Anti-Palestinian discrimination
A recent JVL members meeting heard two talks on Anti-Palestinian discrimination and the silencing of Palestinian voices. One was from Ghada Karmi, a Palestinian in exile for her home country. The other was from Ofer Neiman, a Jewish Israeli activist in support of Palestinian rights.
Ghada Kharmi against the silencing of Palestinians
Ghada Khami, a UK based Palestinian spoke about how Anti-Palestinian discrimination needs to be seen in two ways. First, as an expression of ‘imperial disdain’ of all native peoples. This is not racism as such, but more an attitude that saw natives as unimportant and irrelevant. The 1917 Belfour Declaration is a prime example of this attitude towards Palestinians, who were considered irrelevant to the needs of Jewish settlers. Second, anti-Palestinian hostility must be understood as tied up with Israel’s overriding imperative to be seen as legitimate. If Palestinians have legitimacy then that detracts from Israel’s own. Today this shows itself in attempts to silence the Palestinian voice and point of view.
Ofer Neiman on Israeli opposition to silencing of Palestinian voices
Ofer Neiman. an Israeli Jewish BDS activist describes Israel’s attempt to sabotage Palestine solidarity efforts and protect the apartheid status quo.
Israel fears accountability, in particular the BDS campaign and the legal proceedings in the ICC (The Hague).
Palestinians bear the brunt of Israeli silencing efforts. Palestinian human rights defenders are abused and detained. Israel has also attempted to label Palestinian NGOs as terrorist group. The EU conveys skepticism but some funding has been suspended.
Israel uses soft and hard power to target groups and activists across the world. The Israeli government collaborates with local groups (such as Stand With Us) and may hire professionals, including law firms or PR firms, for its advocacy and litigation. A key Israeli propaganda project – “Solomon’s sling” aka “concert” – seeks to reshape the perception of Israel in digital media spheres.
Israeli soft power aims at presenting Israel as “cool”, via the “Brand Israel” campaign, with an emphasis on Tel Aviv and pinkwashing (LGBTQ).
Israel’s more aggressive policies against Palestine solidarity work have a lot to do with the rise of the BDS campaign. Israel attempts to promote anti-BDS legislation to stop the movement, and tries to libel and slander human rights activists seeking accountability for Israeli war crimes and apartheid policies.
Prominent human rights groups now refer to Israel’s policies as ‘apartheid’. Israel cannot sideline Amnesty International Human Rights Watch and Btselem. Palestine solidarity work should also be boosted as a result of the much stronger (and justified) BDS campaign against Russia due to to its war of aggression and genocide in Ukraine.
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