite ridiculous. She is just an actress, a human being at that. A human being that has a right to state her opinions without being demonized for it. She did not kill anyone, does not want to kill anyone, and just wants her family and friends across the world to be safe.
We are entitled to our own opinions. If you want to make up reasons to hate on a successful actress, you can do that. If you want to boycott her films, no one is stopping you. But you should ask yourself, who forms these opinions for me? What kind of media do I consume? Is what they show accurate? Is what these people are saying on tumblr really true? There are many people on this platform that believe they are doing the right thing and looking for a person/organization/nation to be angsty about. Not everything you read here on tumblr or anywhere on the internet is true. You have to do your own research. Look for credible sources. I encourage you to take everything you read with a grain of salt and form your own beliefs, not what someone else does. And on the final note, be kind to each other, and be forgiving, because we intellectual human beings can be quite stupid at times. In other words, be your own Wonder Woman. Or Wonder Man.