Yuli Edelstein, Israel’s minister for public diplomacy
“Together, we can change the picture”
That’s the slogan for Israel’s Ministry of Public Diplomacy
While Israel declared victory [over the flytilla], some commentators have questioned whether the action simply drew attention to the policies targeted by the protesters.
In another sign that the crackdown might have backfired, the Foreign Ministry said that about 470 of the 1,200 people who were barred from the country should not have been on the list. “We don’t know why they were there,” said spokesman Yigal Palmor.
Yuli Edelstein, Israel’s minister for public diplomacy, rejected the notion that Israel was overreacting with the foreign activists and thus damaging its own image. He said the incident with Eisner [lieutenant colonel who slammed Danish youth in face with gun] highlighted the danger of letting activists roam freely.
“The moment these people are out of control, running around and creating trouble, their dream is to be hit by an officer and get it on camera. It shows that ignoring is not exactly a very good policy,” he said.
But critics said the government’s overzealous response was doing more harm than good.
Maariv columnist Shai Golden said Israel would be better off ignoring the “band of pampered eccentrics” instead of treating them like terrorists.
“Israel would have dismissed the matter with a shrug, the group of penny-ante anarchists would have turned around and left and our peace of mind would not have been disturbed,” he said.
And I suppose Palestinians dream of being hit, dragged, kidnapped and imprisoned without trial. What a nuisance for those innocent IOF sissies who wouldn’t hurt a fly. Head, sand, in.
LMAO. How pathetic are these sad little people when their idea of a chief of propaganda is so out of touch that he actually expects the world to believe that activists desire to be assaulted by the scum of the earth?? What a ridiculous, nonsensical people. The laughing stock of the world.
(Israeli Ministry of Public Diplomacy site, lower right, scrolling)
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“Together, we can change the picture”
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Did you know…
An Israeli invention for an electric hair removal device makes women happy all over the world.
“Anarchists” (anarkhistim) seems to be the epithet du jour, although I doubt its (ab)users would know an anarchist from an anabaptist.
A las barricadas!
>> “The moment these people are out of control, running around and creating trouble, their dream is to be hit by an officer and get it on camera. It shows that ignoring is not exactly a very good policy,” he said.
I’m not sure how cycling on a road in the West Bank – far outside the glorious Jewish state
‘s19481967borders– constitutes “running around and creating trouble” but, given that the “dream” of being hit by an officer and getting it on camera was realized, one would have to conclude that “ignoring” is actually quite a good policy.It would seem that Mr. Edelstein is both hateful and dense!