First-Hand, Tragic Account of Growing Up Palestinian

I’ve seen a lot of videos, listened to many podcasts and read a great deal of history about Israel and the Gaza War. Nothing has shocked me as much as this interview with Dor Shachar, who spoke to Marissa Streit, CEO of Prager U. I rarely watch long videos, but I was mesmerized and appalled at the stories that Dor shared about growing up in Khan- Yunis, his rejection of Islam, his difficult journey of converting to Judaism, and his candor throughout. The horrors that he relates about his own life—being beaten, imprisoned, condemned and rejected by his family—are difficult to comprehend.

When I hear stories like Dor’s, I can’t comprehend the possibility of creating an independent Palestinian state. Listening to how the children are brainwashed, imagining the punishment they endure if they don’t accept the dogma, paints a picture of a people who are raised on hatred of the Jews. Even Palestinians who worked with Jews espoused driving them out and killing them.

Other stories that stood out for me: Dor stated that there were no civilian Palestinians; all of them were terrorists. Dor’s determination to become a Jew is amazing, especially that he seemed to hold no resentment toward the Jewish authorities. People who were believed to be traitors were beheaded by the authorities anywhere they were found, even in front of their homes.

The video is set to begin at 7:50, but I think you might be motivated to view the entire piece.