Some Challenging Israel’s Aggression within Israel
“Harassed, Intimidated…”
Jennie Matthew of AFP, wrote an excellent article that was published on August 15th, 2014 on Yahoo that highlights the challenges that those in Israel who criticize the government’s actions are facing. I highly recommend taking the time to read the piece. In the article, it is points out that there is a building movement that is moving away from the notion of acceptance of various ideas on Israel’s policies in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. As Matthew notes, “The few who speak out complain of being harassed, intimidated or even sacked. The once mighty left has disappeared.”
Leftist papers are often ostracized in Israel by many, and human rights organizations calling out Israeli policies against Gazan citizens have been met with individuals “blacklisting” these organizations. For example, Haaretz spoke out on behalf of the human rights organization B’Tselem after Sar-Shalom Jerbi, who is the Director of the National Service Administration, was quoted as saying that
““I feel obligated to exercise my power and stop the state assistance provided to an organisation that works against the state and against soldiers who are heroically giving their very lives to protect the safety and well-being of all citizens,” and also went on to say that the group was speaking lies about what was happening.
Unfortunately, the human rights group is far from the only one receiving this sort of treatment. Prominent writer and reporter Gideon Levy of Haaretz has been called a liar, as well as “the mouthpiece of the enemy” after he
“”accused air force pilots of perpetrating “the cruelest (and) most despicable deeds” against Gaza’s weakest and most helpless[.]”” He went on to say that “”Nobody cares here about the suffering of Gaza. More than this, if you dare to express empathy you are a traitor[.]”
It can be very difficult to speak on such issues of human right abuses when the majority of a society is in favor of an action. But such voices are very brave, and are much needed; it is crucial to call out the abuses the Israeli military has committed in Gaza, of which over 1960 Palestinians have been killed by the Israeli military (and many of them children), as well as Hamas’ human rights violations.
Studying international relations, we are familiar with how the state, the media, and members of civil society use propaganda to rile up a society’s emotions. Furthermore, the use of symbolics for the sake of an unjust war or invasion, as well as calls of “anti-patriotism” and being a “traitor” are unfortunately all too common. Often, people are willing to accept what the media and state tells them, instead of investigating through their own research. Furthermore, many become set on one position, without trying to emphasize and understand the plight of others.
These voices speaking out against human rights abuses are truly performing what is exactly necessary in a democracy; to have the freedom to express oneself politically and socially, and to speak out against social injustices.
