The capital of South Africa by Carlos Latuff
Student hasbarists are exhausted whitewashing Israel's apartheid on campuses all across America. That's not the overall conclusion of a blunt Ynet Op-ed by Israeli journalist Steve Rubin, it's what's reflected in the exasperation expressed towards the end.
Is Israel losing the battle? is about the expanding movement of solidarity on US campuses, what Rubin references as a 'Palestinian narrative'. Yep Steve, American kids like human rights. Sounding the alarm too; "the existential threat that Iran poses to Israel is not nearly as threatening as is the one coming from those that will eventually be influencing American foreign policy and its policies towards Israel." Triple ouch.
With regards to college campuses, this is not an issue of bigoted anti-Semitism; rather, it is a case of educated and intelligent young adults who have been easily and convincingly swayed by an overwhelmingly powerful Palestinian narrative.
Even more troubling is that these well-educated, anti-Israel activists are the future of America and its leadership. This is a new generation that is no longer enamored with the State of Israel; rather, it is increasingly angry and cannot comprehend how America can maintain such steadfast support for the Jewish state.
It is this same generation that will be leading America over the next 50 years – a period that will prove to be ever so critical in terms of Israel's prolonged survival.
As for the American Jewish community, there has been an increased disillusionment with the State of Israel’s policies. No longer is Israel the mighty David that defeated the Arab Goliath in a fight for its survival. Rather, it has become an added headache in trying to explain and understand Israel’s prolonged policies in a way that connects to their “American-Liberal” perspectives.
Shocking/not.
Ultimately, Rubin fails to 'get it'. He thinks Israel is its own worst enemy because it doesn't have the 'proper resources in place' to educate the cream of the crop of American youth. Talk about having blinders on; open your eyes Steve, you said it yourself, 'disillusionment' with Israel's policies. So why not suggest Israel change those policies? Can you even say Apartheid? Because that is what we see.
(Hat tip Karen Platt)
Is there a Hebrew or ziospeak equivalent to the idiom “You can’t make a silk purse out of sow’s ear”?
I probably shouldn’t have said that because the next thing you know Israel will claim it has invented a way to make silk out of pigs ears.
LOL, that was one of my Dad’s favorite expressions, American.
Perhaps Israelis (claim to have) invented sow’s ears, as they sometimes seem to (claim to) have invented Hummus.
What is shocking about the cartoon is the “Tel Aviv”. Everyone knows that the capital of Israel (in Israeli eyes) is “Jerusalem”. Or maybe that’s the point, brain-washing of USA kids.
Everyone knows that the capital of Israel (in Israeli eyes) is “Jerusalem”
well, for those of us who do not see thru israel’s eyes…there’s a reason the US embassy is in tel aviv. the rest of the world doesn’t recognize jerusalem as being the capitol of israel. i will accept that if and when it is also the capital of palestine.
i think that is one of the points Latuff is trying to make.
Carlos Latuff is a Brazilian Israel-baiter who would have gone far working for Der Sturmer.
He has one grandparent of Arab decent. That’s his connection to the Israel-Arab conflict. That’s it.
Where does he get all that hate from?
I agree with you about Latuff. But – one grandparent is quite enough to get you permission to live in Israel, so why wouldn’t it be enough to make you feel involved?
what an amazing lack of consciousness you’ve displayed here pz. one does not need to be of arab or jewish descent to have a connection to this issue. why do you think it is a growing movement on campuses all across the country? this is the longest running occupation in the world, it’s going to take all of us to end it. telling the truth has nothing to do with hatred and everything to do with just the opposite.
Who said his grandparent came from Palestine?
no one. why are you diverting?
With all the resources in the world, the hasbarists would still be trying to polish a turd.
“it doesn’t have the ‘proper resources in place’ to educate the cream of the crop of American youth.”
Ah, the call for money to combat it. Watch: there will be a spate of even more groups out to impose their view on campuses, with the self-pitying cry of ‘you’re delegitimizing Israel’, as if it were some sobbing person in the corner being bullied by the big bad world.
What Rubin doesn’t realize is that this is generational. This revulsion is hard-wired. These kids think global community (not Globalism, or New World Order), and welcome all the diversity. Nations are like families that have the right to exist the way they want to within their own borders, maintain their own culture, but they don’t have the right to murder their neighbors, or to torture/intimidate them.
Rubin thinks they can win through using the media:
It’s not going to work. I am already hearing complaints about the judaizing and israelizing (and islamaphobia) of the American media and cultural content (movies/tv shows) from sources who (1) didn’t give a shit previously, and (2) are religious types who believe the messiah is coming back to Israel.
Rubin needs to realize that this can’t be resolved with PR, without Israel taking action on itself, on what the complaints are about it. These bright kids aren’t going to fall for talk. And Rubin better warn the Israelis and Israel-Firsters here that Islamofascism ain’t going to cut it. they don’t like it. These are Bennetton babies.
What Rubin doesn’t realize is that this is generational.
actually american i do think rubin understands it is generational which was his point when he wrote :the existential threat that Iran poses to Israel is not nearly as threatening as is the one coming from those that will eventually be influencing American foreign policy and its policies towards Israel.”
he’s looking ahead and realizing this generation of kids don’t like apartheid and they are the ones who will be steering the ship in another decade or 2 or 3. political ideas and stances that take place in the minds of students thru their college years, for the most part, remain with a person. there are always exceptions but i don’t see this generation flipping to zionism very shortly or ever. the only reason israel got away with it for so long was we were, very purposely, shielded from the truth.
but zionism and ethnic nationalism are just not aligned with normal american values therefor the illusion of the need for zionism has been heavily funded and nurtured. now they have to justify it on our terms, on the terms exposure and truth reveal. not so easy.
“he’s looking ahead and realizing this generation of kids don’t like apartheid and they are the ones who will be steering the ship in another decade or 2 or 3″
So what happens while this 20, 40 or 60 years go by?
Israel, with the huge support of AIPAC, has very successfully maintained the “status quo” – hoodwinking the world that they are involved in a “peace process” while gobbling up Palestinian land and water resources and completely stifling Palestinian opposition. If this “status quo” continues for even another ten years, will there be anything left to discuss or fight over?
Palestinians can’t wait 50 years to regain the homeland that is their birthright. Actually, waiting one more year is one too many.
Israeli Jewishness has morphed into something very different to American Jewishness, despite their hysterical attempts to police what Judaism means, or is allowed to mean. No wonder it has no resonance with newer generations, who cannot be taught to be so neurotically fixated on a mythical victim cult which owes its first allegiance to a belligerent, divisive foreign ideology. The harder they try, the more they alienate people. Particularly with their odious campaigns against truth and justice for all people.
incisive, insightful & right on target!
I really think it’s essential for BDS folks to get involved with Occupy, and Occupy folks to become involved with BDS. Those who support Zionism make up a small contingent of the world’s financial elite, and the elite’s disillusionment with the Zionist project is waning (as per international consensus).
I do believe that the majority of financial elites will give up their support for the Zionist project in an effort to spare themselves from the humiliation of the colonization. Yet after giving up on Zionists, they will continue with imperialism, particularly in Africa.
And the end of the Zionist project will create an opportunity to engage in a conversation as to America’s history of colonization, and the power and morality of indigenous people, creating further schisms among supporters of capitalism.
(I just wonder how many will have to die for this to happen… Or if they’ll just continue with their hegemony for many more generations with a quiet war against all people).
yes, it’s essential that bds folks get involved with occupy folks & vice versa
cause the egalitarian pulse that’s the spirit of leaderless yet everyone a leader remains intact
based on?
a recent ga gathering prior to the closure of the last major occupy encampment
circa 50 attending, 12 of whom signed up to speak
the usual hand signals expressing approval, unity, etc.
especially inspiring were
a homeless man analyzing the debt crisis and suggesting the break-up of too big to fail banks, to be replaced with credit unions & such
a young woman facing foreclosure describing the circumstances that brought this about, appealing for help and being told that occupy was willing to provide it.
a retired scientist describing her own infirmary, how much it costs the public, while calling for collective action to protect not just those living but future generations.
discussion of the forthcoming january 20th nationwide rallies outside banks
want to change the world*?
serve the people?
occupy, occupy, occupy
what it’s here for
please join
*including but not limited to securing justice for palestine
corr. the january 20th events are to be at federal courthouses, not banks
If human beings are rational, false arguments will still be believed for a while, but will not be believed for ever.
Big “if”.
It’s certainly true on my campus, the University at Buffalo. The campus chapter of the ZOA imploded a few years back, and the local cadres of Zionist students and community members have sat out recent talks by Ilan Pappe, Ali Abunimah, Don Wagner, and Norman Finkelstein–making for a quieter but welcome dynamic. They seem to be circling the wagons and railing at the islamo-fascist-hamastinians in private.
I’m not sure what to attribute this to: age, for one thing–the local haters are older every year, and their ranks are not being swelled by new recruits. Frankly, they seem a few bricks shy of a load–a couple years back, they thought it was a swell idea to invite the war criminal and racist Effie Eitam to campus, and they got their asses handed to them on several fronts.
despite the facts being against them and finally the facts getting out there, israel continues to believe in the delusion that they can spin their way out of negative perceptions
israel’s image has completely tanked because they can’t hide the truth of their endless crimes anymore and the world has had it with militant, racist, apartheid, land-grabbing zionism
it is only right that young people, being generally idealistic, who are seeking an education would consider the facts and come to the conclusion that israel is the aggressor, the criminal, the problem
I think most people took Israeli assurances about the peace process at face value and many are waking up to the fact that it was all BS. There are 2 completely different conversations going on -one in Hebrew in Israel and the other around the world and not in Hebrew and it is becoming increasingly clear that the Hebrew conversation is nuts.
I agree that the past narrative set forth by Zionists is fading from its false glory; however, I am not sure support is actually “Kaplunking” but rather that:
1) zionist organization such as Hillel are using scare-tactics about “loss of a generation” to get more money from rich Zionist Israeli Firsters and
2) the Palestinian narrative is being promoted by more organized entities than in the past, which leads to a leveling of the playing field (so to speak), which in turn causes zionists to jump from their arm-chairs and re-fuel their Hindenburg projects… which leads back to 1) — positive feedback will end Zionism *cheering* :)
Once given BOTH the Fascist zionist view and the humanist Palestinian view, the moral human should have no qualms whom to support.
It’s only a matter of time…
Anti-Israel, or ambivalent students on campus have been propagandized to see Israel through Arab eyes.
Thus, they view Israel as politically beleaguered and isolated, as militarily trumped by asymmetrical warfare, and as illegitimate under international law.
Cowed by 9/11 attacks, these student’s are betting on the Arabian ‘strong horse’; as they perceive it.
I believe I am older and wiser than this generation of college kids and I’m betting on Israel.
Those jews who chose to remain in germany circa 80 years ago, didn’t they believe they were wiser than german jews who fled the country? So weren’t they foolishly betting on germany?
Many, if not most, German Jews, escaped or were thrown out of Germany. Many found refuge in Palestine.
The bulk of Jewish holocaust victims were Eastern Europeans; Poles, Ukrainians,etc.
according to lucy davidowicz’s “The War Against The Jews”, there were 240,00 jews in prewar germany and austria, 90% of whom were killed by the nazis.
I said: “Many, if not most, German Jews, escaped or were thrown out of Germany”
Many Jews emigrated, and of the 522,000 Jews living in Germany in January 1933, only 214,000 were left by the eve of World War II. About 90% of the remaining community was killed during the war.[1]
I was correct.
they view Israel as politically beleaguered and isolated
are you out of your mind? israel’s not only got the second most powerful lobby in DC pushing it’s agenda it’s got the backing of congress and the global superpower protecting it and everyone knows this. politically beleaguered and isolated is definitely NOT the way israel is viewed.
these student’s are betting on the Arabian ‘strong horse’; as they perceive it.
lol, i don’t think so! in fact, i think ‘the students’ are betting on bsd, global unification and telling the truth to end israel’s apartheid.
I believe I am older and wiser
you are a dinosaur. besides, when these kids are running the US you and i will either close to or in the grave so your bet means about diddlysquat.
Israel has the fourth most powerful lobby. Her lobby’s power is preceded by NRA, AARP and the most powerful of all, the Arab Oil Lobby, which is so powerful, that it doesn’t even need a formal lobby group.
Dinosaur’s are extinct. I’m alive. Ergo, I’m not a dinosaur.
I visit Israel several times a year and I know her college age generation very well. They love their little country dearly aren’t going anywhere else anytime soon.
no, then why is accurate information on jewish emmigration from israel so difficult to come by?
yourstruly, that is a good question. I made a few efforts some years back to get some of those numbers. I am starting to wonder if Israeli Jews have already lost the “demographic” battle with the Palestinians. Some of the anecdotal evidence I have found is that there are entire neighborhoods in West Jurusalem as well as numerous condominiums in Tel Aviv Ceasaria that seem to be owned by expatriots. These are communities that are empty during the non vacation months. It is really crazy when we consider the tent city protests last summer where the Israeli Jewish citizens were complaining they could not afford to live in Israel. Crazy, crazy country that sells all of its most valuable real estate to wealthy foreigners while the natives are rioting in the streets for housing. Of course, any Israeli is free to move to the WB which is probably the reason for the housing shortage. But I digress — Israel is really a very artificial nation and it is hard to see how much longer it will survive.
LOL
the most powerful of all, the Arab Oil Lobby, which is so powerful, that it doesn’t even need a formal lobby group.
the most powerful lobby is so powerful it doesn’t need a formal lobby. don’t you mean the most powerful lobby is so powerful it doesn’t have a formal lobby?
it doesn’t have a lobby does it? and the reason why is because..it doesn’t need one!
this s so illuminating because for years and years we hear americans are so israelisympatheitc. but lobbies are never needed when the whole populace agrees with them. they are needed where their is strong opposition.
so where is this arab oil lobby, the one that give a huge conference every year our politicians flock to them?
@ ProudZiomist re “the Arab Oil Lobby, which is so powerful, that it doesn’t even need a formal lobby group”.
You’re right — oil is its own lobby. No one need petition on its behalf.
Ok, given that – why isn’t this all=powerful “Oil Lobby” flexing its muscle re Iran? Mid-east oil does not want a war with Iran. It is in the Gulf’s interest to establish rapport with Iran, manage supplies, have the price go up 8%/yr.. That’s good stable money.
A conflagration in the ‘hood threatens the stability of the regimes, to say nothing of disrupting business.
When are we going to see a rep from the “Oil Lobby” give a “pro-oil” Republican candidate $5m cash to get this message out?
You might want to revise your ranking system. -N49.
Israel will survive so long as there are Jews. And as you may have noticed, Jews have survived for quite a long time.
“Israel will survive so long as there are Jews. And as you may have noticed, Jews have survived for quite a long time.”
…and most of that time, it was after the destruction of Israel 1.0. So, pudracist666, clearly there is a problem with your theory.
Israel is a state. States come and go
The Greek people survived centuries without a state. So did the Jews. They didn’t even live in Israel FFS.
Older maybe, wiser no way; to gamble is to lose and to be losing.
Students today are no longer falling for propaganda, but recognizing truth and standing for justice.
As radii says, they are no longer deluded by Israeli spin, and as Opti says, it is only a matter of time.
Piece by piece the pack of canards is collapsing.
Here is just an example: case dismissed at UC Berkeley, link to electronicintifada.net
>> I believe I am older and wiser than this generation of college kids and I’m betting on Israel.
An “older and wiser” person would be advocating for equality, freedom, human rights, democracy, fairness, et cetera, for all people in all nations.
There’s nothing particularly wise – or moral – about “betting on” the staying power of an oppressive, expansionist, colonialist and religion-supremacist state.
“Anti-Israel, or ambivalent students on campus have been propagandized to see Israel through Arab eyes.”
That is hardly surprising. We all know that the US is awash with anti-Israel propaganda. Nearly all the newspapers, the broadcast media, and Hollywood continually denigrate Israel and promote the most rabid Palestinian views. Any journalist or media “personality” who dares to say anything even slightly pro-Israeli will lose his/her job instantly and be banned from any major media thereafter. In academia, the situation is best exemplified by the treatment poor Alan Dershowitz received from that monster Finkelstein.
“Cowed by 9/11 attacks, these student’s are betting on the Arabian ‘strong horse’; as they perceive it.”
Yes, twenty-year old students on the West Coast are still cowed by attacks that happened nine years ago in just two cities on the East Coast. Qatar is their only hope for safety!
British university students were enthralled with the Soviet Union back in the ’30′s and ’40′s. At the same time, many elite American universities looked favorably on Nazism.
These college students bet the wrong horse as well.
Being young, idealistic and well informed doesn’t mean you’re always right.
…and university students in the US in the 1960s backed the Civil Rights Movement.
Sometimes, being young, idealistic and well informed does mean you’re right.
“British university students were enthralled with the Soviet Union back in the ’30′s and ’40′s. At the same time, many elite American universities looked favorably on Nazism.”
And many were enthralled with Zionism at the same time.
“These college students bet the wrong horse as well.”
Eventually, in WW2, the Soviet Union turned out to be a very strong horse indeed.
“Being young, idealistic and well informed doesn’t mean you’re always right.”
Being old, bigoted, and ill-informed doesn’t mean you are always right, either. And you aren’t.
Zionism is Racism. The UN had it right years ago…
Proudzionist777. You are a fool Proudzionist. Israel seems well on its way to destroying itself because of internal contradictions, you can see it happening now. They don’t have to worry about the Iranians, the Syrians, etc., etc., the question of who is truly a Jew will destroy Israel.So, the rest of the world should just keep out of Israel’s affairs both domestic and foreign and watch the spectacle.
That should go down well on US campuses. link to haaretz.com
To many the fact that it is Israelis and Palestinians is simply not that relevant. It is the inhumanity and injustice that riles and it would be the same if it were Eskimos and Finns. I just caught the end of a Press TV report about a guy who didn’t want to sell his family land and has ended up on the ‘wrong’ side of a new motorway in Israel, they are providing him an underpass with electronic gates to access his village, only his family can use the pass and his house is to be surrounded by lights and surveillance cameras. No doubt there is another side to this but the man gave a very sympathetic interview, he didn’t rant and rail but his concern about the effect on his 10 year old son was very affecting. Israel may be able to bribe some to turn a blind eye but all the money in the world wont convince students its actions are anything but inhuman.
as the walls of separation come tumbling down, there’ll be a collective sigh of relief from jewish parents, expressing the irrepressable sentiment that “from now on, at least, no more fears that our loved ones will be going to war.”
Cheers to that.
I think that Opti is right. Those are the final words of Ynet story:
Israel is its own worst enemy, slowly fulfilling a self-professing prophecy of an “existential threat” by not having the proper resources in place to educate some of America’s youngest and brightest minds.
The battle for Israel will not be won by its superior military capabilities. Conversely, it will be achieved via the media, on American college campuses and by a tailored rapprochement with the disenfranchised American Jewish community.
The author holds an MA in Diplomacy from Tel Aviv University and works in Tel Aviv as a journalist and linguistic editor
Cui bono of the article is clear: besides billions of shekels spend on military hardware et. some millions should be spent to employ young people who graduated in diplomacy and journalism to spread Israeli narrative better than before. This is how lobby operate: identify the crisis and collect the money. Israel, now more then ever needs your help — and our help if you fund us!
It does not mean that the article is a pure hocum, although the author promises to deliver high quality hocum to American campus youth if the homeland / motherland / fatherland / Der Volk / rich friends of Israel, whoever, will shell some money. But, of course, he would never color the truth for Ynet readers.
As a word of caution to our (I presume) young wanna bit soldier of hasbarah, university campus is a difficult environment. Some venues ask for stressing (a) the quality of Israeli night life (b) gay liberation in Israel (c) art scene (d) culinary achievements (e) scientific achievements. Other venues ask for stressing (a) Biblical proofs of the necessity of Israel — how can we get Armageddon and be raptured otherwise (b) how West Bank hilltop rabbis are sooo similar to our own fire and brimstone preachers (c) how superior halacha is to sharia etc. Keep away pink washers from Christian Zionists! But on a campus you have both Gay and Lesbian Coalition and Academic Bible Group.
The lack of self awareness is amazing. The biggest existential threat to Israel is their current trajectory. Any informed Israelis I know are hoping and praying for a massive shift in US-Israeli policy, as we hope is materializing (but is it too little too late?).
A massive shift in American opinion and policy is actually the only thing that can save Israel. But damned if they will not spend money to try to keep this expansionist Zionist racist dream chugging forward.
They are not swayed by a “powerful Palestinian narrative”, they are swayed by the objective truth, as opposed to a force-fed Zionist fantasy. This is why there is not much they can do to stop this trend, in the age of the Internet coupled with YouTube and independent media. ….oh man, they will be coming for the Internet.
I think many intelligent moderate Zionists must be content with ~1967 borders, and realize the lies and hasbara were all too effective. They created a nation of stubborn nationalists and religious zealots with no facts and faulty logic, and the train is full steam ahead….. It’s self-perpetuating, in a positive feedback loop, and heading somewhere very ugly…..
Can American Jewry save Israel from itself, or will they continue to be the enabler? Can the average American wrest ME policy back from the Zionists, to save them from their own hubris and extremism? 2012 is the defining year. I don’t think I’ll be able to focus on much else this year…
Know quite a few folks who have been working to educate folks about the I/P issue on college campuses for a good 10 years now. With the BDS movement expanding the Israel firsters agenda on college campuses is clearly taking a dive.