Jason Alexander’s Palestine story clashes with his past support for ‘Israel’

• The Seinfeld actor recalled Palestinian men shielding him during a military raid near Ramallah, describing the experience as deeply moving.
• Critics have highlighted his past involvement in Friends of the 'Israeli' forces fundraising events, including a 2012 gala where he praised ‘Israeli’ soldiers.

Jason Alexander, best known for playing George Costanza on the hit sitcom Seinfeld, recounted how Palestinian men protected him during an ‘Israeli’ military raid in Ramallah, Occupied West Bank, during a recent appearance on Daniel Lubetzky’s Build or Break podcast.

Alexander recalled visiting Ramallah as part of the OneVoice peace initiative in 2004. He said he had initially worried about the risks of entering Palestinian cities as an American Jew.

According to Alexander, a Palestinian man named Mohammed reassured him that protecting an invited guest was a deeply held responsibility in Muslim culture.

During the visit, Alexander was having lunch at an outdoor restaurant with Palestinian actors and artists when ‘Israeli’ forces raided a nearby bank they suspected of having links to armed groups.

Alexander said he heard gunfire and recalled around 10 Palestinian men at the table surrounding him to protect him.

He described the moment as a realization that his hosts were prepared to put themselves at risk to keep him safe.

Alexander’s account has also brought renewed attention to his past involvement in fundraising events for Friends of the 'Israeli'  forces (FIDF), a nonprofit that raises money to support ‘Israeli’ soldiers.

In December 2012, Alexander hosted the organization’s annual gala in Los Angeles, which raised more than $14 million, according to contemporary reports. Singer Stevie Wonder had withdrawn from the event amid public pressure over the organization’s association with the military.

During the gala, Alexander expressed support for ‘Israeli’ soldiers, describing them as among the most honorable and noble soldiers in the world, while acknowledging that they had sometimes made mistakes, according to a report by the Jewish Journal.

Alexander has also participated in peace initiatives promoting a two-state solution to the ‘Israeli’-Palestinian conflict. His involvement with OneVoice included visits and meetings intended to encourage dialogue between Palestinians and ‘Israelis’.

The contrast between his account of Palestinian solidarity and his support for FIDF has prompted debate over the relationship between advocacy for coexistence and support for the ‘Israeli’ military.

While Alexander has spoken in favor of peace and negotiations, critics of liberal Zionism argue that calls for coexistence can overlook the unequal conditions created by ‘Israel’s’ military occupation of Palestinian territory.

His recollection offers a personal account of Palestinian hospitality during a period of military activity in Ramallah, while his public record reflects a longer history of engagement with initiatives supporting both dialogue and the ‘Israeli’ military.