The October Turn: Antizionism’s Defectors, Finally Counted

Stories from people who changed their minds about Israel after October 7.

Nobody is writing this down.

We hear endlessly from people who turned against Israel after October 7th. The marches, the encampments, the chants are all documented. The movement in the opposite direction is treated as if it doesn’t exist—because no one has bothered to count it. To my knowledge, no major project ever has.

I should know it happens. It happened to me.

Before that day I was an antizionist who thought Zionism was only for state-worshipers—basically, I had learned about it from its opponents. Then I watched the leftist movement I belonged to look away while Jews were hunted in their homes. That silence did more to change my mind than any argument. It’s the same silence Iranians are hearing now.

I’m not the only one. Since then I’ve met other former antizionists—Jew and Gentile alike or people who simply started paying attention. They changed their minds about Israel since October 7 as well.

This is why the count matters. Antizionism runs on the assumption that no one ever reads their way out. Every documented turn is evidence against it. Every story is a name the lexicon couldn’t hold.

So I’ve started The October Turn: a public record of a phenomenon larger than anyone might believe—and a community out of it, so others know they are not alone.

They are not alone.

If your views about Israel changed after October 7th—dramatically or gradually, a full reversal or a single crack—I want to hear it.

Take the survey: click here. Or here.

Or copy and paste this: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSebQ45BB4QWVBNAxffidBtVVS73ZYJApfXE9hy2EggrNSEGYg/viewform

Please share it. If you have friends who’ve confided in you, or know of others. The people who need to find it are the ones who think they’re the only one.

Thank you.