By JULIUS KAIREY
If Israel were an Arab country, it would receive near-universal praise as a paragon of justice. Its robust protections of freedom of speech, along with frequent and open elections, would make it the only Arab state in which people have a real say in the operation of their government. Israel would be celebrated as the only gay-friendly state in a region of rampant anti-gay persecution. Its strict prohibition of the traditional practice of honor killings where women accused of disgracing the family name are murdered by their male relatives would be lauded as proof of its progressive and egalitarian values. And its modern capitalist economy, driven by a dynamic high-tech sector, would be the model for other Arab nations seeking to lift their people from the depths of poverty.
Of course, Israel isnt an Arab nation, and it is treated according to this double-standard. It is the worlds only majority-Jewish state, and it is surrounded by Arab theocracies, dictatorships and monarchies, each of which have gone to war in a failed bid to end its existence. And yet, Israels remarkable history of repeated triumph in the face of seemingly insurmountable adversity receives little sympathy among some left-wing segments of communities across the nation.
While Israels actions are put under a microscope its every flaw magnified to the maximum possible extent its enemies are given a free pass.
It is not immediately obvious why this is so. Israels history reads like a liberal success story. The Jewish people have refused to consent to their exile from the land of Israel, perpetrated by the Romans nearly 2,000 years ago. Rather than submit to oppression and injustice, Jews returned home over the centuries. In the 19th century, this movement for national liberation, called Zionism, sought to establish a modern state in the Jewish national homeland. This place would be a refuge from the forces of bigotry and hatred a place where Jews from around the world could gather for collective security whenever their lives or livelihoods came under threat. To this day, thousands of Jews migrate to Israel annually most recently from France for safety from the resurgence of anti-Semitism.
But you will not hear any of this from Israels detractors. They subject Israel to a constant torrent of demonization, all while applying a moral standard on Israel that is applied to no other country on Earth. Zionism is equated with racism and Israel is called a terrorist state, even the moral equivalent of apartheid South Africa, a country that maintained a total and systematic separation between Whites and non-Whites. These accusations continue in total disregard of the fact that Israel is the only country in the Middle East where Jews and Arabs live alongside one another in substantial numbers, vote in the same elections and serve together in the same national legislature.
While Israels actions are put under a microscope its every flaw magnified to the maximum possible extent its enemies are given a free pass. Hamas brazenly indiscriminate rocket attacks on Israeli cities which even the Palestinian Authority has called war crimes are either encouraged as necessary for resistance, or dismissed as insignificant. Hamas genocidal charter, which calls not just for the destruction of Israel but for the murder of Jews worldwide, is attributed to a harmless overreaction to Israels non-existent occupation of the Gaza Strip, not to be taken seriously. Where else is the threat of genocide not to be taken seriously?
So why cant Israel get a fair hearing in certain segments of campus communities and elsewhere? It comes down to Israels character.
Israels first crime is that it is a Western nation. In the minds of Israels critics, to be Western is to be suspect, especially when your country is juxtaposed with non-Western nations. Israeli actions are confused with colonialism by those who erroneously insist that, to this day, imperialism drives relations between Western and non-Western peoples. To attack Israel is to give non-Westerners a leg up in these supposedly colonial interactions.
Israels second offense is that it is pro-American. It is little surprise that Israels fiercest opponents are also militant critics of the United States. They deride Americas invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq as modern-day imperialism and look forward to a day when America will be forced to relinquish its superpower status. Because Israel and America have such strong links, Israel is tarred as a mere instrument of Americas supposedly nefarious interests abroad. Bashing Israel is just their way of expressing contempt for the policies of the United States, and as such serves as an outlet for virulent anti-Americanism. They treat the Jewish State as America in the Middle East.
Read more here:
THROWDOWN THURSDAY: The Four Causes of Anti-Israelism
- Turkey's crackdown on freedom of speech intensifies [Last Updated On: February 12th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 12th, 2015]
- Bill of Rights Transcript Text - National Archives and ... [Last Updated On: February 12th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 12th, 2015]
- Freedom of Speech (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy) [Last Updated On: February 12th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 12th, 2015]
- 3 Muslims shot dead by Atheist || #muslimlivesmatter - Video [Last Updated On: February 12th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 12th, 2015]
- Media Studies 104A - 2015-02-10 - Video [Last Updated On: February 12th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 12th, 2015]
- USA Freedom of Speech and Jesus Christ - Video [Last Updated On: February 12th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 12th, 2015]
- France Arrests French Comedian Dieudonne 3 Days After Charlie Hebdo Freedom of Speech - Video [Last Updated On: February 12th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 12th, 2015]
- Charlie Hebdo's "Freedom of Speech" - Video [Last Updated On: February 12th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 12th, 2015]
- John Robertson on Greg Shapiro's United States of Europe - S3Ep01 - Video [Last Updated On: February 12th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 12th, 2015]
- The Illuminati: The Freedom of Speech 2015 Conspiracy - Video [Last Updated On: February 12th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 12th, 2015]
- Muslims oppose insult to Islam in the name of freedom of speech - Video [Last Updated On: February 12th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 12th, 2015]
- RE: HannibalTheVictor13's resentment over thunderf00t and his "freedom of speech". - Video [Last Updated On: February 12th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 12th, 2015]
- Policy update restricts demonstrations [Last Updated On: February 14th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 14th, 2015]
- Italian senators pass bill criminalizing denial of genocides [Last Updated On: February 14th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 14th, 2015]
- Michael Buerk Interview - Freedom of Speech & Paris Attacks - Video [Last Updated On: February 14th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 14th, 2015]
- 'Freedom Of Speech' Topic Tuesday #12 - Video [Last Updated On: February 14th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 14th, 2015]
- One dead after shots fired at Copenhagen freedom of speech meeting [Last Updated On: February 15th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 15th, 2015]
- Shots Fired at Copenhagen Free Speech Event: Reports [Last Updated On: February 15th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 15th, 2015]
- One man dead and three policemen wounded at freedom of speech seminar in Denmark [Last Updated On: February 15th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 15th, 2015]
- Copenhagen caf: two gunmen in terror attack at freedom of speech event [Last Updated On: February 15th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 15th, 2015]
- One dead in gun attack on Danish freedom of speech meeting [Last Updated On: February 15th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 15th, 2015]
- Free Speech Debate Still Alive After Attack in Denmark [Last Updated On: February 15th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 15th, 2015]
- Esau uses Freedom of Speech as a weapon! - Video [Last Updated On: February 15th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 15th, 2015]
- Copenhagen attacks an 'affront to freedom of speech': Tony Abbott [Last Updated On: February 15th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 15th, 2015]
- Copenhagen suspect known to police [Last Updated On: February 15th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 15th, 2015]
- Copenhagen police kill suspect linked to two fatal attacks [Last Updated On: February 15th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 15th, 2015]
- Freedom of Speech and Freedom of Press - Lincoln University [Last Updated On: February 15th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 15th, 2015]
- Copenhagen Shooting: Deadly attack at free speech meeting with cartoonist who depicted Muh - Video [Last Updated On: February 15th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 15th, 2015]
- Shots fired at Copenhagens Krudttoenden cafe free speech event a report - Video [Last Updated On: February 15th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 15th, 2015]
- Media Studies 104A - 2015-02-12 - Video [Last Updated On: February 15th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 15th, 2015]
- WallBuilders Live 2015-02-11 Wednesday - Freedom of Speech on College Campuses - Video [Last Updated On: February 15th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 15th, 2015]
- Yisrael Beytenu at Charlie Hebdo freedom of speech protest - Video [Last Updated On: February 15th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 15th, 2015]
- TOI debate on freedom of speech wows Kolkata - The Times ... [Last Updated On: February 16th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 16th, 2015]
- Muslims Killing Atheists! - Video [Last Updated On: February 16th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 16th, 2015]
- AP Top Stories February 14 P - Video [Last Updated On: February 16th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 16th, 2015]
- Duck Dynasty's Phil Robertson to Receive Freedom of Speech Award [Last Updated On: February 17th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 17th, 2015]
- Freedom of speech, but... SHOTS - Video [Last Updated On: February 17th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 17th, 2015]
- Letters to the editor: We must do more to stop terrorists [Last Updated On: February 18th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 18th, 2015]
- Freedom Of Speech Naam Ki Koi Chiz Hoti Hai - Alia Bhatt On AIB Controversy - Video [Last Updated On: February 18th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 18th, 2015]
- DoomShow,Freedom of Speech under attack by Terrrorists - Video [Last Updated On: February 18th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 18th, 2015]
- Greenpeace activist refutes govt charge of being anti-national [Last Updated On: February 19th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 19th, 2015]
- Jailed Al Jazeera journalist concerned about freedom of speech [Last Updated On: February 19th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 19th, 2015]
- Fan claims municipal police violating freedom of speech [Last Updated On: February 19th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 19th, 2015]
- Jailed journalist concerned about freedom of speech [Last Updated On: February 19th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 19th, 2015]
- Denmark: Police launch manhunt for Copenhagen cafe shooter - Video [Last Updated On: February 19th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 19th, 2015]
- Freedom of speech denied outside of Skillet concert Pittsburgh - Video [Last Updated On: February 19th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 19th, 2015]
- Alex Jones is Right! Snowden is Right! Government Crooks Via FaceBook! - Video [Last Updated On: February 21st, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 21st, 2015]
- "McCann Trolling" v "Freedom of Speech" - Video [Last Updated On: February 21st, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 21st, 2015]
- Aamir Khan disapproves AIB Roast, KJo reacts [Last Updated On: February 22nd, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 22nd, 2015]
- South Africa: Post the State of the Nation Address [Last Updated On: February 23rd, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 23rd, 2015]
- The Great Purge of Free Speech Has Begun............ - Video [Last Updated On: February 23rd, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 23rd, 2015]
- Big Brother Watch calls for reform of social media communications laws [Last Updated On: February 24th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 24th, 2015]
- Comment on Have an opinion? Stuff it! by boh-liao [Last Updated On: February 24th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 24th, 2015]
- Sports Hotline: What happened to freedom of speech - have Rangers fans lost their right to offend? [Last Updated On: February 24th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 24th, 2015]
- Freedom of Speech: Canadians support Charlie Hebdos choice to publish images of Prophet Muhammad [Last Updated On: February 24th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 24th, 2015]
- Should there be limitations on freedom of speech? - Video [Last Updated On: February 24th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 24th, 2015]
- Topic Tuesday #39 - Freedom of Speech? (Minecraft Survival Games Gameplay) - Video [Last Updated On: February 24th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 24th, 2015]
- DW Freedom of Speech Award for Raif Badawi [Last Updated On: February 25th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 25th, 2015]
- FCC Reinstates Net Neutrality, Protecting Open Internet [Last Updated On: February 27th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 27th, 2015]
- CPDP 2015: Online privacy versus freedom of speech. Balancing rights in the EU context. - Video [Last Updated On: February 27th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 27th, 2015]
- Net neutrality lobby victorious after FCC ruling [Last Updated On: February 27th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 27th, 2015]
- Freedom of speech means tolerating opposing viewpoints [Last Updated On: March 2nd, 2015] [Originally Added On: March 2nd, 2015]
- The Death of Freedom of Speech on the Internet - Video [Last Updated On: March 2nd, 2015] [Originally Added On: March 2nd, 2015]
- Dangerman - Freedom Of Speech - Video [Last Updated On: March 2nd, 2015] [Originally Added On: March 2nd, 2015]
- Rebel Ratepayer Raps 4 Freedom of Speech in City of Melton, Melbourne - Video [Last Updated On: March 2nd, 2015] [Originally Added On: March 2nd, 2015]
- Students stand up for free speech at UI [Last Updated On: March 2nd, 2015] [Originally Added On: March 2nd, 2015]
- John Kerry asked to act on murder of Avijit Roy [Last Updated On: March 3rd, 2015] [Originally Added On: March 3rd, 2015]
- Not so Charlie now? [Last Updated On: March 4th, 2015] [Originally Added On: March 4th, 2015]
- ISIS Supporters Threaten "Charlie Hedbo style" Attack Against Twitter Employees [Last Updated On: March 4th, 2015] [Originally Added On: March 4th, 2015]
- AIB trying hard about freedom of speech - Video [Last Updated On: March 4th, 2015] [Originally Added On: March 4th, 2015]
- Freedom of Speech situation in Bangladesh BBC World Service discussion - Video [Last Updated On: March 4th, 2015] [Originally Added On: March 4th, 2015]
- Noam Chomsky on Freedom of Speech and Anti-Fascism [full] - Video [Last Updated On: March 4th, 2015] [Originally Added On: March 4th, 2015]
- AND..Y we should stand up for freedom of speech | AIB Roast | Delhi Elections | AAP - Video [Last Updated On: March 4th, 2015] [Originally Added On: March 4th, 2015]
- Vclav Havel Fellowship programme helps young journalists from post-Soviet bloc states [Last Updated On: March 5th, 2015] [Originally Added On: March 5th, 2015]
- Murderers condemned as message of peace is North Herts conferences priority [Last Updated On: March 5th, 2015] [Originally Added On: March 5th, 2015]
- four freedoms speech - FDR - Video [Last Updated On: March 5th, 2015] [Originally Added On: March 5th, 2015]
- Watch what the youth feels about the AIB Roast Controversy & so called "freedom of speech" - Video [Last Updated On: March 5th, 2015] [Originally Added On: March 5th, 2015]
- freedom of speech eminem remix - Video [Last Updated On: March 5th, 2015] [Originally Added On: March 5th, 2015]
- Freedom of speech has no limits- - Video [Last Updated On: March 5th, 2015] [Originally Added On: March 5th, 2015]
- Volokh Conspiracy: The invaluable Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) [Last Updated On: March 6th, 2015] [Originally Added On: March 6th, 2015]