ISRAEL is one of the most creative and inventive countries I have visited or lived in. Arguably, their collective talent is equal to none and there are few reasons why Israel or Israelis should have to apologize or be embarrassed for anything. Except their PR!
Much to the delight and amusement of global Israel-haters and the enormous, synchronized, well-funded Arab public relations crusade, the world appears to be charmed in accepting that the Israelis stole the land from a race of people. Israel is, therefore, occupiers, apartheid infringers, zealots, bigoted human rights offenders, and war crime delinquents. What’s more, they’re apparently responsible for the entire Middle Eastern havoc and political fallouts because the Israelis refuse to leave or relinquish control of the land known as Israel.
Worse yet, the situation has deteriorated so badly that Israeli commanders, soldiers and politicians are in danger of being arrested for war crimes and Israel cannot suitably defend itself without risking condemnation or charges of some kind. Along with that, Israelis are treated with scorn worldwide and Arab terrorists that murder are regarded as heroes with little or no objections from international media. In effect, the Arab propaganda war is so successful that some Israelis believe the terminologies and accusations, and have already accepted defeat.
Nevertheless, the Israelis should have no illusions concerning the millenniums of long abhorrence and resolve of some Arabs, and of evil, relentless Israel-haters. Despite being polite and flexible (when forced to) their disdain of Israel will not rest until they have crushed every trace of Judaism (this includes extinguishing Christianity which is already happening in the region).
Also read: What is the State of Israel really like?
Yet, Israelis will go to great lengths to prevent themselves from being perceived as foolish or suckers. Furthermore, in Israel, Israelis are known for defending their individual rights, their point of view, and a person cannot move a matter of meters without normally being challenged in some way whether driving, parking, standing in line, political view, raising kids, etc, or giving advice.
Except when it comes to verbally defending their country to foreigners or outside of Israel, many Israelis “run for cover” because Israel is largely perceived as politically incorrect.
1) Israel’s real PR problems began when they erroneously allowed the Arabs living in the region to be exclusively associated with the term ‘Palestinian’ or to allow the term altogether. This created the delusion of a Palestinian race of people instead of the Arab race to which they belong. Otherwise, the Arab’s would have had very little sympathy and support for another state or none at all. Moreover, Palestine was a territory or region, not a country which is why before Israel became a State the Jews were also called ‘Palestinian’ as they too were from the Palestine region.
2) Israel did not continually explain to the public that before Israel was reestablished, the Palestine Territory was occupied by the Muslim Turks of the Ottoman Empire and then briefly by the British. Later in 1948, after Israel became a State, the Jordanian Army, known as the Arab Legion, invaded. They occupied Judea, Samaria and the east part of Jerusalem along with other Arab Forces. But never were the territories ruled by a fabricated ‘Palestinian’ race of people. (Some might have labeled the Ottoman Empire, British Mandate and Arab Legion occupation as apartheid and segregation).
During the 1967 Six-Day War, Israel defeated the occupying Jordan military and some of the Arabs living among the Jews moved to Jordan proper. East Jerusalem and the eastern area liberated from Arab forces, labeled the West Bank (another misleading term), were restored to its original Biblical name of Judea and Samaria.
After the war, some Arabs did stay in Judea and Samaria among the Jews, along with their relatives in Jordan and claimed the fictitious race name ‘Palestinian’. Soon every Arab who declared he was from the Israel area, whether actually from Gaza, Jordan, Egypt, Lebanon, Judea, Samaria and other Arab countries, called himself ‘Palestinian’ despite the fact that some, perhaps many, were not born there. Rather, some of the Arabs (and terrorists) were born in the Arab countries around Israel. This includes Yasser Arafat, associated with the Arab Palestinians. He was born in Cairo, Egypt.
3) Israel neglected to explain that before they reestablished their State nobody cared about the territory. It was only during the birth of the State of Israel and after the process, that suddenly the land became a hot Arab political issue and Jerusalem strangely became imperative to Islam despite the existence of the Islamic holy cities of Mecca and Medina.
In fact, Jerusalem is not mentioned in the Koran even once but is referred to in the Bible hundreds of times and prior to the modern State of Israel the territory had been reduced to a wasteland. There were hardly any trees. Industry was scant, population sparse and the city of Jerusalem was neglected. If you don’t believe me read the descriptions of the Palestine Territory, the demographics, look at the photos preceding 1948, and then compare everything to the present day.
It is the Israelis who lifted the tyranny and allowed freedom of movement of all religions to worship in Jerusalem. Not the Arabs. It is the Israelis who are proud of this region (because it’s their ancestral home) and they proved it with their love for the land, hard work and investment. The Israelis planted 250 million trees, drained the swamps, eradicated pests, created over 1,000 parks, irrigated the hills and deserts, planted groves and orchards, dramatically increased population, initiated a true democratic society, developed industries, and made Israel beautiful like it use to be in Biblical times before the Assyrians and Babylonians thrashed it.
Actually, some records document that the Jews living in the Palestine Territory began the rebuilding and re-beautifying process in the late 1800s. But I am hard pressed to find any documentation that Arabs attempted the same, except for during the domination and occupation of the Turk, Suleiman the Magnificent in the 1500s.
So let’s get this straight, there is no such thing as a Palestinian race. And, it’s the Arabs who want Israel. Also, the previously contested land was occupied by the Jordanian Arab Legion. Why haven’t the Jordanians been negotiating with Israel or requesting the UN return East Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria to Jordanian rule? Unless, the Jordanians knew they were invaders and occupiers, and it was Israel’s land to begin with.
Unfortunately, people do not commonly hear what I just described. Why? Because the combined Arab and Israel haters’ PR has done an outstanding job in re-educating the public to their spin and Israel has done a poor job changing it.
4) Even some mainstream news agencies assault and question Israel’s existence, actions and behavior. This leads me to believe that the owners, executives, advertisers, reporters, analysts and news reader personalities hostile to Israel may be ignorant, anti-Semitic, incredibly uneducated or lazy because all the data is available in libraries and in the online domain.
Also read: Why does Israel always get the bad press?
Regrettably though, no mainstream news agency seems to be interested in changing the status quo or helping Israelis change the present-day misinformation. As a result, the information struggle is left to smaller agencies, Jewish organizations, some Christian organizations and periodicals, Jewish newspapers, private bloggers and a few Israeli politicians.
However, Israel’s information is only read, viewed or accepted by people already pro-Israel. For the most part, the information doesn’t reach the mainstream. As a result Israel’s effort, which is microscopic compared to the Arab PR establishment, is ineffective.
In part 2, the writer will discuss alternative PR formulas for Israel.
Read more columns by the writer
Don Davis has over 20 years experience in analytic research particularly regarding Israeli, Middle Eastern culture, behavior and historical patterns. Don is based in Israel, from where he monitors and evaluates worldwide information on finance, technologies, industries, and the military/political environment for a US consulting company.