Monique Westenberg says she was scolded by Palestinian people because she showed a broken heart for the fallen victims in Israel. “They say h*er!”
The discussion about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is extremely sensitive. Johan Derksen is currently under heavy fire for saying that ‘the Jews asked for it’ about the Hamas attack on an Israeli music festival. And Monique Westenberg is receiving criticism from the other camp.
‘They say h*er’
Monique had posted a broken heart for the fallen victims in Israel on her Instagram page, with the country’s flag, but she said she was not thanked for this.
What exactly happened? “After my heartbroken post for all those affected in Israel, I received messages in my DMs from Palestinian people expressing their hatred towards me. I could drop dead and be a h*er! I started a conversation with some of them because I wasn’t aware of what I was doing with this when I posted.”
‘One-sided media’
Now Monique has come around. She says there is one-sided media reporting. “I will honestly admit that I only see what the media shows us and have seen posts expressing support for Israel.”
She continues: “What I see are horrific things and at such a moment I am not aware that this is also happening in Palestine (for years). We hardly or never see this. I should have empathized better.”
No party
Monique is now trying to satisfy both camps. “Such images touch me very deeply and I express my condolences at such a moment, wherever it is in the world. I see innocent people, children, being abused and murdered. At such a moment I don’t take sides. Because I am for all people where this injustice is done.”
She concludes: “I’m deleting my post and posting it again, without the flag. Because my heart goes out to everywhere in the world where there is war! Also Palestine. Sorry if I hurt anyone. Thank you for your conversations and explanations in my DM. Be kind to eachother. ❤️”