Israel has been subject to some bad publicity recently. In 2008-09, it launched a brutal military campaign in the Gaza Strip that killed over 400 Palestinian children. In May, 2010, bumbling Israeli commandos murdered nine nonviolence activists on the relief flotilla Mavi Marmara. It only got worse for Israel when it was revealed that soldiers stole and sold personal items such as laptops from the ship. Last week, former Israeli soldier Eden Abergil posted photos onto Facebook showing her preening in front of blindfolded and despondent Palestinian prisoners, in some instances mocking those prisoners with sexual undertones. The photos were part of an album entitled “IDF—the best time of my life.”
While Abergil’s pictures may not seem as abhorrent as the Gaza and Mavi Marmara brutality—Abergil, for her part, described her behavior as nonviolent and free of contempt—all three actions are intimately connected. First of all, we must dispel the notion that Abergil’s photos are nonviolent. As with the Abu Ghraib debacle, a sexualized and coercive humiliation is being visited on the bodies of powerless, colonized, and incarcerated subjects, which by any reasonable principle is a basal form of violence; there is also the obvious physical violence of Palestinians being bound and blindfolded, presumably in or on their way to prisons nobody will confuse with the Mandarin Oriental.
More important, these recent episodes merely extend an age-old list of Israeli crimes and indignities that illuminate a depravity in the Zionist enterprise itself. What is noteworthy about Israel’s three recent escapades is that more and more people are starting to pay attention to its crimes and indignities. In so doing, more and more people are questioning the origin and meaning of Zionism—that is, the very idea of a legally ethnocentric Israel.
I would like to address this piece to those who have undertaken such questioning or to those who are prepared to initiate it. I would urge you not to limit your critique of Israel only to its errors of judgment or its perceived excesses; it is more productive to challenge the ideology and practice of Zionism itself. There is no noble origin or beautiful ideal to which the wayward Jewish state must return; such yearnings are often duplicitous mythmaking or romanticized nostalgia. Zionists always intended to ethnically cleanse Palestinians, a strategy they carried out and continue to pursue with horrifying efficiency.
Likewise, Zionism was always a colonialist movement, one that relied on the notions of divine entitlement and civilizational superiority that justified previous settlement projects in South Africa, Algeria, and North America. Zionism, by virtue of its exclusionary outlook and ethnocentric model of citizenship, is on its own a purveyor of fundamental violence. The bad PR to which Israel sometimes is subject today is a reflection of changed media dynamics, not a worsening of Israel’s behavior.
The 2008-09 Gaza invasion, the attack on the Mavi Marmara, and Abergil’s Facebook photos aren’t anomalous or extraordinary. They are the invariable result of a Zionist ideology that cannot help but view Palestinian Muslims and Christians as subhuman, no matter how ardently its liberal champions assert that Zionism is a liberation movement. Zionism has the unfortunate effect of proclaiming that one group of people should have access to certain rights from which another group of people is excluded. There is nothing defensible in this proposition.
Here, then, are four reasons why Americans (and all other humans regardless of race or religion) should oppose Zionism:
1. Zionism is unethical and immoral: Because Zionists claim access to land and legal rights that directly obviate the same access to an indigenous community, it operates from within an idea of belonging that is cruel and archaic. Israel bases its primary criterion for citizenship on religious identity. Imagine having your religion on your driver’s license. And imagine having limited access to freeways, farmland, family, education, employment, and foreign travel because the religion by which the state has chosen to identify you is legally marginalized. Such is the daily reality of the Palestinian people.
2. Zionism is racist: This claim isn’t the same as saying that all Zionists are racist. I would make a distinction between the categories of “Zionist” and “Zionism.” However, inherent in the practice of Zionism is a reliance on racialist judgments about who can fully participate in the benefits and practices of a national community. Many Zionists view themselves merely as supporting freedom and safety for Jewish people. I would suggest that people who identify themselves as Zionist look more closely at the ideology they support. Such freedom and safety, both of which are in fact mythologies, come at the direct expense of people confined to Bantustans and refugee camps.
3. Zionism contravenes the geopolitical interests of the United States: Many Americans have heard former Israel Prime Minister Ehud Olmert boast that he once pulled George W. Bush off the dais while Bush was giving a speech, or more recently current Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announcing that “America is something that can be easily moved.” Israel costs the United States billions of dollars in direct aid and in bribe money to Jordan and Egypt for their docility. Israel also is the main reason for disgruntlement about American foreign policy in the Arab and Muslim Worlds. I raise this point with some hesitation because I believe all citizens of the United States should challenge and not celebrate American geopolitical interests. I would also point out that Zionism’s narrative of salvation and redemption resonates deeply among Americans because of the United States’ origin and continued presence as a nation of settler colonists. In the end, America itself needs to be decolonized and the vast sums of money that support the imperial projects Israel so brazenly exemplifies need to be directed toward the well-being of those who pay the government its taxes.
4. Zionism is fundamentally incompatible with democracy: Israel, as a result, is undemocratic and will be as long as it uses religious identity as the operating criterion of citizenship. We hear much in the United States about Islam being incompatible with democracy, a belief that is historically untrue and that elides the massive military and monetary support the United States provides to the assortment of dictators and plutocrats that rule much of the Arab World. Neoconservative and mainstream commentators both evoke Israel in opposition to Islam as a symbol of democratic achievement, but in reality Israel performs one of the most barbaric forms of oppression today in the West Bank and Gaza Strip (and discriminates against the Palestinian citizens of Israel).
The alternative media engendered by new technology have allowed more people to witness the unremitting violence that has been Israel’s stock in trade for decades. Many consumers of this information and these images believe that Israel is guilty of excess when a simpler explanation exists: Israel is acting out the requisites of an exclusionary and inherently violent ideology.
These days all it takes is a little braggadocio from an ex-soldier such as Eden Abergil to so perfectly symbolize the callousness of Zionist colonization. Ten years ago, the Israeli government’s lies about the IDF killings aboard the Mavi Marmara would have been unchallenged by gruesome cell phone footage. Nobody these days could have stopped the images of white phosphorous exploding and spreading over the Gaza Strip from being aired; Israelis themselves were foolish enough to capture Jewish children writing messages on soon-to-be-launched missiles.
Americans now have all the evidence they need for a reasonable and morally-sound conclusion, that Zionism produces a cruelty and truculence that they bankroll with their taxes and legitimize with either silence or consent. As a result, I am not arguing that Americans should reassess their level of support for Israel. I am arguing that Americans should oppose Zionism altogether. Perhaps in this way we might begin the long and difficult process of redeeming our own nation of its imperial sins.
I suppose your one-sided propagandist diatribe is considered a piece of legitimate journalism. You would think that Hamas lobbing missiles before the Gaza war and all other acts of terrorism perpetrated against Israel since 1949 is out of consideration. Why don’t we let Iran take over the Middle East. Gee its funny every missile found in iraq from Al Qaeda came from and was manufactured in Iran. We have no better friend in the Middle East than Israel. Look at what every other country in Middle East around Israel calls law.
Ya right, stop playing the regular “we are innocent” card. Hamas is the offically elected government of palestine. What is Isreal doing in palestine in the first place. In reallity if palestine is throwing stones and a handful of missiles to protect their land, right and property what is the problem. Isreal should not be in the palestinian land
It was Israel, not Hamas, that broke the cease-fire — uncontroversially.
Thanks Jeremy for highlighting this, because most people simply didn’t realise thanks to our pro-Zionist media.
In the total absence of ANY genuine political desire for REAL JUSTICE for Palestine, we implore all decent people to BOYCOTT all Israeli goods to help to END THE BRUTAL APARTHEID & OPEN GAZA, we must let them rebuild their shattered lives NOW. Please go to http://bigcampaign.org
Every missile found in iraq from Al Qaeda came from and was manufactured in Iran? Really??? Where do you get that from. Al Qaida and Iran are opposites. And tell us one thing while you’re here; when did Al Qaida ever fire a shot against Israel? Al Qaida have killed more muslims than anyone in the Middle East and are therefore Islam’s worst enemy. They were part of the plan hatched up by zionists like Wolfowitz and Karl Rove to destroy Iraq, Israel’s only serious foe. I’m sure they’re grateful to Al Qaida. PS: If Al Qaida ever fire a shot at or inside Israel please wake me up. That would be news
Al quaeda is a Mossad front organisation using Arab patsies posing as
“Islamists” with a dangerous agenda, that is terrorize the whole world.
In order to mobilize the local populace, you need an enemy to focus on, however minuscule. “Al quaeda” serves just that purpose, to get local support for imperial adventures.
What do we get in practice ?
The people being victimized suffer mostly at the hands of nominally Christian states such as the USA and Russia, or the Jewish state, Israel.
They are Irakis and Afghans, Chechens and Palestinians, respectively.
By the way, the 911 official version has become so controversial as to be virtually discredited. Distinguished Americans themselves have challenged the official version by arguing convincingly that with its lies, concealing evidence, contradictions, and so on, it is the most ludicrous “conspiracy theory” of all put forward so far.
So sick of listening as to how special the “Chosen” are. You know deep down, that you are in the wrong, and we should all wipe our arse with the Bible. Thanks for 5000 years of bullshit.
Shalom.
As a convicted Zionist you dare compare Hamas a minor violent political movement to the far more capable Tsahal with its terrorist arsenal of gunships, planes, tanks, and so on, used liberally on civilians of South Lebanon and Gaza.
Recently, Tsahal managed to kill with impunity 1500 gazeans, 400 of them children. But what Hamas or the Hizbollah managed to get through in northern Israel were some puny hand-made rockets with few casualities or ZERO casualities in the case of Hamas, each time as a an uneffectual retaliation to Israeli provocations.
The Arab states are so scared of Israel, that they just watched their Lebanese and Gazean brethren being victimized by Israel with total impunity and arrogance.
The Hamas and Hizbollah need nuclear bombs to deter Israel and keep it at bay. But they don’t, and that’s the problem.
AMEN! what a load of bs.
very true, people like you are being fed with bullshit all through your life. Therefore, you cannot differntiate what is true from false.
Lord Balfour was a xenophobic racist with a particular dislike for Jews. Zionism was championed by the UK precisely because they didn’t want European Jews arriving there. (Hence the strict immigration limits for Jews)
Zionism was not only deeply unpopular amongst European Jews, it was almost universally thought to be aligned with anti-Semitism because it would aid the calls of the anti-Jewish powers in Europe for the Jews to go somewhere else.
Zionism was championed by Justice Brandeis in the US because he didn’t want Russian Jews coming to the US. They weren’t “the kind of Jews they wanted”.
So, perversely, Zionism was championed by xenophobes and racists and was thought by Jews to be anti-Semitic. These days of course, the reverse is true, you are thought to be anti-Semitic if you *don’t* support Zionism.
Good article Steven.
Hi Tim
Thanks for this interesting info.
In the total absence of ANY genuine political desire for REAL JUSTICE for Palestine, we implore all decent people to BOYCOTT all Israeli goods to help to END THE BRUTAL APARTHEID & OPEN GAZA, we must let them rebuild their shattered lives NOW. Please go to http://bigcampaign.org
This is the worst piece of biased pieces I have read in a long time. It contains twisted facts, makes judgments that are not based on reality but are well worn racist diatribes. Frankly he misses the point and arrives at wrong coclusions.
While the author claims to be concerned with Palestinians, he clearly ignores the needs of a people for safe borders. He clearly doesn’t truly understand the issues. In short this is not sound journalism and is unworthy of my time.
I’d be interested to know what facts you think are “twisted” and what logical fallacies you think the author made.
Ralphie, Israel is a twisted fact..when someone steals, rapes and murders for 60 years they don’t deserve safe borders, they deserve the death penalty.
Or at least a fair trial – which is more than Palestinians get !
Ralph,
Clearly, this article was worth at least a little bit of your time as you claim to have actually read it and then even devoted a few moments of that same precious time to writing and posting a negative comment in order to voice your frustration.
But that’s neither here nor there.
What is important, though completely unsurprising, is the fact that you (nor the adorable Comment-bot Ron Smithstein) do not provide even a single point of evidence to support your allegations against Professor Salaita and the above article.
What, pray tell, are your objections? Where does Professor Salaita stray from the truth? Which facts have been “twisted”? In what way is anything written within the piece “wrong” or “racist”? Which issues do you believe the author misunderstands?
If you take the time to launch accusations, you should also dedicate a few moments to substantiate them as well.
At the very least, by giving us some insight into your smug thinking, you’ll be providing us with better reasons not to take you seriously.
Israel may be the new South Africa.
But Iraq will soon be the new Cambodia.
Is it racist to laugh when millions of Iraqis start killing each other?
I PLEAD GUILTY!!!!
Rachel, a racist, bloodthirsty Judeo Nazi vermin. Have a nice day!
The Israeli Health Ministry sent out an public warning for Israeli people not to watch coverage of the upcoming Iraqi civil war, for fear that they may die……………………..LAUGHING!!!
When did being a racist become something to be proud of?
Disgraceful response Rachel G ………. inhuman !!
there seem to be a contradiction between these two: “Zionism contravenes the geopolitical interests of the United States” and “I believe all citizens of the United States should challenge and not celebrate American geopolitical interests.” it may be just an undeliberate mistake (a writing error). please clarify this.
in my previous post, I said that there seemed to be contradiction but if the word “challenge” is used here in the meaning of “quest” or “guestioning” then it is ok. sorry i am not native speaker of english. but still i need clarification to be sure.
I believe the author’s meaning is “challenge” as in “question”.
Mr. Salaita, you lost all credibility with you opening sentences (“brutal military campaign”, “bumbling Israeli commandos murdered…”) There is no context, and all hyperbole! If this is what passes as journalism today, you can see why the public has lost much trust in the mainstream media! I;m not saying there isn’t blame on both sides – but to you it is all a one way street. You should go back to drunken rants in your local bars!
It’s interesting that Larry criticizes Mr. Salaita for “hyperbole” while posting a comment consisting entirely of the same.
The UN resolution of 1981 to 1995 [?] said it all ; ” Zionism is a form of racism ” .
Or almost said it all .
Better for it to have read : “ZIONISM IS RACISM ”
Could ANY decent human being disagree !
In the total absence of ANY genuine political desire for REAL JUSTICE for Palestine, we implore all decent people to BOYCOTT all Israeli goods to help to END THE BRUTAL APARTHEID & OPEN GAZA, we must let them rebuild their shattered lives NOW. Please go to http://bigcampaign.org
Why is it that everyone is so eager to focus on Israel, when the rest of the world is a moral zest pool? How is it that white Americans believe they can judge anyone, least of all the “Zionist entity,” when their nation’s historical legacy of genocide, theft and racism, continues to live through the majority of Americans of color who are encapable of growing beyond the glass ceiling that keeps them in the lower classes? Does it really make such a big difference that a man born from a white American woman and a Kenyan father is America’s president? Does that really make any difference to the average black person (still) in the ghetto? Did America’s white elite suddenly share the wealth with the less fortunate descendants of the people their ancestors enslaved an oppressed for centuries? Are any of you actually any less racist because you elected a president of color?
It’s nice to focus on other countries isn’t it? When your own situation is far from perfect, and little to be proud of.
America was the major reasons for what happening to it for a long time. lol the WMD are sure out there but the jewish puppets of the american adminstration and the congress pointed to some spot in that region for the American troops to look at, but really if they looked at them between the two sea, the MEditerranean and the dead seas they would have already found. european jews dont belong the ME the palestinians do, so every one with intact senses should consider them under occupation, so they should justify their right to be free. ciao
Justice and freedom are the solution keys. Use these two keys to solve this political chronic problem once and for good