'I am pro-Israel too': Reflections on +972's use of the term

[azurnoir]

My colleague Noam Sheizaf’s article about the addition of David Makovsky to the American negotiating team for the Israeli-Palestinian peace process carries the following headline:

‘A pro-Israel hawk to draft Kerry’s peace plan?’


The meaning of pro-Israel, in the eyes of those Jewish-American organizations who often refer to themselves this way, is twofold: first, it involves being apologists for every policy of every Israeli government, and second, it is a permanent mission to prove that Palestinians are 1. Bloodthirsty, 2. Primitive and unready for peace or democracy – essentially, inferior 3. Sinister, all-powerful manipulators of global media, minds and public discourse 4. Politically incompetent. 5. Islamic jihadis, every last one. The camp that calls itself “pro-Israel” has added a third cause du jour of late – broad insistence on a maximalist, warmongering position vis-à-vis Iran.

So-called pro-Israel types are not only saying that these two/three are the best and only ways to support Israel. They are also saying that anyone who thinks differently is against Israel. Such a person who is also unfortunately Jewish or Israeli may be branded no less than a traitor, self-hater, lunatic, idiot or worse. The Israeli mainstream press has adopted the wrong definition wholesale.

Here is what permanent apologists for all Israeli government policies and demonizers of Palestinians actually accomplish. They perpetuate conflict, by supporting Israeli government policies that perpetuate the conflict, and they command that Israel’s greatest enabler, the U.S.A., do so too. They scream down criticism in a most hysterical and undemocratic way that is antithetical to both American and Jewish traditions. They employ and entrench shameless racist stereotypes that ought to make “never again” crusaders shiver, although many won’t.

http://972mag.com/i-am-pro-israel-too-reflections-on-972s-use-of-term/82294/

[Violet_Crumble]

1. I read this yesterday. That's a really good article...

Thanks for posting it, Az

[azurnoir]

2. the Pro this vs Pro that as the terms seem to be accepted

make this appear to be a zero sum game which it's not

time to maybe shake that up a bit

[shira]

5. So you see yourself as pro-Israel? n/t

[Violet_Crumble]

11. Exactly. I've always found the incessant labelling a bit tedious...

The I/P conflict becomes an argument about labels, which is great for those (see posts below) who love labelling everything in black and white, where to be 'pro' one thing you MUST be 'anti' the other, but it's kind of dull for most others.

The article's written by an Israeli who clearly supports Israel in the same way you'd support the US and I'd support Australia, but because she wants an end to the occupation, human rights for both Israelis and Palestinians, and democracy for everyone under Israel's control, she wouldn't be seen as pro-Israel by hardline types.

[shira]

13. Are you pro-Israel?

And what does pro-Palestinian mean to you?

[oberliner]

3. They sure do like to talk about themsleves at 972mag

Good think they aren't spilling any ink.

[King_David]

4. They certainly do have a very narcissistic sense of self importance at 972Mag .

[shira]

6. I wonder what pro-Palestinian really means. n/t

[oberliner]

7. It means writing "Israelis do bad things" articles

And then saying "what a good article" to one another.

[shira]

8. Yeah, pretty much. It means not caring about the Palestinian people...

...This is the crux of the Palestinian support worldwide – it simply doesn't care about Palestinians. These people are in it to bash Israel, pure and simple, and their “love” of Palestinians is merely the hammer they use to do the bashing with. They use incendiary words like "apartheid Israel"; they accuse Israel of "buzzword" crimes that do not occur here, but that are common (and ignored) across the Arab world; and they proudly espouse a "one state solution" theory knowing full well that it would spell the end of Israel. We see the bizarre spectacle of liberal feminists supporting Hamas, who stand against everything a liberal of any nature believes in, except dislike of Israel; we see even gay rights movements joining the anti-Israel brigade, standing with countries and societies that imprison homosexuals or worse, against Israel, the only Middle Eastern country where gay rights are an accepted part of the legal and cultural system. It beggars belief.

If these "pro" Palestinians actually cared about the Palestinians, they may well still be pressuring Israel for concessions, but they'd also be thinking about nation-building, and about the future, preparing the Palestinians for a future emancipation, as the Zionist leaders did for 50 years prior to the establishment of Israel. I have yet to see any groups who talk economic development for Palestinians, or who set up educational funds to advance Palestinian children.

Where's the pressure on the Palestinians from their “friends” to break the cycle of violence? Why do we not see pro-Palestinian groups putting pressure on Abbas and others, castigating deeply offensive holocaust denial? Why do we not see pro-Palestinians working with Palestinians to establish peace groups, which have a strong voice on the Israeli side, such as Peace Now? Where is the outcry when the Palestinian Authority suppresses press freedoms or its insanely high corruption levels mean it regularly loses the wages of Palestinian Authority employees?

Instead of boycotting Jewish business worldwide, why is there no incentive to encourage Jews in the so called "West Bank" to employee more Palestinians, perhaps even grants to make them business partners? [font color = "red"]No, these "Pro-Palestinian" groups, whether they attempt to cross the Allenby bridge by foot, head off from Greece by boat, or scuffle at Ben Gurion airport, are only interested in "Israel is evil" publicity. [/font]They appear to have no love for Palestinians and they do nothing to make their lives better nor do they contribute any positive ideas or suggestions to the debate. Their websites, newsletters and gatherings are dedicated to rehashing Zionist history, reworked anti-Semitism (under the guise of anti-Zionism), and demonizing Israel.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/113417662#post6

[King_David]

18. I am pro Palistinian and I don't do that .nt

[shira]

19. How do u define pro-Palestinian K-D? n/t

[aranthus]

9. Realistically it means anti-Zionist

Since that is the core of the Palestinian position. Ask Omar Barghouti or any of the other leaders of BDS. Ask the leadership of Hamas. I'd say ask Abbas, but he'd lie.

[shira]

10. Absolutely....for greater than 99% of the movement. n/t

[Jefferson23]

12. Thanks for posting. The responses from those here presuming to be pro Israeli, are..interesting.

K&R

[oberliner]

14. Do you presume to be pro Israeli?

By the 972mag definition or perhaps one of your own?

[Jefferson23]

15. Just like you do, oberliner. n/t

[oberliner]

16. I would never use that term to describe myself

Makes it seem like it's all just a game.

I am pro-peace, though.

[Jefferson23]

17. Never, really...uh huh. n/t