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.
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.
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.
"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.
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.
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."
http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2008/04/gaza200804?currentPage=6
Here's an excellent student drama presentation at Gaza Islamic University, March 4,2009.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRnjsiyXcBk
are studiously avoid the above link from Palestinian ehhh...."scholars."
Do you have some specific links ?
Go to the Modern Examples section.
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
And with relative quiet in Gaza the siege by Israel and Egypt continues with only the UN reporting the suffering.
If a tree falls -
"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
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
If you can't believe the IDF, who can you believe ?
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
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
Exactly. Keep touting that mythology, but no one's really buying it anymore.