Israeli airstrikes on Gaza continue. (Photo: Mahmoud Ajjour, The Palestine Chronicle)
By Benay Blend
Most tribal people have origin stories that explain how they arrived at a specific place. Countries, too, tell such tales but theirs are very different. For both Israeli and American historians, the past is tailored to fit into a positive trajectory filtering out parts that that cast dispersion on state actors.
For example, mainstream history of the United States begins with the American Revolution, an event, the story goes, that initiated the countrys experiment with democracy. There is no mention of enslaved people who built the South; no allusion to Native people who were murdered and displaced in order to make room for Western expansion; no mention of immigrants who found that the streets were not made of gold, that is, if they survived the horrendous voyage from Europe.
Israel, too, has its origin myths. Their story begins with immigrants who arrived fresh from the Holocaust in Europe, and who quickly turned a vacant land into a thriving garden. Like the Americans, who slaughtered Natives who stood in the way of progress, Israel has its own version of Manifest Destiny, simply change the Indigenous population to Palestinians who in the Zionist version of history did not exist.
This trope runs throughout the writing of liberal Zionists. As Ilan Papp observes, not much has changed in Israel since October 7. In The Righteous Fury of the Israeli Left, he explains that liberal Zionists, mainly through the newspaper Haaretz but also with the support of liberal Zionists around the world loyally stand behind Israels actions.
At this point in history, Papp concludes, there is no middle ground between support for the liberation movement and those who are against it. There is no way of supporting the liberal occupier, the progressive ethnic cleanser and the leftist genocider.
Nevertheless, those astute enough to know that the wind is no longer blowing in their direction have triedand failed miserablyto straddle all sides of the October 7 question. For example, Thomas L. Friedman in his recent piece in the New York Times appears at first glance to have moved on from his staunch Zionist position to offer a critique of Israels current policy.
The Israel we knew is gone, Friedman writes, and todays Israel is in existential danger. In this sentence alone he expresses so much of what is wrong with the Zionist position. Assuming that Israel was founded as a liberal democracy, Friedman dismisses the Israel that some of us know as the perpetrator of the Nakba.
Moreover, he implies that the problem lies solely with Netanyahu and his far-right henchmen who alone have brought Israel to this point. If only he could be replaced with a pragmatic centrist government that can lead [Israel] out of this multifaceted crisis then all would be well again for the entity.
Trying to convince his readers that Netanyahu and his government are the problem distracts from the real issue of settler colonialism and genocide.
Friedmans solution is to end the war in Gaza, so as to restore Israels global moral standing, despite its ongoing genocide against the Palestinians which has resulted at this point in 37,598 dead, 86,032 wounded, and 11,000 missing under the rubble created by US-funded bombs.
Nowhere in this piece does Friedman express concern for the suffering of Palestinians, for which he predictably blames Hamas. Up to now, the real history of Jews and Palestinians, he concludes, going back to the early 20th century, has been: war, timeout, war, timeout, war, timeout, war, timeout. And the real difference is what each side did in the timeouts.
In this way, not only does Friedman rewrite Israeli history, leaving out the Nakba from his version of its origin story; he also does not acknowledge the daily Nakbas that Palestinians have endured during the so-called timeouts that he suggests were part of a cycle of violence that in reality consisted of 76 years of siege.
Several years ago there was a sign that appeared at demonstrations here in Albuquerque, New Mexico where I live: Stop the 30 billion. Restore humanity to Israelas if it was that simple, as if Israeli feelings were more important that the suffering of Palestinians. That sign encapsulates everything that is askew in the thinking of liberal Zionists, including, in addition to the obvious, the implication that Israel ever was a moral citadel that could be restored by anything less that the dismantling of the Zionist regime.
Israel has always promoted comforting counterimages, observes Steve France, fairy tales, in effect about its moral impeccability. The effect is to impugn critics motives and displace factual specifics with loud and emotional affirmation of values such as tolerance, [and] diversity all to get away with unspeakable and unspoken of crimes.
France concludes that Israel today has finally destroyed any hope that it will evolve toward honest history, or true democracy, diversity, or tolerance. If Israels version of its past is defunct, exposed as the fraud it has always been, what is to take its place?
In Dismantling the Violent Discourse if the State of Israel: On Zionism, Palestinian Liberation, and the Power of Language, Ramzy Baroud and Romana Rubeo explain that utilizing positive language to frame horrific historical events is a core element in the historical discourses of colonialism and neocolonialism.
Their article concludes with the need for Palestinians to challenge the Zionist discourse and eventually claim their own narrative as part of their ongoing struggle for liberation and, ultimately, decolonization.
In this version, Israeli trauma from World War II can be cited as an explanation for their behavior in 1948 and afterward, but not as an excuse, as it is so often used. Though generational trauma exists, in this case it is used to reverse Israels role to that of victim rather than a settler colonial state, following in the footsteps of their benefactor, the United States.
In an interview with Pluto Press, Baroud reiterates that no one is more qualified to speak for Palestinians, but Palestinians themselves, especially the refugees amongst them those who have paid the heaviest price for Israeli atrocities, and whose collective identity is shaped by seven decades of a relentless fight for freedom.
Baroud understands quite well, having grown up in Nuseirat camp. Although his homeplace has been the site of relentless massacres, he also wants to stress that his was a life that was fully lived, memories that cannot be forgotten, and a future of freedom and dignity that is waiting to take shape.
Will the liberal and credible media accompany this transformation and change gear to embrace our narrative? asks Jejan Helu, once a pioneer in the Palestinian National struggle and womens liberation movement. Will the Palestinian narrative find Safe Haven at last?
Through a new generation of Palestinian resisters, hers is a question that at long last is finding an answer.
Benay Blend earned her doctorate in American Studies from the University of New Mexico. Her scholarly works include Douglas Vakoch and Sam Mickey, Eds. (2017), Neither Homeland Nor Exile are Words: Situated Knowledge in the Works of Palestinian and Native American Writers. She contributed this article to The Palestine Chronicle.
Read the original post:
- Liberal Jews Deluded Themselves on Palestine - Tablet Magazine - June 27th, 2024 [June 27th, 2024]
- Western Oregon University joins the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges - The Journal - June 27th, 2024 [June 27th, 2024]
- Justin Trudeau digs in after Liberal drubbing in Toronto by-election - POLITICO - POLITICO - June 27th, 2024 [June 27th, 2024]
- Opinion | Fanlund, Soglin's views on housing betray liberal values - The Capital Times - June 27th, 2024 [June 27th, 2024]
- The Memo: Liberal fears build over Supreme Court Trump immunity decision - The Hill - June 27th, 2024 [June 27th, 2024]
- Byelection shocker: Is this the end of the road for Justin Trudeau's political career? - The Conversation - June 27th, 2024 [June 27th, 2024]
- Opinion: Dumping Trudeau won't save the Liberals - The Globe and Mail - June 27th, 2024 [June 27th, 2024]
- Liberal MP denies political motivation behind decision to increase amount of northern cod to be caught - CBC.ca - June 27th, 2024 [June 27th, 2024]
- Former 'Young and the Restless' star calls out Hollywood for not being 'liberal, progressive industry' - Fox News - June 27th, 2024 [June 27th, 2024]
- Liberal Arts alumna finds post-graduation success through bioethics program - Penn State University - June 27th, 2024 [June 27th, 2024]
- Voters in long-time Liberal B.C. riding react to Tories' byelection win in Toronto - News-Press Now - June 27th, 2024 [June 27th, 2024]
- Don't Be Fooled By Liberalism's Modesty - The New Republic - June 27th, 2024 [June 27th, 2024]
- What would a Reform surge do to Labour and the Liberal Democrats? Two scenarios mapped - The Conversation - June 27th, 2024 [June 27th, 2024]
- LEVY: St. Paul's voters were fed up with Liberal arrogance and elitism - True North - June 27th, 2024 [June 27th, 2024]
- How Faucis Book Has Been Covered by Liberal and Conservative Media - The New York Times - June 27th, 2024 [June 27th, 2024]
- Justin Trudeau suffers shock by-election defeat in Liberal stronghold - The Telegraph - June 27th, 2024 [June 27th, 2024]
- Sea to Sky MP reacts to Liberal loss of Toronto heartland seat - Pique Newsmagazine - June 27th, 2024 [June 27th, 2024]
- 'We need to regroup,' says Liberal minister and Ontario campaign co-chair in light of byelection loss - CTV News - June 27th, 2024 [June 27th, 2024]
- Conservatives win longtime Liberal stronghold Toronto-St. Paul's in shock byelection result - CBC.ca - June 27th, 2024 [June 27th, 2024]
- Voters in long-time Liberal B.C. riding react to Tories' byelection win in Toronto - CBC.ca - June 27th, 2024 [June 27th, 2024]
- Mark Rutte: The liberal stalwart headed for NATO's top job - DW (English) - June 27th, 2024 [June 27th, 2024]
- Liberal minister tells MPs to stop 'navel-gazing,' get back to work after Toronto byelection fiasco - National Post - June 27th, 2024 [June 27th, 2024]
- Liberal minister tells MPs to 'stop the navel-gazing' and get back to work after Toronto byelection loss - MSN - June 27th, 2024 [June 27th, 2024]
- Opinion: Regardless of leader, the Liberals are at risk of a worse fate after Toronto-St. Paul's by-election - The Globe and Mail - June 27th, 2024 [June 27th, 2024]
- Bill Maher Nukes Stupid Liberal Ideas During Incredible Rant: VIDEO - Outkick - June 27th, 2024 [June 27th, 2024]
- Conservatives take Toronto-St. Paul's riding in major upset for Liberals - The Globe and Mail - June 27th, 2024 [June 27th, 2024]
- Conservatives win longtime Liberal stronghold of Toronto-St. Paul's - Toronto Sun - June 27th, 2024 [June 27th, 2024]
- For opposing genocide, Bowman is framed as antisemitic by liberal Zionists - Mondoweiss - June 27th, 2024 [June 27th, 2024]
- Opinion | Whats Stopping Liberals From Having Kids? - The New York Times - June 11th, 2024 [June 11th, 2024]
- What went wrong for the EU election-losing Greens and Liberals? - Euronews - June 11th, 2024 [June 11th, 2024]
- Increase in Liberal Views Brings Ideological Parity on Social Issues - Gallup.com - June 11th, 2024 [June 11th, 2024]
- Donald Trump Calls Taylor Swift Unusually Beautiful, Questions Whether Her Liberal Views Are An Act - Billboard - June 11th, 2024 [June 11th, 2024]
- Liberal Media Scream: The View says black people not allowed to leave the Democratic plantation - Washington Examiner - June 11th, 2024 [June 11th, 2024]
- Trump Wonders If Taylor Swift Is Just Pretending To Be Liberal - HuffPost - June 11th, 2024 [June 11th, 2024]
- 'Is That Just An Act?' Trump Questions 'Unusually Beautiful' Taylor Swift's Liberal Views - International Business Times - June 11th, 2024 [June 11th, 2024]
- Liberal columnist warns that having a fitness routine turns you into a 'right-wing jerk' - Fox News - June 11th, 2024 [June 11th, 2024]
- Vote liberal in the 2024 European elections! - ALDE Party - June 11th, 2024 [June 11th, 2024]
- Trump Says Taylor Swift Is 'Unusually Beautiful,' Bemoans Her Being Liberal - TMZ - June 11th, 2024 [June 11th, 2024]
- Opinion: The Liberal government's response to foreign interference is UltraBasic - The Globe and Mail - June 11th, 2024 [June 11th, 2024]
- Donald Trump on Taylor Swift: 'Unusually Beautiful' But 'Liberal' - Jezebel - June 11th, 2024 [June 11th, 2024]
- Trump Questions Whether 'Unusually Beautiful' Taylor Swift Is 'Legitimately Liberal' - The Daily Wire - June 11th, 2024 [June 11th, 2024]
- Trump: 'Beautiful' Taylor Swift may not be the liberal she claims - The Times - June 11th, 2024 [June 11th, 2024]
- The Waning Patriotism of Modern Liberals: A Call to Rediscover National Pride - ASEAN NOW - June 11th, 2024 [June 11th, 2024]
- Conservative mom who fled to Idaho to escape liberal politics claims family was BULLIED for being from Califor - Daily Mail - June 11th, 2024 [June 11th, 2024]
- Donald Trump Wonders if Taylor Swift Being a Liberal Is 'Just an Act' - PopCrush - June 11th, 2024 [June 11th, 2024]
- Fox News Anchor Comes Unglued, Berates 'Dumb' Liberal Colleague - The Daily Beast - April 27th, 2024 [April 27th, 2024]
- Mathew Chandy '24, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences - UConn Today - University of Connecticut - April 27th, 2024 [April 27th, 2024]
- Will No One Rid Me Of These Meddlesome -Isms: Thinking and Rethinking Liberalism - Front Porch Republic - April 27th, 2024 [April 27th, 2024]
- Why market demand doesn't capture the value of the liberal arts | Letters - Tampa Bay Times - April 27th, 2024 [April 27th, 2024]
- See what the students were wearing for the School of Liberal Studies at Savannah High prom - Savannah Morning News - April 27th, 2024 [April 27th, 2024]
- Is a $330000 liberal arts education still 'worth it?' - Los Angeles Loyolan - April 27th, 2024 [April 27th, 2024]
- Judge installed by liberal Democrats over centrist Hochul pick responsible for Harvey Weinstein ruling - New York Post - April 27th, 2024 [April 27th, 2024]
- Liberal Cities, Conservative Towns Seek Supreme Court's Help on Homelessness - The Wall Street Journal - April 27th, 2024 [April 27th, 2024]
- Luke Grimes on Yellowstones liberal critics: A lot of people see a cowboy hat and think, thats not for me - The Independent - April 27th, 2024 [April 27th, 2024]
- Liberal pundits really do have weekly meetings to 'shape' message on Trump - Washington Times - April 27th, 2024 [April 27th, 2024]
- Trump slams 'Bidenomics' ahead of court, claims to have a 'good chance' of winning liberal state - Fox News - April 27th, 2024 [April 27th, 2024]
- Ones a Conservative, Ones a Liberal. Heres Their Secret to Friendship. - InsideHook - April 27th, 2024 [April 27th, 2024]
- Bill Cotterell: What? NPR is liberal? Say it ain't so - Tallahassee Democrat - April 27th, 2024 [April 27th, 2024]
- Orban: Hungary is island in the European progressive liberal ocean - bne IntelliNews - April 27th, 2024 [April 27th, 2024]
- NY Times keeps spotlight on NPR crisis on heels of Uri Berliner blowing whistle on liberal bias - Fox News - April 27th, 2024 [April 27th, 2024]
- CPAC Hungary: ex Polish PM Morawiecki warns of "destructive ideas of liberal elites" - Notes From Poland - April 27th, 2024 [April 27th, 2024]
- The biggest threat to freedom in the West is liberalism itself - The New Statesman - April 27th, 2024 [April 27th, 2024]
- Letter: NPR Editor Berliner reveals liberal bias of network - Arizona Daily Star - April 27th, 2024 [April 27th, 2024]
- Chicago native says residents livid over liberal mayor's new migrant funding, ready to vote for Trump - Fox News - April 27th, 2024 [April 27th, 2024]
- Ontario Liberal leader says Dresden landfill project could be nixed with 'stroke of a pen' - The Chatham Daily News - April 27th, 2024 [April 27th, 2024]
- Opinion: The Liberals' immigration policies have accomplished the opposite of what was intended - The Globe and Mail - April 27th, 2024 [April 27th, 2024]
- At Issue | Was the Liberal budget a bust with Canadians? - CBC.ca - April 27th, 2024 [April 27th, 2024]
- Have the Liberal Arts Gone Conservative? - The New Yorker - March 12th, 2024 [March 12th, 2024]
- Letters to the Editor: 'I see myself in Katie Britt' what liberal critics missed in the senator's response - Los Angeles Times - March 12th, 2024 [March 12th, 2024]
- Even when it criticizes Israel, the liberal world is not against us - opinion - The Jerusalem Post - March 12th, 2024 [March 12th, 2024]
- Former Trump Aide Alyssa Farah Griffin Becomes a Liberal Favorite - The New York Times - March 12th, 2024 [March 12th, 2024]
- Renowned author, liberal arts proponent to deliver annual Lester Lectures - Mercer University - March 12th, 2024 [March 12th, 2024]
- NYU to Host Zaheer Ali at the Annual Liberal Studies Student Research ColloquiumApril 5 - NYU - March 12th, 2024 [March 12th, 2024]
- Power to the Neighborhoods!: New York City Growth Politics, Neighborhood Liberalism, and the Origins of the ... - Joint Center for Housing Studies - March 12th, 2024 [March 12th, 2024]
- Canada's Conservatives back NDP-Liberal anti-scab legislation that undermines the right to strike - WSWS - March 12th, 2024 [March 12th, 2024]
- The Surprising Left-Right Alliance That Wants More Apartments in Suburbs - The New York Times - March 12th, 2024 [March 12th, 2024]
- PARKER: Clarence Thomas, liberal racism and the ongoing denigration of Black conservatives - Kankakee Daily Journal - March 12th, 2024 [March 12th, 2024]
- Liberal Media Scream: Hollywoods freaks over Trump - Washington Examiner - March 12th, 2024 [March 12th, 2024]
- Why liberals failed in the fight against antisemitism - JNS.org - March 12th, 2024 [March 12th, 2024]
- Liberal Renew manifesto sneak peek and bits from Bucharest congress - EURACTIV - March 12th, 2024 [March 12th, 2024]