The current mantra in western media is "Israel has a right to defend itself" and of course that Hamas is a terrorist organization and it's their fault Palestinians are being killed. So naturally I have had many arguments with individuals who echo this sentiment. What facts about the situation have you found to be most effective in starting true dialogue about the conflict?
I find that is it most effective to call out the myths and misconceptions when discussing this particular topic. The following are some of the myths I have heard coming out of the mouths of many Americans.
Common Myths and Misconceptions
1.) This conflict has been going on for hundreds of years and is religiously based.
No. Actually this particular conflict really began prior to and immediately following WWII when the Zionist Jews of Europe decided to make their new homeland in Palestine. Before that, Palestinians were the inhabitants. And for the record, Palestinians are of Arab ethnicity and consist of Christian, Muslim and Jew religious backgrounds. The history of the Middle East is long and complex, and I will go into it at a later time. However, this is not a religious conflict. This is a land and power conflict.
2.) Israel has the right to defend itself.
I am always a bit baffled when I hear this come out of the mouths of politicians and other public figures. Let us break this down. Israel is a powerful force supported by world powers such as the U.S. They violate international law (Israeli Violations of International Law) with their occupation, blockades, and settlements of Occupied Palestinian Territories. They uproot trees and orchards of Palestinian farmers, build roads and walls that infiltrate Palestinian territory, take houses and Palestinian land, limit the flow of goods, and think that there will be no backlash.
- Gaza Blockade: Basically, Israel controls the flow of goods, what goes in and out and restricts the movement of Palestinians living in Gaza. Goods include everything from medicines to fuel and good. Gaza has been referred to as the "largest open air prison in the world" and is truly a dire situation. The Gaza Siege a Factsheet by the Jerusalem Fund and UN OCHA Fact Sheet are some good resources for specific statistics.
- Israel illegally occupies Palestinian territory through settlements in the West Bank and blockades in Gaza.
- Settlements: A settlement is illegal according to international law. Israel builds towns and villages located in strategic places within the Palestinian territories. Sometimes they even kick Palestinians out of their houses, other times they build brand new infrastructure that is surrounded by walls and hundreds of military personnel. Israel provides monetary compensation to settlers to do this. In many cases, the settlers are foreign (U.S., European). Settlers are the meanest of the mean and the most fundamental of the Israelis. Settlements are strategic in location insofar as they break up the West Bank making it very difficult for Palestinians to move throughout the territory. Israeli Settlement Policy
When you are engaging in a discussion and this topic comes up, ask: What are they defending themselves against? Likely the answer will be rockets and Hamas the terrorist organization. See below in regards to Hamas and point number 1 in the following article by The Nation: Five Talking Points
3.) Hamas is a terrorist organization.
According to the United States government (and many others), this is true. They do classify Hamas as a terrorist organization. But why? Because there are some that claim that Hamas denies Israel's right to exist.
However, Hamas is a democratically elected government. (Isn't that what we have been working to spread to this region of the world?) But when they are labeled as a terrorist organization, they are not considered an active participant in any political dialogue with foreign governments, including Israel. So it gives the Israeli government an excuse not to move forward with peace negotiations. Since they are a democratically elected government, they ought to get the opportunity to govern. However this has not been possible.
BTW: It is also a myth that they use innocent civilians as human shields and that they are the ones who instigated the conflict, particularly true for this latest bombardment of Gaza by the Israelis.
4.) This conflict doesn't affect me, so why should I care?
Well, technically it does, in two ways: politically and financially.
- Politically: No President has been elected without the support of the Israeli lobby. No politician is able to publicly criticize Israel or its policies without severe backlash. Foreign policy in the region are built around
- Financially: Your tax dollars are being used to fund Israel. "While so many Americans are subsisting on food stamps, losing their homes, and accumulating credit card debt they will never be able to pay off, the US is giving Israel $3 billion in direct foreign aid every year and, according to Congressman James Traficant, another $12-17 billion in indirect aid such as valuable military equipment deemed “scrapped,” loan guarantees, and preferential contracts. Israel is an affluent country with more than 10,000 millionaires and, according to the International Monetary Fund, was one of the few economies that weathered the 2008 financial storm nearly unscathed." How much does Israel cost the average American? from Veterans Affairs
5.) You are being anti-semitic.
Hmmmm. Let us define a semite. From Merriam-Webster dictionary:
a member of any of a number of peoples of ancient southwestern Asia including the Akkadians, Phoenicians, Hebrews, and Arabs
Please be very clear when people clear to people as to who is a semite. Anti-semite is a term used to invoke a reaction or as a means to put an end to the dialogue. Don't fall for it. It is a way to distract from the real issues and dialogue, something we like to call a red herring. Be aware.
Choosing your Battles: I think it is also to understand with whom you are engaging in this dialogue. There are some people, no matter how many facts and figures you throw at them, will inevitably be closed to any other point of view. While our gut reaction is to scream obscenities and want to physically shake some sense into them, I recommend taking the high road.
I also recommend that you take about an hour and a half to watch this documentary. Occupation 101. It breaks things down pretty well.
