An Ugly and Symptomatic Consequence of Israel's Palestinian Occupation

A recent article written by Israeli journalist, Uri Blau, and published in the Israeli national newspaper Haaretz, details a small, but symptomatic aspect of Israel's colonial policy toward the Palestinians: the dehumanizing attitudes that some Israeli soldiers adopt toward the Palestinians. Apparently, it is a custom that small units (squads, platoons, etc) in the Israel Defense Forces commission custom-made t-shirts and other apparel "featuring their unit's insignia, usually accompanied by a slogan and drawing of their choosing." The slogan and drawing typically express various (often x-rated or iconoclastic) attitudes, which the members of these units then wear in informal or civilian settings.

The problem is that there is apparently a widespread trend for these slogans and drawings to express racist and even genocidal attitudes toward Palestinians among the soldiers commissioning and then wearing them. Here is just one example: "A T-shirt from the Givati Brigade's Shaked battalion shows a pregnant Palestinian woman with a bull's-eye superimposed on her belly, with the slogan, in English, "1 shot, 2 kills."

Yes, it is that bad, and this is not even the worst of them. And what makes it even more significant and scary is that the officers have to approve of these slogans and captions -- because the Unit's insignia is on them -- so there is institutional sanctioning of these incredible images and statements, which the unit members then wear in all sorts of informal settings.

Complaints about them are dismissed on the basis that these are lighthearted and playful, but I think we can see the sinister significance and brutal consequences of advertising and therefore validating these attitudes -- and the actions they encourage.

More broadly, the bland acceptance of this in Israel suggest corruption of military and civilian authorities, and the depth of the racism flooding through segments of the population there.

Oh my.

Comments

[AntiSocialite]

Sure sounds like the "most moral army in the world," to me!

[Solaris123]

One person's colonialism is another nation's self-determination.
The latest example of ethnic cleansing was delivered by Kuwaitis who evicted about half a million people whose only fault was having Palestinian ancestry. Mot of whom were born and raised in Kuwait.
Kuwaitis forced them out of the country using a systematic and violent campaign of ethnic cleansing.
Of course Arafat made it worse ( as usual) by supporting Saddam Hussein during his occupation of Kuwait.
Contrary to Arab narrative the claim that there's ethnic cleansing ( let alone genocide) In disputed territories of Gaza W. Bank is extremely irresponsible.

Arab population in both areas is increasing exponentially. The birth rates are some of the highest in the world. The life expectancy is on par with Israel.
If nothing else there's was ethnic cleansing against Jews from Gaza.

But people devoted anti Israelis simply refuse to accept facts. It's the vilification of Jews and Israelis they're mostly interested in,.Not truth.

[chaos4700]

Yeah. And the Kuwaitis, one notes, enjoy a fantastic relationship with Israel and the US. Fancy that.

[Spiritof1982]

Mr. Schwartz,

A bone to pick...

"Israel's colonial policy"

I've seen the "colonialism" claim a few times in HuffPo's Israel-Palestine stories and op-eds. I really think this is a stretch if you adhere to a strict definition of colonialism as it has been known throughout history. I definitely think there are better terms to describe it and with no less gravity or outrage. I think "ethnic cleansing" comes close but I'm hesitant because many associate it with "genocide" or consider the two to be synonymous. If not for that widespread misunderstanding it could possibly describe Nakba.

[Solaris123]

Haaretz"The Israel Defense Forces on Monday condemned T-shirts worn by soldiers that depict scenes of violence against Palestinians, "The shirts are not in accordance with IDF values and are simply tasteless," the army said in a statement.
"This type of humor is unbecoming and should be condemned. The [IDF] statement said disciplinary action would be taken against troops wearing the T-shirts.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1073234.html

Of course this blog artfully and predictably avoids mentioning this statement and disciplinary action by IDF.

[EspressoAtNoon]

This would be the same IDF that concluded that all their own soldiers who insisted war crimes were committed in Gaza were engaged in hearsay? Despite the fact they targeted schools, hospitals, UN buildings and UN schools and UN trucks (of which the IDF had the coordinates too), and high dense population centers for extermination?

The IDF ARE the terrorists. Whatever they have to say about anything is the equivalent to hearing the Serbian stormtroopers insist they fought honorably in Bosnia in the 1990s. Pathetic.

[Solaris123]

This decision is unwise ... it shows that Hamas doesn't want a solution. I think that the consequences will be very dangerous," said Ahmed Abdel Rahman, a member of the Fatah team in Cairo. "We are shocked by this decision. It shows that Hamas is irresponsible when it comes to the fate of the Palestinian people."

Amnesty International group on Tuesday accused Hamas of carrying out a "deadly campaign" against its Palestinian opponents and critics in the Gaza Strip, particularly those they accuse of "collaborating" with Israel.

"Hamas forces in the Gaza Strip have carried out a deadly campaign of abductions, killings, torture and death threats against those they accuse of 'collaborating' with Israel, as well as opponents and critics," the human rights group wrote in its latest report, released on Tuesday.

"When the war began, we started to see a tendency within Hamas to attack our members," said A., a Gaza resident who belongs to Fatah. "They feared that we would exploit the war and were constantly talking about the 'internal danger.' They could be heard saying they were fighting on two fronts, against Israel and Fatah. They were constantly fanning the flames, saying that thousands of Fatah members were planning to come from Egypt to help fight them - which is totally false."

[Solaris123]

Now that it controls Gaza, Hamas has given free rein to militants intent on firing rockets into neighboring Israeli towns. “We are still developing our rockets; soon we shall hit the heart of Ashkelon at will,” says Jaberi, the al-Aqsa commander, referring to the Israeli city of 110,000 people 12 miles from Gaza’s border. “I assure you, the time is near when we will mount a big operation inside Israel, in Haifa or Tel Aviv.”
http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2008/04/gaza200804?currentPage=6

[Solaris123]

Amnesty International Hamas war crimes
http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/MDE21/001/2009/en/9f210586-f762-11dd-8fd7-f57af21896e1/mde210012009en.html

[Solaris123]

Shakespeare? Becket? Ionesco?
Here's an excellent student drama presentation at Gaza Islamic University, March 4,2009.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRnjsiyXcBk

[Solaris123]

I noticed the strident Palestinian supporters who are so melodramatic about some t-shirts
are studiously avoid the above link from Palestinian ehhh...."s­cholars."

[chaos4700]

That's because it's a phony MEMRI translation. Nobody considers it /credible/.

[lightningbolt]

All of the surrounding Arab governments produce racist propaganda on a daily basis as official policy, yet no one says anything about them. Everyone should be held to the same standard when it comes to racism. Just because the Arab countries are brutal monarchies and dictatorships doesn't mean it is ok for them to be racist, they should be held to the same standard Israel is held to by the rest of the world.

[zaz33]

Lightningbolt - I agree that Arab governments should also be scrutinized.

Do you have some specific links ?

[lightningbolt]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arabs_and_antisemitism

Go to the Modern Examples section.

[Solaris123]

Even though the blood libel has been disproved countless times, it refuses to fade away...

And the charge has now gained currency in the Arab world. The Syrian defence minister, Mustafa Tlass, has written a book repeating the accusation, while some journalists continue to use it as part of the rhetorical war against Israel.
Professor John Klier, of University College London::" The blood libel is now so discredited in the West, he says, that the people who use it are seen as outside the scope of rational political debate."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/3420595.stm

Here's a an educational student show at Gaza Islamic University, March 4,2009. Very dramatic.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRnjsiyXcBk

[chaos4700]

The only libel around here, comes from you, ML.

[zaz33]

I don't remember if the original story stated that these slogans and graphics were approved by officers. Either the IDF have officers with poor judgment and poor training, or this is official racism.

And with relative quiet in Gaza the siege by Israel and Egypt continues with only the UN reporting the suffering.

If a tree falls -

[Solaris123]

"The Israel Defense Forces on Monday condemned T-shirts worn by soldiers that depict scenes of violence against Palestinia­ns..."
"The shirts are not in accordance with IDF values and are simply tasteless," the army said in a statement. "This type of humor is unbecoming and should be condemned.­"

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1073234.html

[chaos4700]

So how come it had to hit the international media /before/ it was condemned? More to the point, how often did those soldiers act out the actions lauded on those t-shirts?

[GZLives]

18 and 19 year olds behaving thoughtlessly .. who would have thunk it

FYI This old story from a series of untrue anti IDF stories that Haaretz ran in the wake of Gaza have already been proven false or at best extreme exaggeration. The T-Shirt story is in the latter category while the Haaretz "IDF war crimes confessions" goes in the fiction category

[zaz33]

The IDF investigated and determined that their soldiers fought the "war" with honor, and that no war crimes were committed.

If you can't believe the IDF, who can you believe ?

[Solaris123]

You can believe Hamas who claimed victory, while their leadership was hiding in hospital maternity wards wearing medical garb as camouflage.

[DirtyMoon]

That is absolutely disgusting. Racism is everywhere and should never be tolerated. Even Jews, who often scream about anti-Semitism, can be racist, too.

[Solaris123]

Anyone can be racist, regardless of race, creed or color. You mean you didn't know that?
Meanwhile in Israel:
"The Israel Defense Forces on Monday condemned T-shirts worn by soldiers that depict scenes of violence against Palestinia­ns..."
"The shirts are not in accordance with IDF values and are simply tasteless," the army said in a statement. "This type of humor is unbecoming and should be condemned.­"

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1073234.html

[GZLives]

Yes racism is everywhere ... even out of the mouths of the Arab T-shirt maker. Yes, this was as reported in Haaretz courtesy of the Palestinian who was allegedly making these T-Shirts. Did it really happen? Maybe, but they don't refer to it as "Palywood" for no reason.

Anyway, as can be imagined in Israel - not in any Arab country of course, there was quite an uproar when this Haaretz story ran. Beloe is just one of the comments that followed.

"The IDF T-shirt affair came to light in March 2009, following the 2008–2009 Israel–Gaza conflict, when Haaretz reported that several Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers had T-shirts printed up with slogans and caricatures that were deemed offensive to Palestinians. Although the T-shirts were ordered privately, the IDF declared that they were not in "accordance with IDF values" and were "tasteless [and] unacceptab­le." Commanders were instructed to take disciplinary action against units commissioning such T-shirts."

I wonder what sort of T-Shirts they print up in Gaza about Jews? Well, I suppose no need to since they have TV cartoon shows targeted at toddlers extolling the virtues of killing Jews ...

Can we stop the hypocrisy now

[chaos4700]

Oh, and did "Pallywood" produce movies like Delta Force? True Lies? Religulous? Is "Pallywood" funding MEMRI and giyus.org?

Exactly. Keep touting that mythology, but no one's really buying it anymore.

[Spiritof1982]

"Even Jews, who often scream about anti-Semitism, can be racist, too."

I agree with this statement but you choose to word it in a way that begs suspicion. You erode from the gravity of anti-Semitism by likening it to an unjustified, shrill whining while coming to the defense of other racism. Choose your words more carefully. Nobody should be absolved in the conflict but neither should those who have ulterior motives about anti-Semitism.

[chaos4700]

Because anti-Semitism is more urgent a world than any other racism, huh? Caution: Israeli exceptionalism at work.