Boycotcampagnes het andere gezicht van Jodenhaat

The fence around Gaza: 'A vast prison'? Photo: Efraim Bar-El

 

 

Naast terechte kritiek en kwaadheid over de boycotcampagnes tegen Israel en de delegitimatie van zijn land, maakt Moshe Dann hieronder duidelijk dat hij een 'tweestatenoplossing' afwijst en vindt dat Israel het hele gebied van de zee tot de Jordaan toekomt. Iedereen die de bezetting van de Westoever door Israel afwijst en vindt dat daar een Palestijnse staat gesticht moet worden, lijkt hij tot de 'Jodenhaters' te rekenen. Zo gedacht bestaat bijna de hele wereld uit antisemieten, en dat levert wel een zeer beangstigend wereldbeeld op.

 

Gelukkig zijn er veel mensen die en Israel een veilige en welvarende toekomst toewensen, en de Palestijnse Arabieren ook een veilige en onafhankelijke staat toewensen, en dat beide in vrede naast elkaar mogen bestaan. Dat dat een moeilijke opgave is, bewijzen de afgelopen 100 jaar wel, maar eens moet het er toch van komen, en hopelijk binnenkort. Doel van zionisme was om een Joods thuisland te stichten dat in vrede met haar buren bestaat en internationale erkenning geniet, en dat doel is nog steeds niet echt bereikt.

 

Er is helaas een breed palet van boycot-initiatieven, van regelrechte antisemieten en antizionisten die Israel opgedoekt willen zien tot groeperingen die alleen produkten uit de nederzettingen willen boycotten, waaronder zelfs Israelische professoren en artiesten die niet (meer) naar Ariel willen gaan en IDF soldaten die geen dienst meer willen doen op de Westoever. Dat deze soms op één hoop worden geveegd, hebben ze mede aan zichzelf te wijten, omdat ze zelden een duidelijke lijn trekken en zich niet helder distanciëren van de antizionistische campagnes die de vernietiging van de Joodse staat voorstaan. Zoals je niet gezien moet willen worden in een demonstratie waar ook Hamas-aanhangers hun walgelijke leuzen schreeuwen, moet je ook niet mee willen doen aan boycotcampagnes waarin antisemieten meefolderen. Alleen al daarom is een boycotcampagne gericht tegen Israel of tegen bepaald Israelisch beleid zoals de nederzettingenpolitiek, een onbruikbaar middel.

 

Wouter

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Jew-hatred's other face

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4013059,00.html

Op-ed: BDS campaigns promote intentionally ugly, one-dimensional representation of Israel

Moshe Dann

Published: 01.14.11, 00:45

Anti-Semites around the world have found a new and more subtle form of attack: Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) campaigns.

The Ramallah-based Palestinian BDS National Committee, an umbrella organization for dozens of Palestinian organizations supported by the Palestinian Authority, is a global movement. Behind anti-Israel actions by churches, unions and student groups, it is aided by the Muslim Brotherhood, with branches in 70 countries, and hundreds of campus and civic/social organizations and anti-Israel NGOs.

Wielding clichés like "apartheid," "war crimes," "stealing Palestinian land," "oppressing Palestinians," and "end the occupation," these groups seek to delegitimize and isolate Israel as part of their program to destroy Israel.

No need for swastikas and terrorism; Arab and Muslim countries and organizations have developed a sophisticated propaganda campaign, joined by Christians, atheists, socialists and anarchists dedicated to Israel's demise. Bedecked with ethics, law and justice, they insist that Israel withdraw to the 1949 Armistice lines, or 1947 UN proposed boundaries, leaving it vulnerable to terrorists. Their weapons are non-violent resistance that appeals to a sense of idealism and fair play, civil and human rights.

Backed by European governments, the UN, and Arab and Muslim organizations and countries, a host of NGOs condemn Israel as a pariah state, unworthy of existence. Their hate-campaign is currently focused on the Conference on Racism, to be held at the UN in New York City this summer.

If this were just a handful of Islamist fanatics, one might dismiss them; but they have lined up diplomatic and organizational support from many non-Muslims. That's why the campaign to delegitimize Israel is so unique and dangerous.

Anti-Israel campaigns overlap with anti-Jewish sentiments, bringing together diverse groups that are otherwise ideologically, philosophically and theologically incompatible. Hatred of Israel seems to be the single overriding issue that unites fascists and communists, anarchists and fundamentalists, religious leaders and atheists, rich and poor.

Challenging Israel's identity as a nominally Jewish state - a form of de-legitimization - seems to be an acceptable way of denying Israel's right to exist. Objecting to the right of Jews to live in areas acquired in 1967, likewise, ignores Israel's legal and historical claims, the proven consequences of withdrawal, and the dangers posed by creating another Arab Palestinian state.

Claiming the moral high ground

Paradoxically, a "two-state" plan, instead of reducing resistance to Israel, increases it. The prospect of a Palestinian state and sovereignty only raises expectations that it will replace Israeli sovereignty, and bring Israel's downfall.

By arguing against what they claim are Israel's "racist policies," its "illegal occupation of Arab lands," its "colonialism," anti-Israel groups claim moral high ground.

Decrying "the occupation as a moral disaster" for Israel, therefore, identifies Jews as "occupiers," immoral, backed by a state-sponsored immorality, a legal and historical fraud that sharpens the sword of de-legitimization and justifies BDS campaigns.

When the Gaza Strip is considered "a vast prison," for example, then attacking those who made that prison is justified.

If a Jewish, democratic state is inherently discriminatory and "racist," those who oppose it can be honored as "freedom fighters." If Israel "steals Arab lands," those who struggle to regain what is rightfully theirs are reasonable and justified. If Israeli settlements are "illegal," that crime should be punished. This ugly representation of Israel is an intentional, one-dimensional portrait of evil.

The goal of BDS campaigns is not only to remove Jewish/Israeli presence from Judea and Samaria, the Golan and eastern Jerusalem, but total Israeli surrender. Moreover, anti-Israel BDS campaigns can be used on many issues simultaneously, ad infinitum.

This explains the misconception that Palestinian leaders "never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity." It's not a mistake; it's policy - never recognize Israel's right to exist; never negotiate the refugee issue; never compromise on Jerusalem. The problem, therefore, is not territorial, but existential.

Ironically, BDS campaigns and unilateral Palestinian moves towards UN recognition and statehood sweep away illusions and clarify the real issues: Secure and recognized borders, and ending the conflict.

The convergence of BDS hate-campaigns, de-legitimization efforts, anti-settlement activities, anti-Semitism and a virulently anti-Israel media are not only dangerous to Israel; they are shameful examples of bigotry and intolerance.