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”?
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.
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.
Palestinians can’t wait 50 years to regain the homeland that is their birthright. Actually, waiting one more year is one too many.