My longest post ever...apologies for rambling a bit...
"You apparently have bought the anti-Israel narrative hook, line, and sinker, never thinking about how that narrative distorts and manipulates its consumers."
Yes, it is about narratives.
When growing up, the history of the US narrative was...
an oppressed people persecuted for their religion come to a new world
try to negotiate with indigenous people to secure land
expand by manifest destiny
fight for freedom
transform the nation via hard work and ingenuity - a marvel to the world
become a leader in technology
win a couple of world wars - almost single handedly
For Israel, the narrative that often emerged in the 1960s...
an oppressed people persecuted for their religion come to a new world the land of their ancestors - "
try to negotiate with indigenous people to secure offer to share land with these people - to live in peace
instead of accepting the hand of friendship, attacked by all the nations that surrounded it
fight for freedom very existence - and survive
an industrious people transform an inhospitable desert via hard work and ingenuity into a thriving nation - a marvel to the world
become a leader in technology
win a couple of world several wars with neighbors hostile to its existence- almost single handedly.
If ever Israel falters in diligence, it may be wiped off the face of the earth - clearly , a goal of its neighbors
cannot provide autonomy or nationhood to the previous inhabitants of that fake nation (Palestine) because it would destabilize the region and undermine Israel's security
Some on the left have suggested that the US narrative has both factual and emphasis errors. They note that US...
cheated, subjugated, killed and otherwise oppressed the indigenous people
that some of its leaders were corrupt, greedy, self serving
that some of its military actions were bent on conquest and enrichment
that African Americans and Native Americans really were oppressed by the dominant culture.
Clearly, these are leftists who hate America. Perhaps, the nation needs to Make America Great Again.
As for the narrative regarding Israel, for Jews in America the above narrative is a bit deficient -a bit more difficult for non-Jews to fully appreciate. I'll leave it at that.
What concerns me...
Some of Israel’s strongest supporters may be overzealous in countering criticism, sometimes equating criticism with antisemitism. That is not to say that there aren't antisemitic people out there. That both saddens, angers and depresses me. As a student of the holocaust, I sensitive to this issue.
Student protestors use some of the most counterproductive, stupid, ill-conceived methodologies for providing a counter narrative.
In the 21st century - as in no other, we can live in virtual communities of information where all that flows to us supports our view of the world. To the extent we look at counterpoints to that view, they often come from our trusted source - and these counterpoints are often made by:
a weak, inarticulate source
a product of clear factual errors.
a portion of a narrative taken out of context that supports one's views
the straw man
This, of course, assumes that individuals desire and actively seek out opposing viewpoints.
I entered this discussion because I disagree with the near reflexive dismissal of students as uninformed and having failed to do research.
While I appreciate the nation of Israel feels a need to control the narrative - just as other governments, I do take issue with the heavy hand that AIPAC and the US government take in trying to address that - e.g. deporting a student with a pro-Palestinian viewpoint - defining anyone supports Palestinians as pro-terrorists.
And - emphasis added – I think it is counterproductive to both Israel and the US government's long-term interests to be so heavy handed - though I could be wrong. If Israel and the US can reach the North Korean level of control, it may work but do any of us want this?
The distrust of Netanyahu and Israel's narrative producers help to make young folks question things... For example, when clearly marked international aid groups or medical staff are killed by Israel - with the vaunted narrative of "we use precise targeting" - is the narrative wrong or the narrative is correct and the attack resulted in the positive impact of the aid organization leaving Palestine.
Hamas’s actions are undeniably reprehensible. However, nations should be accountable for its security forces and policies, Israel must face scrutiny for its heavy-handed tactics which some reasonable people and organizations feel have risen to the level of war crimes.
Emotion – along with narratives, help the creation of narratives and lead us forward. I have friends of friends who lost relatives on October 7. I would not engage in this kind of discussion with these people. Their grief takes precedence. For those with a deep love of and identification with Israel as more than a country or a people – but as an ideal, it is tough to objective. After 9/11, it was tough for most of us to be objective. It is human nature.
Still, I wanted to advocate for the students because I have seen what they have seen – and it isn’t a 5-minute glance at Tik Tok. Over the past year, they’ve seen scores of horror stories. I’ll save you the hours of watching – and just list some of what I’ve seen – as a relatively uninvolved observer...
video narratives of doctors tortured – and killed
dead children with head shots,
israeli soldiers saying that all Palestinians are animals and should be killed, other IDF soldiers bragging of killing – in one case beheading children – a few of which have the header, “most moral army”,
Israeli leaders speaking in Hebrew of the need to eradicate the Palestinians,
Israeli leaders sharing maps of their goals of a greater Israel incorporating much of the surrounding nations,
attacks on schools and hospitals,
the counterpoint of the precision aiming solely at Hamas – with the visuals of total destruction as far as the eye can see,
Israeli civilians attacking aid trucks providing food and medical supplies for the Palestinian community,
Israeli IDF troops destroying medical equipment in hospitals,
videos of IDF snipers shooting individual women and children – along videos of Israeli troops shooting indiscriminately into neighborhoods,
video of Netanyahu in 2019 explaining “anyone who wants to prevent the creation of a Palestinian state needs to support strengthening Hamas. This is part of our strategy to divide the Palestinians between those in Gaza and those in Judea and Samaria,
at least one video I’ve seen of a classroom in Israel with very young appearing to be nurtured to hate and dehumanize Palestinians, discussing the goal of destroying Muslim temples and wanting to kill Muslims,
oodles of videos of Israeli settlers and IDF – destroying West Bank homes, crops, olive trees, etc.
videos of examples of Israeli government narrative that are not only in error, but deliberate misrepresentations.
videos of sailors from the USS Liberty sharing that they strongly believe and cite evidence of a deliberate attack on the ship,
narratives of Israeli troops shooting a Palestinian, then waiting to kill those who come to their rescue – along with other times attacking clearly marked ambulances,
Jewish rabbis and Jewish intellectuals condemning Israel’s actions and decrying Israel’s ethnic cleansing,
few – but still informative videos of the early Zionist movement with quotes and photos of articles sharing how a militant take over of the region would be necessary to establish a Jewish state,
in one case, an intriguing video where a non-Jewish American woman is explaining to a Hassidic Jew that he is not Jewish for his support for Palestinian rights,
many videos of soldiers destroying homes, bulldozers tearing up streets, crushing cars, etc.,
a few videos from the Israelis from the early days of Israel, smiling as they discuss killing Palestinians and children while noting that they shouldn’t probably share this information,
at least one video narratiung of IDF solider from the 1990s breaking the bones of a Palestinians,
narrative videos suggesting and providing some evidence of the Hammurabi directive – whereby Israeli troops killed Israelis on 10/7 – preferring to have dead citizens who could be used to justify the “mowing the lawn” rather than having to negotiate for the release of hostages,
a video of an Israeli official arguing that Israeli soldiers should be permitted to rape Palestinian prisoners,
a few videos of NGO leaders talking about the run around that Israeli officials engaged in to ensure that the supplies would not reach Palestinian areas,
parents picking up their dead children, children seeing the mutilated bodies of their parents,
But there’s so much more… If you would like to see any of the above, I’ll share. And yes, I know there is a counternarrative of 10/7 and horrendous images from that. I know - there are videos that show the other side. I've seen many. But let me share one videoPG13 one. Still, what's so special about Israel torturing a physician to death compared to other horrors? Well, first off, he was a good man who cared for others. Second, he was targeted. He wasn't walking across some field minding his busines - only to be shot. Some folks in Israell wanted him dead - and there would be no consequences. From the standpoint of moral clarity, he cared for Palestinians, non-humans, people who could harm Israelis. Kill him and you're killing not just one man - but all whose lives he would touch and care for, a strategic decision - like killing children before they can grow and learn to hate. See a bunch of these videos over the year - wonder if they have an impact on the viewer?
Controlling or influencing the narrative – works only if one limits the channels for information. Thus, the internet offers an opportunity to personally limit one’s access to a single channel – or the state can try and do that.
Again, in sorting through some of this – I’m doing this for me. Again, I don’t know that Israel is doing anything that other powers haven’t done. The US certainly has no right to criticize if it honestly references its own history.
The scary thought in all of his has to do with morality. And pardon me if I show bias here, but I think a greater than to be expected number of Jews, perhaps more than at least as much as any other people, have a commitment to moral values. AJewish girl I dated in college – saw a 5-dollar bill blowing down the street. I picked it up and handed it to her as she had seen it. She refused it - as she explained, “it is not mine.” Any study of Jewish culture, philosophy and art is a rewarding one – but being human – having human emotions – conflicting desires and personalities – can lead even moral people into a dark corner.
But for at least third time, I find the blanket condemnation of people who criticize the actions of Israel’s leadership, its military, the ambitious settlers, its policies, or even its most prized of truths – that it deserves to be where it is – deserve to be heard and discussed.
I find the effortless dismissal of students or other critics of Israel to intellectually and morally deficient – though I understand and appreciate that hearts usually trump (hate that word) even quite gifted minds.
Additional Background
Years ago, I was reading an essay by the respected Jewish scholar – Isiaah Berlin in which he spoke quite pessimistically about the future of humanity. I was disheartened as I want to be optimistic – perhaps, too many cartoons as a child. As I grow older, I’m more sympathetic to Berlin’s less than hopeful view of the future of humanity.
As I suggested earlier, I grew up admiring Israel, its people and its achievements. With time, I still have much admiration for its people and its achievements – though there is much more nuance and concern. Perhaps a turning point – over 30 years ago, I watched a video with rabbi friend as a poorly dressed Palestinian man cowering by a wall as he was shot by a sniper. In the video he is trying to cover a child of 6 of 7 years old, but the sniper then shot and killed the child. I turned to my friend and said, “that was deliberate.” He grimly responded, “I know.” Perhaps it was out of kindness that the sniper killed the child for he would have been an orphan and lost his father. But the sniper deprived both of them life - a life that was meant for more than to be so easily dismissed. That was when some innocence in my view of Israel was lost.
