Israel faces an appalling dilemma.
It is denied fair reportage throughout the European Union and to a
considerable extent in the media of the USA (notoriously in the case of
the New York Times for example). Even the National Geographic has
written powerfully against Israel. The challenge is however not merely
one of anti-Semitism or injustice, severe and appalling although these
are. It is also one of depth of understanding of the nature of the
opposition and framework within which it operates.
One of the effects of constant
criticism and unjust treatment is demoralization and despondency, which
lead to depression, despair and paralysis. To no small extent the
multi-voiced ambivalence of Israel’s foreign service officials, often
politicized by Leftist ideology and belief in failed processes and
negotiations, have failed so badly that grass-roots organizations have
had to pull together, with extraordinary expertise let it be said, to
put forward a coherent and, for the most part, consistent case. However,
ultimately they cannot, in the diplomatic corridors of power, represent
the importance of a state’s chosen representatives.
Yet the difficulty goes even
deeper. There has to be an educative process and galvanization of
resources of support on a considerably more far reaching level to
counter academically and intellectually, and through (numerically more
influential than Jewish) Christian allies, the denial of Israel’s right
to self-defense and to exist – what Muslim interlocutors proclaim.
The thrust of this article is to
expose how it is easy to fall into the trap of regarding Muslim Arabs as
reasonable and sensible, with similar values to Judeo-Christian ones,
how damaging this fallacy is, and how Israel must motivate support and
intellectual muscle to counter it. What must be exposed as mistaken is
that apparent self-interest which suggests that peace and security lie
with appeasement of this murderous and merciless menace.
