Ethicist, Should I Let Go of My Zionist Friends?
I want to believe my friends are good people, yet their Zionism challenges my trust—especially after two years of Israel’s actions in Gaza. Many Zionist friends who once distanced themselves from me after October 7th, when I became more vocal about my anti-Zionist views. While I remain close to a few Zionist students, I am increasingly uncertain how to navigate these relationships.
Why do we care about our friends’ beliefs? At its core, friendship is built on shared affection and trust.
I am a Jewish and anti-Zionist student. Most of the Zionist friends I grew up with either distanced themselves or stopped talking to me entirely after October 7th, when I became far more vocal about my political commitments.
My friends are good people, I want to believe, but their Zionism taints my certainty of that — especially after two years of Israel's genocide in Gaza.
Context and Reflection
The question of maintaining friendships across deeply conflicting political views is difficult. I grapple with whether to let go of my Zionist friends as many have let go of me. Our beliefs can shape, strain, or sometimes sever personal bonds.
About the Amateur Ethicist
This essay is a submission to the Amateur Ethicist, a platform for moral inquiry within the Harvard community, inviting perspectives from its members.
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Author’s summary: Navigating friendships tested by opposing Zionist and anti-Zionist views reveals deep personal and ethical struggles amid ongoing conflict.