Pro-Israel organizations have championed a number of progressive causes as a form of hasbara, or propaganda, seeking to immunize the Israeli occupation from criticism. These include environmentalism– greenwashing– and LGBTQ rights — pinkwashing. The latest effort is a case of veg-washing.
The pro-Israel campus organization Hillel is sponsoring a tour of ten college campuses by a leading Israeli vegan chef. The announcement came two nights ago from Jewish Veg, formerly Jewish Vegetarians of North America (a 40-year-old group that encourages Jews to embrace plant-based diets as an expression of Jewish values):
Jewish Veg announced that it is partnering with Hillel International to send Israeli vegan leader Ori Shavit to 10 college campuses across the country to speak to Jewish students this month and next.
It seems a little desperate. Does Hillel International really think that hosting an animal-rights activist is going to distract students from its Stalinist crackdown on the Open Hillel movement, which just wants Jewish students to be able to hear from non-Zionists and anti-Zionists? And let’s say that Israel is hospitable to vegans; does that somehow make the occupation and denial of rights to millions of Palestinians for decades acceptable?
Isn’t the Israeli army the one that at least twice destroyed zoos in Gaza, by bulldozing the animals alive in their cages? And there she is, touting veganism in the Israeli army
Thank you for writing about this. You have no idea how prevalent this is. I can’t tell you how often various Animal Rights groups post favorably about Israel: its large animal rights movements, the IDF offering vegan food and clothing, etc.. without any mention of human rightsrights violations, occupation, or even of the absurdity of praising AN ARMY for its ‘cruelty-free’ food and clothing. This is as important as pink washing and needs attention, as I routinely see this type of veg-washing being uncritically repeated by animal rights groups and its disturbing!!!
It would be useful to find out whether there is sponsorship for her trip from the Israeli government or major Zionist donors. The PACBI guidelines advocate boycott of academics or cultural groups who are sponsored by Israel or help promote Brand Israel. Do you have any more info or links about her work or her trip?
animal-washing, veggie-washing
ethnic cleansing with a side of veggie washing.