--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's utterly hypocritical for Israelis to…" description: "\"It's utterly hypocritical for Israelis to wonder aloud why Palestinians don't pursue a non-violent strategy. One obvious reason is that, whenever they ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b2c/norman-finkelstein-8854_hypocritical_it-s-utterly-hypocritical-for-israelis-t_1588328.png" --- # It's utterly hypocritical for Israelis to wonder aloud why… ![“It's utterly hypocritical for Israelis to wonder aloud why Palestinians don't pursue a non-violent strategy. One obvious reason is that, whenever they have, Israel brutally represses it.” quote by Norman Finkelstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b2c/norman-finkelstein-8854_hypocritical_it-s-utterly-hypocritical-for-israelis-t_1588328.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b2c/norman-finkelstein-8854_hypocritical_it-s-utterly-hypocritical-for-israelis-t_1588328.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b2c/norman-finkelstein-8854_hypocritical_it-s-utterly-hypocritical-for-israelis-t_1588328.png) > “It's utterly hypocritical for Israelis to wonder aloud why Palestinians don't pursue a non-violent strategy. One obvious reason is that, whenever they have, Israel brutally represses it.” [Norman Finkelstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-finkelstein/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Violent repression discourages non‑violent resistance, making criticism of such tactics hypocritical when faced with oppression **In simple terms:** Repression hinders peaceful protest Key Takeaway Recognize how oppression limits strategic choices Themes politics ethics conflict Mood critical urgent Type political analytical When to use this quote - activism - policy advocacy - human rights work - peace negotiations Key Concepts non‑violent resistance state violence double standards Questions to Reflect On - What alternatives exist when peaceful protest is suppressed? - How can international actors support oppressed groups? A Different Perspective Non‑violent movements may still face severe backlash ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Israel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/israel/) [Non violent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/non-violent/) [Palestinian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/palestinian/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Strategy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strategy/) [Violent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/violent/) [Wonder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wonder/) ## Related quotes > [I hope that the Palestinians don't make the mistake of unleashing a new intifada. They've tried it twice before, and the consequences were bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-segev/i-hope-that-the-palestinians-don-t-make-the-mistake-of-unleashing-a/) [Tom Segev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-segev/) > [“People should know that Palestinians don't live for themselves alone. They live for each other. What I do for myself and my children, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/izzeldin-abuelaish/people-should-know-that-palestinians-don-t-live-for-themselves-alone/) [Izzeldin Abuelaish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/izzeldin-abuelaish/) > [Palestinians don't really believe in a state of Israel. They, unlike a majority of Israelis, who have come to the conclusion that they can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/palestinians-don-t-really-believe-in-a-state-of-israel-they-unlike-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [And when I'd be reporting in Israel, Palestinians would say, the Jews they're not like us, and the Jews would say the same things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-brooks/and-when-i-d-be-reporting-in-israel-palestinians-would-say-the-jews/) [Geraldine Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-brooks/) > [There's a myth that in Arab countries, they all like Palestinians. They don't. 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And it makes it much more difficult…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-wright/the-israelis-and-the-palestinians-don-t-know-each-other-they-live/) [Lawrence Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-wright/) > [The Palestinians don't have oil. If they were the Saudis, they wouldn't be in the position they are now. But they have the power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-pilger/the-palestinians-don-t-have-oil-if-they-were-the-saudis-they-wouldn-t/) [John Pilger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-pilger/) > [I'm a very great non-violent character. I would never resort to violence to change anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-brown/i-m-a-very-great-non-violent-character-i-would-never-resort-to/) [Bob Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-brown/) > [And in the racial climate of this country today, it is anybody's guess which of the 'extremes' in approach to the black man's problems…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/and-in-the-racial-climate-of-this-country-today-it-is-anybody-s-guess/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [Victory attained by violence is tantamount to a defeat, for it is momentary.It is better to be violent, if there is violence in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/victory-attained-by-violence-is-tantamount-to-a-defeat-for-it-is/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) ## More by Norman Finkelstein > [The whole purpose of annual reviews is to keep you abreast of whether or not you are fulfilling the requirements of tenure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-finkelstein/the-whole-purpose-of-annual-reviews-is-to-keep-you-abreast-of-whether/) [Norman Finkelstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-finkelstein/) > [Public opinion in the United States has shifted significantly, not just outside but also within the Jewish community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-finkelstein/public-opinion-in-the-united-states-has-shifted-significantly-not/) [Norman Finkelstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-finkelstein/) > [There is a fundamental principle. 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I claim it's because they know too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-finkelstein/they-ve-israel-lost-the-battle-for-public-opinion-they-claim-it-s/) [Norman Finkelstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-finkelstein/) > [I no longer say I'm unemployed. I say I'm unemployable. It's different. 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