Israel backed by "cyber soldiers"

[nashville_brook]

(file under: it can't happen here...)

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/newspaper/0,,174-2289232,00.html

From Yonit Farago in Jerusalem

WHILE Israel fights Hezbollah with tanks and aircraft, its supporters are campaigning on the internet. Israel’s Government has thrown its weight behind efforts by supporters to counter what it believes to be negative bias and a tide of pro-Arab propaganda. The Foreign Ministry has ordered trainee diplomats to track websites and chatrooms so that networks of US and European groups with hundreds of thousands of Jewish activists can place supportive messages.

In the past week nearly 5,000 members of the World Union of Jewish Students (WUJS) have downloaded special “megaphone” software that alerts them to anti-Israeli chatrooms or internet polls to enable them to post contrary viewpoints. A student team in Jerusalem combs the web in a host of different languages to flag the sites so that those who have signed up can influence an opinion survey or the course of a debate.

Jonny Cline, of the international student group, said that Jewish students and youth groups with their understanding of the web environment were ideally placed to present another side to the debate. Doron Barkat, 29, in Jerusalem, spends long nights trawling the web to try to swing the debate Israel’s way. “When I see internet polls for or against Israel I send out a mailing list to vote for Israel,” he said. “It can be that after 15 minutes there will be 400 votes for Israel.

Israel’s Foreign Ministry must avoid direct involvement with the campaign but is in contact with international Jewish and evangelical Christian groups, distributing internet information packs.

[MGD]

1. We need to get some of that software for the 2008 election cycle

because you know the neo-cons will have it if it exists.

[Behind the Aegis]

2. Good!

Anything to beat the Jew-hating scum that is out there.

[Violet_Crumble]

3. Criticism of Israel is not Jew hatred...

This thing has been set up to for 'pro-Israel' talking-point bots descend on chat rooms and forums across the internet to 'challenge' criticism of Israel. That's it's purpose, not to combat bigotry. For some fine examples of bigotry you might like to take a peek at that Megaphone forum where bigotry against Arabs and Muslims seems to be quite acceptable:

'Does the Islamic religion value human life?
The answer is NO!"

http://forum.giyus.org/smf/index.php?PHPSESSID=3311318095b8a275fc706e1d1f3b26fe&topic=66.0

[Behind the Aegis]

4. And anti-Israeli attacks are never anti-Semitic?

[Robbien]

5. To some people here All anti-Israel remarks are ALWAYS anti-Semitic

Doesn't surprise me that there are 5,000 people from Israel spamming the web screaming anti-Semitic every two seconds in their attempt to shut down all debate.

[Behind the Aegis]

6. And it doesn't surprise me that...

...there are false allegations of anti-Semitism. But....then again...does "anti-Semitism" really exist in minds....

[BooScout]

7. Your name always pops up whenever criticism of Israel .....

....is discussed. To you, anyone critical of Israel's policies is an anti-semite. Your attacks grow wearisome.:eyes:

[Name removed]

8. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[BooScout]

11. Lies?

Oh come now.........you are very obvious & frequent in your attacks. You really need to channel your anger elsewhere instead of calling people names & slinging unsubstantiated accusations everytime someone points out that Israel is in the wrong for their excessive response.

[Name removed]

12. Deleted sub-thread

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[Name removed]

16. Deleted sub-thread

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[Robbien]

17. That special “megaphone” software does seem to come into play here

doesn't it? Some DUer types Israel, and thirty seconds later there comes the "cyber soldiers".

[Behind the Aegis]

18. .

the pattened... :eyes:

[burythehatchet]

43. I sort of enjoy it, and it serves a purpose

When they show up and start their screeching "anti-semite", I realize that they have no argument.

[Behind the Aegis]

45. and they show up...having no argument other than...

...they are anti-Semites.

[w4rma]

10. Aren't arabs Semites, too? Why isn't it anti-Semitism when you attack

arabs?

[Behind the Aegis]

14. get thee to a dictionary!

[BooScout]

19. Here ya go...

http://www.bartelby.net/61/87/S0258700.html

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000.

Semite

SYLLABICATION: Sem·ite
PRONUNCIATION: smt
NOUN: 1. A member of a group of Semitic-speaking peoples of the Near East and northern Africa, including the Arabs, Arameans, Babylonians, Carthaginians, Ethiopians, Hebrews, and Phoenicians. 2. A Jew. 3. Bible A descendant of Shem.
ETYMOLOGY: Back-formation from Semitic

[Behind the Aegis]

21. back at ya...

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000.

anti-Semitism

SYLLABICATION: an·ti-Sem·i·tism
PRONUNCIATION: nt-sm-tzm, nt-
NOUN: 1. Hostility toward or prejudice against Jews or Judaism. 2. Discrimination against Jews.


The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by the Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

[Name removed]

24. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Robbien]

13. I believe there is

some anti-Semitism against the Jewish religion, sure.

Lately I have come to believe the government of Israel is hi-jacking the term anti-Semitism and using it as a "card" to hide behind to end discussion of their bombing campaign. In doing this I believe the government of Israel is harming the Jewish people's image in the world's eye.

[Behind the Aegis]

15. Praises!

You finally see that!

The only ones "hijacking" the phrase are the ones who claim they are "victims" of being accused of the charge!

And you have proved a very powerful point..."Israel is to blame for the Jewish people's image." Perhaps, you believe that Israel is to blame for the killing in Seattle?

[Robbien]

20. You have my comment backwards

The "cyber soldiers" like yourself who hurl anti-semitism are to blame for hurting the Jewish people's image. The government of Israel is responsible for hurting that image because it hired 5000 people to do what you are doing, hurling those anti-semitism comments on boards such as this.

[Behind the Aegis]

22. Oh we know who you are!

Shoot us down in Seattle! We will still survive!

[Violet_Crumble]

31. Of course some are...

But responding to an article about some 'pro-Israeli' bot-team effort to take on any criticism of Israeli policy with 'Good! Anything to beat the Jew-hating scum that is out there.' strongly suggests that there's a belief that anyone who dares to critise Israeli policy = 'Jew-hating scum'.

btw, knowing how opposed to bigotry you are when it comes to Antisemitism, I hope you stand up just as strongly against bigotry when it's aimed at Muslims the way it was on that Megaphone forum. Personally, I don't know how anyone could support a group that allows bigoted anti-Muslim comments on their forum....

[burythehatchet]

23. You propoganda will only go so far

the tide is already turning towards the truth. Reality can only be covered up for so long. Then, finally, there will take place a conversation that leads to a lasting peace. The only question is whether the warmongers in Washington and Tel Aviv will destroy the middle east (or the planet) before that conversation can take place.


And let me respond for you, on your behalf so you don't have to bother:

:eyes: :think: :crazy:

[Behind the Aegis]

26. ...bury it in...

...our backs!

[Kailassa]

25. I detest what Isreal is doing atm. Does that make me Jew-hating

scum?

Because if that's the way Jews really think, then it's time I really start hating them.

[Behind the Aegis]

28. well...

...I guess you answered your own queestion!

[BooScout]

9. They have been here lately as well....

One showed up yesterday and posted fake pictures of a Hezbollah flag flying next to a UN flag at the UN outpost that was bombed. His picture was quickly debunked and he was tombstombed.

[LostinVA]

65. I missed that one -- thank the gods

[malaise]

27. No amount of propaganda will

change the facts re what they did to Lebanon - the slaughter of civilians, more children died than military on either side, the destruction of infrastructure and the massive oil spill as a result of bombing the electrical planet. I will never forgive them.

Millions of my ancestors were slaughtered during slavery and European Jews were victims of the holocaust but we don't behave like Zionists. Fugg their propaganda. I have seen their actions for myself.
sp.

[Behind the Aegis]

29. .

:rofl:

[malaise]

30. laugh away

my material great grandfather was a Dutch Jew. He is rolling in his grave at this barbarism. Nothing you write will make it acceptable.
Sp. add.

[Behind the Aegis]

34. ...

..."I know a Jew, who was a friend of a friend, who painted the barn next to the...."....

Your "proclamation" means nothing!

[burythehatchet]

32. OOPS, forgot to add the laughing smilie

you've apparently been working on your vocabulary.

on edit - btw, why aren't you fighting on the front lines?

[Behind the Aegis]

35. why aren't you?!

[burythehatchet]

36. I know you are but what am I

nyaa nyaa nyaa na na na.

[Behind the Aegis]

37. My "blood" is too cheap!

Don't you think?!

[Name removed]

38. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Behind the Aegis]

39. not as long as I have to battle your kind!

[burythehatchet]

41. Battle!

Now THAT calls for a :rofl:

You couldn't battle your way out of a wet paper bag, not on the basis of debate, nor, I imagine, physically.

[jonnyblitz]

44. I don't know whether to laugh or take pity. nt

[burythehatchet]

46. Pity went out the window on day 2

when it became apparent that this racist, anti Muslim ideology that drives this hatred has overcome any legitimate analysis.

[Behind the Aegis]

50. BWHAHAHAHHA!

[Violet_Crumble]

55. bta, care to comment on the anti-Muslim bigotry on that site?

Or is it just too funny for words?

[malaise]

54. Bingo

Meanwhile today they turned down a request for a three day 'ceasefire' to help victims get food and medical care. You can't do to others what was doen to you in Europe and expect my sympathy. The victim is now the aggressor. The blinkers have been removed from the world's eyes and no amount of propaganda will cover the truth.

Thankfully LBC America, the Lebanese TV channel is back on air. They are not afraid of propsganda -they're showing what was done to their people and their country.
Add.

[Behind the Aegis]

48. I wasn't gunned down...

...so I am guessing from you, I warrant no pity!

[Behind the Aegis]

47. shows what you know...

...or rather, what you don't know.

[Violet_Crumble]

49. Do Not Mock The Keyboard Commandos!

Next thing you know they'll be dropping cyber-leaflets telling you to flee!! flee!! before the batallions of cyber-warriors pound out their rounds of 'precision' *anti-Semite!!* artillery!

One good thing about this GIYUS bunch. They actually make Israel and the IDF look good by comparison :)

[Behind the Aegis]

51. you would know...

...please...direct everyone to your website....they all need a good :rofl:

[Violet_Crumble]

53. I don't have a website...

btw, can you knock off the immature personal attacks for even five seconds? I doubt it...

And bta, it's very noticeable that you had zero to say about the disgusting bigotry displayed on the GIYUS forum. Guess it just goes to show that for some folk bigotry is only to be spoken out against when it's aimed at Jews and not Muslims....

[EvolveOrConvolve]

33. I keep getting deleted for saying so, but...

Both sides are assholes (in my opinion). There is no excuse (from either side) for killing innocent children... Or maybe I'm wrong and just another asshole that should keep his trap shut.

[Violet_Crumble]

40. Check out the anti-Muslim bigotry on the GIYUS site!

This is the forum run by this group who are doing the Megaphone thing...

'Does the Islamic religion value human life?
The answer is NO!"

http://forum.giyus.org/smf/index.php?PHPSESSID=33113180...

Pretty damn sad that for some 'support' of Israel means hatred towards entire groups of people :(

[jonnyblitz]

42. and these racist assholes have the nerve to scream

anti-semitism. I am telling you , the more I read, the more I am convinced Zionism is a racist ideology.

[Behind the Aegis]

52. somehow...I am guessing you ALWAYS thought that!

[jonnyblitz]

56. only jews are allowed as citizens. what does that sound like

to you? This is NOT fucking rocket science. The United Nations labelled Zionism a racist Ideology in the 70's but somehow that got vetoed or voted down like everything else in the UN that is critical of Israel or the USA.

UN General Assembly Resolution 3379:

<snip>

United Nations General Assembly Resolution 3379, adopted on November 10, 1975 by a vote of 72 to 35 (with 32 abstentions), "determine that Zionism is a form of racism and racial discrimination". The resolution was revoked by Resolution 4686 on December 16, 1991, and is often referenced in debates of Zionism and racism.

<snip>
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations_General_Assembly_Resolution_3379

[Lurking Dem]

60. "only Jews are allowed as citizens"

Absolute bullshit. Where do you get your notions?

[jonnyblitz]

62. I was sent a PM explaining the nuances of Israeli ciitizenship

and that comment you call bullshit is not correct so i admit i was wrong. I was thinking of a comment in a Chris Hedges piece that said, "there is only democracy for the Jews" when I wrote that post. I am just pissed that people on a progressive board would support this massacre and I get sloppy. I will admit when I am proven wrong!

[Lurking Dem]

63. I appreciate that.

[malaise]

59. Duh! n/t

[malaise]

58. They have 10 guests online

Major success -BWAAAAAAAAAAAH!

[PCIntern]

57. I was accused in another thread of being a cyber-soldier

Pretty funny actually - anyone who has been reading DU for more than 10 days knows that I have been an ardent supporter of the progressive movement for years here, but diverge from many when it comes to this issue.

So I have strong beliefs...so what? We are pro-Israel unashamedly - it is a moral issue for us and we feel that we are being self-protective in this instance. Has Israel made mistakes in the past - certainly - they were lulled into a sense of secutrity and invincibility and had big problems faced with extermination in 1973. Many Israelis paid with their lives for those errors in strategy - listening to those who said that the Arabs only wanted peace as they masses their armies.

We've heard this before...

[Name removed]

61. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[LostinVA]

64. My, my... that may explain some recent events here on DU

[Moderator]

66. locking....

This has become inflammatory. Too many personal
attacks.