It's Almost Supernatural

MRN Propaganda 101: Lie!

Last month the Media Review Network (MRN) used their seemingly bottomless vault of cash to pay for a full page Palestinian propaganda advert. It may have appeared in numerous dailies, but I saw it in the Citizen. The advert, entitled “How Palestine became Israel” displays 3 maps which the MRN display as a story of thieving and betrayal. To maximise the propaganda effect, it is bordered by a series of scissors encouraging the reader to cut it out and display. They egregiously write “Please cut out and display map”.

Whilst there is nothing stopping anyone from paying for adverts to push their view, we should demand that the content is truthful. The MRN fell short of this mark. And it shouldn’t surprise you. You should remember that earlier this year, we caught them out in a lie denying that they had showcased articles on their website about a Jewish Broederbond (see full post here). This seems to be the behaviour we should continue to expect from them.

A friend of mine, Victor Gordon (don’t miss his latest play, Harry and Ed), penned this letter to the Citizen, exposing the paid for lie.

Sir The ability to re-write history is a specialty of the Media Review Network and is ably demonstrated in their advert, "How Palestine became Israel." The fact that they had to pay to publicise their propaganda is in itself telling. To cite just one example; "The UN passed Resolution 242 ... ordering Israel to withdraw from the occupied territories". The deceitful inclusion of the word "the" deliberately changes the intent from the actual wording of the resolution, "...to withdraw from occupied territories." At the time, the word "the" was purposely omitted to place the onus on all the warring parties to negotiate new and secure borders which the Arabs have consistently refused to do (the famous "3 No's"). Yet Israel alone is always blamed for its so-called refusal to abide by this resolution. The MRN would not have committed this error unintentionally. Res. 242 is simply too well known. The distortion can only be deliberate, reflecting the tone and purpose of much of the "information" offered by this organization - distorted propaganda. If the MRN cannot be trusted with so crucial a fact how can it be trusted with any other of its claims, like the reference to "Palestinians owning 99.6% of the land in 1897", considering that the entire region fell under Ottoman rule from 1841 to 1917. The "Palestinians" who were largely nomadic Arabs, owned not one inch. But one need look no further than the 3 maps chosen to illustrate "How Palestine became Israel ...", except that a fourth map deserves inclusion - the one showing the land mass stretching from the Mediterranean Sea to the borders of Iraq that fell under the British mandate. With 80% designated to the establishment of Transjordan, the remaining 20% was finally partitioned by the UN giving roughly equal portions to the Arabs and the Jews, of who's portion 65% included the arid Negev Desert. Ironically, instead of these maps revealing to what degree Arab land has shrunk since 1948, they highlight the futility of the wars they launched against Israel in trying to regain what they had previously lost. Perhaps the MRN should reconsider its headline, "How Palestine became Israel...", the answer being, "by opting to fight two disastrous wars (1948 & 1967) and losing both." Bad choice - but hardly Israel’s fault. It was the Arabs who chose the option of war and have gone backwards ever since.

Israeli Army Prosecutes Delinquent Soldiers

Abuses of power take place on all sides during all wars. The distinguishing feature of a state is how it handles these. What critics of Israel fail to understand is that its democratic nature provides internal institutional mechanisms to punish and prevent the excesses of a few wayward soldiers. To this end, there is a story in Haaretz last week about an IDF soldier who was arrested for stealing a credit card from a home in the northern Gaza strip during the recent war against Hamas and using it to withdraw 1,600 Shekels.

Of course this is a disgusting act. Using war as a cover for stealing private property for no justifiable reason other than self enrichment, should be prohibited. It goes against the moral code of the IDF and the Jewish people. It is disappointing of course to know that even one such act took place. We need to examine why it happened. But most importantly Israel has made it clear not only by its words, but by its actions, in arresting the guilty soldier that such behavior will not be tolerated.

What I find remarkable about the whole story is how well the institutional control mechanism within the IDF functioned. The article reports that a Palestinian residing in the northern Gaza Strip lodged a complaint with the army after the war that his credit card was stolen during Operation Cast Lead. He presented them with his credit card statement revealing a number of products had been purchased in Israel with it. In light of the seriousness of the complaint, the military prosecution ordered the Military Police Investigation unit to open probes in which they would take evidence in order to examine the claims. The unit found the Palestinian’s claim to be accurate, found the guilty party and arrested him.

It is firstly amazing that the Palestinian man chose to report the theft in the first place. From what we read in the newspapers, the IDF is a Palestinian child killing machine. Why would any sane Palestinian have believed that he would get justice from it? Not over a death but a few hundred dollars? And we know how those Jews like their dollars, just ask South Africa’s former Foreign Minister. Secondly, why the evil IDF would even have bothered to follow up on the complaint. And then thirdly, when finding guilt, actually go to the trouble of arresting the soldier and not just crying security concerns. This incident demonstrates that Israel’s critics have missed a thing or two about the morality of its army!

This is obviously only one swan, but it is does carry with it the hope of summer. Those who really care about Palestinian and Israeli wellbeing would be advised to take note. This is not Yugoslavia or Rwanda or even Faluja or Kabul. There is no need to impose an outside trial on the IDF and Israeli politicians for war crimes. Its courts and police investigation units will do it for you where necessary. If Judge Goldstone and co really wanted to make a difference, rather than spending their summer on a witch hunt, they should come to Israel to offer their expertise in strengthening these types of internal institutions.

Harry and Ed - Don't miss it!

Over the past few months I have highlighted some of the tireless individuals from the general public who spend way too much energy defending Israel in our media. One of the finest is playwright Victor Gordon, whose many opinion pieces and letters ensure that a rational and intellectual explanation of the conflict is always at close-hand.

Victor's latest play, Harry and Ed, is showing at the moment and I urge you all to make sure you don’t miss this compelling story of a remarkable friendship that eventually helped establish the State of Israel.

HARRY & ED: The drama behind the birth of Israel Written by Victor Gordon Starring Anthony Fridjohn and David Butler Directed by Robert Fridjohn Dates: 1 - 7 June 2009 Venue: Old Mutual Theatre on the Square Bookings: Theatre 011 883 8606, or Strictly Tickets 073 725 7381 Tickets cost R100, or R120 if you want to get a bus-ride from Johannesburg through to Pretoria. The little known friendship between President Harry S. Truman and a humble Jewish haberdasher, Eddie Jacobson, is largely ignored in the annuals of history. Yet, were it not for the close bond that existed between these two very different men there is every likelihood that the State of Israel might not have come into being in 1948. The fascination of so much hinging on so little is the essence of an intriguing play by Victor Gordon. Truman and Jacobson served together in World War 1 establishing a haberdasher store thereafter which later fell victim to the post-war depression. While Truman embarked on a stellar political career, Jacobson worked as a traveling salesman before opening his own clothing store some years later. Despite their divergent paths, their close friendship and mutual loyalty, described by some as 'akin to that of brothers', never diminished and had dramatic consequences on the course of history. With Truman's ascendency to the presidency one of the first problems he faced was the desperate need for a homeland for those Jews who survived the Holocaust. The British withdrawal from Palestine placed the fate of the region in the hands of the newly formed United Nations which opted for the partition of the territory into two independent states, one Arab and one Jewish. However, this depended on the General Assembly where a two thirds majority was required to bring the dream of a Jewish state to fruition. How the friendship between Truman and Jacobson impacted on this pivotal moment in history is told in 'Harry & Ed' which features two luminaries of South African theatre, Anthony Fridjhon and David Butler. Direction is by Robert Fridjhon.

Was Geneva a Durban 2?

SA Jewish Board of Deputies National Director Wendy Kahn was recently in Geneva as an observer at the controversial Durban Review Conference. Next week you'll be able to join the SAJBD for a feedback session on the conference, giving you an opportunity to ask questions and voice your concerns.

Wendy will be presenting on the topic "Was Geneva a Durban 2".

Johannesburg Wednesday 13 May 17:30 at Beyachad RSVP: Shirley Beagle 011 645-2583/ [email protected] Cape Town (in conjuction with the Living Newspaper) Tuesday 26 May, 8pm at Marais Rd Shul RSVP Debbie Katzeff 021 464-6700/ [email protected]

Judge Goldstone vs the State of Israel: How Does the Defendant Plead?

This week, investigators from the tirelessly anti-Israel UN Human Rights Council are meeting in Geneva to plan their fact finding mission into human rights abuses committed in the January Gaza war. But leading the team is the widely respected South African Jewish Judge, Richard Goldstone. In the last few weeks he has been instrumental in increasing the scope of the inquiry to include Palestinian violations of international law as well—a remarkably unique situation for a UNHRC commission. Thus, this investigation cannot just be dismissed as an anti-Israel witch hunt out of hand. Israel faces a very serious dilemma: to cooperate or not to cooperate.

Goldstone, in my opinion, should not have accepted the appointment. Not only should judges be independent when dispensing justice but they need to be seen as impartial. While I do not doubt Goldstone’s professionalism, I don’t believe, given his Jewish affiliation, that his ruling will ever be seen as impartial. If he finds against Israel, Zionist will say he was trying to overcompensate for his Jewishness. If he finds for Israel, Arabs will say that he has sided with his co-religionists over the truth. The Palestinian leadership in Gaza is already making these claims. According to the Los Angeles Times, one Hamas official complained to al-Arab television that Goldstone, because he is Jewish, ‘will no doubt side with the Zionist enemy.' And to be honest, they have lots of ammo to back up their claim. Not only ix Goldstone a Jew, but he also has strong ties to the state of Israel. He is a trustee of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and a president emeritus of World ORT.

Goldstone claimed in an email exchange with Joel Pollak of Guide to the Perplexed that ‘an independent and even-handed inquiry into the Gaza events is necessary and in the interests of peace in the Middle East’.  I am afraid no matter what he does his commission will not be able to achieve this noble goal. His ethnicity and associating with the state of Israel effectively rules this out. But he has accepted the post and Israel has had to decide how to deal with the investigation with him as its chair.

Early reports out of Jerusalem seemed to indicate that Israel would boycott the investigation. A letter was purported to have been sent to Goldstone through the Israeli embassy in Geneva informing him and the council that Israel believed it was "impossible to cooperate with the committee" in its inquiry. Anything spawned by the vociferously anti-Israel UNHRC was deemed by the Jewish state to be hostile and illegitimate. To be honest, I understand their point. Why is it that Israel is under investigation for war crimes and not the numerous perennial human rights abusers? Israel is a democratic country with a fiercely independent Supreme Court to deal with any of the potential abuses that may have taken place, so why does it need the UNHRC to intervene? In fact, the army has conducted its own investigation and found no evidence of international legal violations by the IDF.  No, this investigation is certainly not fair and the likelihood of an honest result is by no means guaranteed, but I still think Israel must comply. Whether we agree or not, the commission has legitimacy in the eyes of most of the world. And boycotting it will sadly not discredit its findings when they are released. Israel’s only hope of limiting the international, political and legal fall-out is to make public all the evidence it has and address all the commission’s concerns. If it does not cooperate, not only will it be found guilty of war crimes, but it will be seen even by some of its supporters as if it has something to hide.

There is no doubt the playing field is not even but that is no reason just to throw the entire game. It just means that Israel has to play harder. Their evidence must be more reliable, their legal arguments smarter and their PR response more eloquent. Given its history, I have faith that this is a challenge that the Jewish state can surely rise to!