Led by the White House and Donald Trump, the fascist movement has been saying “shalom” to Mahmoud Khalil. This perverse use of Hebrew in the assault on the rights of everyone in America, in this attack on anti-Zionist organizing, in this gross violation and demeaning treatment of a Palestinian man just because he chose to stand up for his people and organize against genocide, is repugnant and should be universally condemned.
When I first saw this vile use of the Hebrew language my stomach turned, repulsed and furious. Shalom means peace. It is used to say hello and goodbye (and right now fascists intended it as a goodbye to Mahmoud) but first it meant peace.