Boycott propaganda war
Op-ed: Propaganda fed to both Palestinians, Israelis creates major obstacle to peace
As part of the recent controversy inspired by Israel’s “Boycott Law,” Avigdor Lieberman asserted that some left-wing groups are “terror organizations.” His harsh accusations included alleged leftist involvement in Hezbollah espionage operations and leftist efforts to convince students not to enlist in the IDF.
Meanwhile, leftists cried foul over the alleged affront to Israeli democracy and freedom of expression. MK Ahmad Tibi called the bill both “fascist” and “McCarthyist.” Gush Shalom went as far petitioning the Supreme Court on the grounds that the Boycott Law is “unconstitutional and anti-democratic.”
Such hysteria over the Boycott Law and a probe into leftist funding – which virtually any government would consider if facing the brutal de-legitimization campaign that Israel has experienced - is both counter-productive and exaggerated.
However, the controversy serves as a disturbing and enlightening illumination of one dangerous and persisting truth: The robust propaganda war rages on within Israeli society and between Israelis and Palestinians alike. It is a perpetual component of our societal woes and the Israeli-Arab conflict as a whole.
Most of us are so deeply entrenched in our political views that we tend to argue from our perspective as though it were the absolute truth, with no room for deviation. One truth should be strikingly obvious: We are all at least partially - if not completely - jaded in our views to the point where we are prevented from seeing the actual truth unfolding in the region. Everyone is guilty, whether admittedly or not, of harvesting these cognitive biases. The question is how can we open the eyes of those who are so disturbingly blind to the opposite side’s narrative.
Truth is in the middle
Here are some rightist claims: “Israel is the eternal, indivisible homeland of the Jewish people. The Palestinians don’t want peace. We can’t trust the Arabs. We must settle all the Land of Israel. The IDF is the world’s most moral army. We provide equal rights and freedoms to all citizens. There is no partner for peace. The Palestinians fled in 1948 and brought the refugee problem upon themselves. The Arabs are unflinching in their desire to bring about a second Holocaust onto the Jewish people.”
And here are some leftist arguments: “Israel is an apartheid state. The state enforces a policy of ethnic cleansing on the Palestinians by stealing their land. Israel doesn’t want peace. Gaza is one giant concentration camp. The boycott of Israel is legitimate. The IDF is an immoral army that consistently targets civilians. Racist pre-state militias forced the Palestinians from their homes en masse during the Nakba. Israelis are exacting revenge on the Palestinians for what was done to them during the Holocaust. Israel is an ethnocratic state bent on keeping the Arab population as subservient and underprivileged second-class citizens.”
With two such drastic, incompatible perspectives on the situation, it is reasonable to assume that the truth is somewhere in the middle.
It’s time for us to realize some basic, unequivocal truths: Israel is a vibrant democracy, albeit an imperfect one. Most Israelis aren’t proud of the Palestinian plight, but the complicated political and security situation necessitates our presence there at the moment. The IDF is a strong and professional army, but it makes operational mistakes that every other military is guilty of committing. Civilian casualties are the unfortunate collateral damage of violent conflict. Israelis and Palestinians alike have legitimate interests in both protracting and resolving the conflict. Hamas’ refusal to negotiate with Israel makes facilitating a viable peace agreement extremely difficult, and Israel is strong enough now to ensure the survival of the Jewish people.
The Palestinians should accept the complicated history of the Jewish people and understand the reasons and rights for returning to our ancestral homeland. Our longing for the establishment of the Jewish state is a product of more than 2,000 years of brutality, persecution and oppression against us. Israelis deserve the right to self-determination and continuity of culture and way of life as equally as they do.
Respect Shoah’s sanctity
Both Israelis and Palestinians need to respect the sanctity of the Holocaust and stop belittling the memory of the millions murdered in order to portray the other side as something they are not. The Arabs are not modern-day Nazis, and the same is true for the IDF or Israel Police. Israeli political leaders must also cease using the Holocaust as a pretext to make political gains when trying to conjure up support from European countries or initiate fear-mongering here at home.
Leaders such as Tibi should admit that even though the laws of this country do provide for equal opportunity, real equality won’t simply be bestowed upon Israeli-Arabs without active, positive efforts to contribute to Israeli society. Lieberman should encourage such aspirations and ensure that basic Israeli values that encourage equality and opportunity remain forever enshrined in the laws and ethos of the State of Israel.
Residing in our midst are millions of Jews interspersed among millions of Arabs. Both peoples have a claim to this land, whether on religious, cultural or historical grounds, and the presence of both populations is virtually guaranteed, short of divine intervention. Rightists can fantasize about forcing the Palestinians into Jordan, while Palestinian groups can wait forever until the Jews are driven into the Mediterranean. The likelihood of either happening in the foreseeable future is negligible.
As long as we continue to spread such biased, hateful messages about the other, peace will continue to elude our two nations. If we, Israelis and Palestinians alike, continue to be passive and allow our leaders to reduce the image of the other to sub-human monsters, we will only hinder ourselves from attaining the safety and security Israelis and Palestinians deserve. It’s time to do some critical thinking and break free from the lies and propaganda that Israelis and Palestinians are constantly being fed.
Avi Yesawich and Daniel Nisman are independent journalists, IDF combat reservists and contributors to the IDF activism website, www.friendasoldier.com .
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