If you watched as much broadcast media this weekend as I did, you know that European and American reporters are universally supporting Ukrainian resistance to the Russian invasion. They are lauding boycott measures such as American citizens pouring vodka down sewer grates, airlines canceling flights, and athletic associations cancelling games. They celebrate the Ukrainian civilians gathering to build Molotov cocktails. They press officials on why the U.S. and Europe have not adopted stiffer sanctions against Russia. (I share these views, without being very well informed on European history.)
But for anyone who follows Palestine, what leaps out is the obvious hypocrisy of official western attitudes toward Palestinian resistance to occupation. In that case there is a long tradition of our media and politicians condemning the Palestinian Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions campaign and expressing outrage over Palestinians even picking up stones to resist military occupation.
The good news is that many observers are pointing out the contradiction.
Malak Silmi, digital reporter at the San Antonio Express News, tweets about the double standard, noting that journalists are fired for the mildest expression of support for Palestine.
Something i’ve been reflecting on this week as a journalist— when is it allowed to ever publicly support a cause/country/resistance group/army and remain a “credible” and “unbiased” reporter. Because ever since undergrad, I have second guessed every tweet/like/rt when it comes to Palestine even when it’s *factual information* bc of the way others have been blacklisted/fired/etc in the journalism industry for expressing any support/thoughts on the Israeli occupation. Yet I’m seeing a lot of reporters across the country supporting the Ukrainian *army* through public donations, tweets calling those resisting Russia’s invasion/attacks as heroes, etc. And i’m honestly just perplexed because I 100% stand with the truth and recognize the injustice. happening in Ukraine, but what I know is that as a journalist I will be biased/not credible if i were to publicly do the same with Palestine or Syria— countries that have been resisting occupation/war for years.
Amy Fallas, a Ph.D candidate in history and assistant editor of the Arab Studies journal at Georgetown, stood up for the importance of BDS in the face of occupation.
So you agree…that boycotts, divestments, and sanctions are legitimate actions against an occupying force?
And the tweet has been retweeted more than 5,000 times.
After the chief of the EU Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, backed further measures against Russia’s “barbaric actions” on Saturday, today David Cronin at Electronic Intifada called her out over the report that Israel is using skunk water to break up a Palestinian protest in occupied East Jerusalem. Cronin:
More barbaric actions @vonderleyen. I assume you are preparing an urgent package of measures against Israel.
IfNotNow has posted a video of that disgusting attack in East Jerusalem, a very routine sort of abuse by Israel. It writes:
This is not Russia attacking Ukrainians or trying to suppress protests inside Russia. These are Israeli forces spraying “skunk water” on Palestinians — including children and the elderly — for the crime of celebrating a Muslim holiday in Jerusalem.
Some are even appropriating the Palestinian struggle. BBC reports that a video on TikTok purporting to show a young Ukrainian girl confronting a Russian soldier is actually video of Ahed Tamimi raging at an Israeli soldier in Nabih Saleh in 2012 when she was 11.
A blurry video claiming to show a Ukrainian girl confronting a Russian soldier has generated 12 million views on TikTok and nearly one million views on Twitter.
But it actually shows Palestinian girl Ahed Tamimi, aged 11 at the time, confronting an Israeli soldier after her older brother was arrested in 2012.
In 2017-2018, Tamimi, then 16, and her mother spent months in prison for confronting an Israeli soldier on their property– and the U.S. State Department characterized the child’s imprisonment as a human rights violation, but did nothing to stop it, say, by threatening sanctions.
Gideon Levy highlights the hypocrisy in a piece for Haaretz titled, “The Israeli Kettle and the Russian Pot.
The world opposes and is shocked by the invasion of Ukraine. It opposes and is shocked no less by Israel’s occupation. The fact that Israel thumbs its nose at decisions by the international community places it in the same category as Russia and denies it the right to criticize. The difference: Russia will apparently become a pariah and be penalized by harsh sanctions. Israel has never been punished for its aggression, and has paid no price for ignoring the decisions of the international community.
h/t Jennifer Loewenstein, James North, Michael Arria, Adam Horowitz.
The contrast in how the Palestinian issue, and the Ukraine issue are handled is shocking. They are so against attacking civilians, occupation, and seizing of lands, when it comes to Russia, but do not utter those words when it comes to the Palestinian issue, which has been going on for decades, and people are being killed by the thousands. Those who are outraged (rightfully so) at what Russia is doing, are justifying it all when it comes to Israel. They should be ashamed of their hypocrisy.
Is it because the Palestinians are brown skinned Muslims? Is it because they enable the occupier by sending aid and arms? Why aren’t the US, UK, and all the EU nations, sending weapons and aid to the Palestinians, whenever Israel decides to mow the lawn, and kill civilians to defend themselves? Why aren’t they appalled that entire families are wiped out by Israel’s precision bombs? Why weren’t they disgusted that 68 children were brutally killed the last time Israel decided to attack a place of worship, and launch a war, when Palestinians protested the desecration a Holy place? What is worse is, Israel is using weapons sent by the US and other Western nations to kill unarmed civilians.
This is a British MP who was criticized for speaking the truth:
“The Labour MP for Sunderland Central Julie Elliott was told she was ‘historically wrong, factually wrong and morally wrong’ to make the comparison between Vladimir Putin‘s invasion of Ukraine and the situation in Israel and Palestine.
Ms Elliott insisted international law was ‘as relevant’ in both situations as she pressed the Government to consider recognising the state of Palestine alongside Israel in pursuit of a two-state solution to the conflict in the region.
She told MPs: ‘My heart goes out to the Ukrainian people. Quite rightly we talk about international law. In fact I listened to the minister (Amanda Milling) only a few minutes ago and the vital importance of the sovereignty of states. Yet when Palestinians hear that – how must they feel?”
They still protect, arm, send aid, and support, the brutal occupier. Double standards again and it is always ugly.
In that vein, this appeared in Newsweek a few days ago –
https://www.newsweek.com/ukraine-resistance-like-palestinians-fighting-israel-shaun-king-suggests-1683074
Ukraine Resistance Like Palestinians Fighting Israel, Shaun King Suggests…civil rights activist Shaun King didn’t cast the first stone in the debate over who’s right and who might be wrong in the war between Russia and Ukraine. King, however, stoked fiery opinions while comparing Ukrainian nationals fighting for their homeland to Palestinians fighting to protect themselves against Israeli attacks in the Middle East….
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UK MP criticised for comparing Ukraine crisis to Israeli occupation of Palestine | Middle East Eye
“UK MP criticised for comparing Ukraine crisis to Israeli occupation of Palestine” Middle East Eye, Feb.25/22“Labour MP for Sunderland Central, Julie Elliott, was told that she was wrong to make parallels between the two conflicts during a debate on the recognition of Palestine.A British politician was criticised on Thursday after likening the Russian invasion of Ukraine to the Israeli occupation of Palestinian lands, and urging for international law to be respected in both situations.
“‘My heart goes out to the Ukrainian people,’ said Labour MP Julie Elliott during a Commons debate on the recognition of Palestine, as she pressed the government to consider recognising the state of Palestine alongside Israel in pursuit of a two-state solution.
“‘Quite rightly we talk about international law. In fact, I listened to the minister [Amanda Milling] only a few minutes ago on the vital importance of the sovereignty of states. Yet when Palestinians hear that, how must they feel? They have endured 54 years of occupation, which in itself is an aggression.”
“Conservative MP Stephen Crabb then interjected, calling Elliott’s comparison ‘historically wrong, factually wrong & morally wrong. [It’s] a huge disservice not just to the people of Ukraine but also to the people of Palestine & the people of Israel as well, who face a unique situation & set of challenges,’ he said
“Elliott called for a ‘complete & total ban on illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank’ & said that recognising Palestine was the ‘bare minimum’ of what the UK should do as part of a two-state solution.
“Responding to Crabb, she said: ‘What I was talking about was the upholding of international law, which your own minister talked about a few minutes ago, & the right of upholding international law is as relevant in Ukraine as it is in Palestine.’
“Scottish National Party MP Philippa Whitford backed the Sunderland MP’s views, & said: ‘After 55 years of occupation, 15 years of Gaza blockade, & the ongoing annexation of the West Bank, the two-state solution is simply becoming unviable unless there is a reversal of current Israeli policy.’
(cont’d)
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“Foreign Office minister Amanda Milling said the UK would recognise a permanent Palestinian state ‘at a time when it best serves the objective of peace’.
“She told the Commons: ‘We firmly believe that a just & lasting solution delivering peace for both Israelis & Palestinians is long overdue. We also believe that the best way to make progress towards this is through negotiations between both sides, which take account of their legitimate concerns.”
“Earlier this week, the British government overwhelmingly voted in favour of an amendment that would ban public sector employees from boycotting Israeli investments within their pension pots.
“While the pro-Palestine Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions movement against Israel was not explicitly mentioned in the amendment, it was made clear in the debate tabled by Conservative MP Robert Jenrick that the policy was centred around the boycott.”
Gideon Levy, cited above , also had this piece:
https://www.haaretz.com/opinion/.premium-israel-s-health-system-offers-a-glimpse-of-the-wonderful-country-it-could-be-1.10630707