The flood of local headlines since Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel has shown, yet again, how conflict in the Middle East can play out as a proxy war in Southern California.
This time, though, the tone of the argument sounds more dangerous.
Consider:
“L.A.’s Jews are buying guns, some for first time.”
“Muslim Americans facing new wave of bullying”
“Death threats, gag orders and outrage: Israel-Hamas War sparks conflict in Manhattan Beach.”
In some ways, it’s a replay of tension that played out locally when shooting wars erupted between Israel and Hamas forces in Gaza in 2014 and 2021. During those periods, the squabbles in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties mostly happened on college campuses or online. And while the anger was white hot, those disputes remained wars of words (mostly), with threats and name-calling substituting (mostly) for bloodshed.
Now, some suggest violence might be closer.
Locals with relatives in Israel and Gaza and other parts of the Middle East say the anger that’s risen locally since Oct. 7 is less about short-term right and wrong than it is about long-term survival.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if somebody gets killed,” said Jamar, a student at Long Beach State who said he supports “justice for Palestinian people, and for everybody else” and doesn’t want to disclose his last name because he fears for his family’s safety.
“I’m not in favor of (violence). Please make that clear,” Jamar said.
“But people aren’t just angry. It’s bigger than that. It’s existential.”
Or, Eran, the adult leader of a Jewish student group at UC Riverside put it:
“I’m not a fearful person. Probably the highest emotion I have right now is frustration, if that’s an emotion.
“But from the perspective of a 19-year-old, who might not understand what their actions might lead to, the things people are saying now – and the lack of meaningful dialogue – is concerning to me in a way…
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