News
Seattle: Anti-Israel campaign called off
Yitzhak Benhorin
Published: 24.12.10, 14:15
Comment Comment
Print comment Print comment
Back to article
90 Talkbacks for this article
31. Campaign Not Called Off -- Causing Pushback
Linda J ,   Seattle, WA, USA   (12.24.10)
We are having a press conference today and will be fighting to get Israeli war crimes ads on the buses. Just because backroom deals have been made doesn't mean they will stick. Free Speech! Free Palestine!
32. # 30
Birdi ,   Israel   (12.24.10)
I'd rather be out of the bottle than in the bottle, like you are. MORON.
33. Israel 1 - Savages 0
Frank ,   NYC   (12.24.10)
Better luck next time Salma : ) Boo Hoo!
34. Merry Xmas Salma - time to return to your cave
Barry ,   Rio de Janeiro   (12.24.10)
And pray to Satan. You lose again.... The Palis will be remembered one day as the biggest losers in human history...
35. Linda J # 31
Barry ,   Tokyo   (12.24.10)
I see a lunatic... cuckoo! Lunatics shouldn't be allowed "free speech" they should be locked up! : )
36. managed to thwart a media campaign against Israel,
split ,   US   (12.24.10)
Sixteen hundred Dollars investment for a million Dollars exposure - An another example of the decline of Jewish brains or the proof that they never had one - Pick one,...
37. 31 - Where's ACLU ? ,...
split ,   US   (12.24.10)
38. Seattle adverts
Issy Hass ,   Ra'anana-Israel   (12.24.10)
Sir-It is certain that the"ME Awarness" in Seattle are not aware of any problem in the world except the child in Gaza ---poor dying children in the Dafur and other parts of the world they are not concerned about the massive tax in Iraq or Afghanistan what a double standard these people hate Isral for than loving a child in Gaza
39. par for the course
arik ,   usa   (12.24.10)
Another disgraceful example of the basic problem--a frank discussion or debate of America's relationship with Israel is off limits and out of bounds, period.
40. Just the beginning boys, just the beginning! (end)...
Edithann ,   USA   (12.24.10)
41. #31- how about you prove your baseless claims first
William ,   Israel   (12.24.10)
I doubt the bus company shares your level of racism and hatred to put themselves on the line by displaying fictional ads which could comeback in the form of litigation. I wonder what you would think if the KKK sponsored ads that stated "Black men are the cause for destroyed urban centers". Bet that wouldn't meet your "free speech" water mark, would it? By the way Linda, Hamas admitted that over 70% of those killed in Cast Lead were infact NOT civilians. Sort of kills your "war crimes" theory, doesn't it? But I digress - you're not targeting people with these ads who have a habit of critical analysis nor demanding facts.
42. #37 - even the ACLU has their limits
William ,   Israel   (12.24.10)
apparently, they can't condone all acts of slander, especially when so blatant. Enjoy your hatefest guys. It says much more about Seattle than it does Israel.
43. #1, #20, #28, #36 All Saw What the Far Right
David from Denver ,   Denver, Colorado   (12.24.10)
was too blind to see. And that is that this was a publicity coup for "Seattle Mideast Awareness". Millions of dollars of publicity for them though worldwide articles about the story. Millions of people reading about pro-Israelis curb free speach by others. And the group ended up not having to spend a dime! Marvelous job!! This would not have been nearly as successful without the unknowing assistance from the rabid pro-Israelis.
44. #38 - learn Seattle mentality by looking at WTO meeting
William ,   Israel   (12.24.10)
Last year a WTO meeting took place in Seattle. Anarchists came out and heavily protested the event, causing millions of dollars in damage and necessary security. Millions of dollars that could have been used elsewhere in the Seattle budget. The Daily Show went out and interviewed them, asking what they were protesting for. One said the "Palestinians", another said Gay rights, another said "globalization" and many others said "no particular reason". This is the generation of ignorant self-centered youth with a sense of entitlement. Atleast in the 1960s, people understood the cause and why they oppose it, before they protested. Here is another example of Leftist/Anarchist myopia. When Starbucks was created in Seattle, they were seen as a win against the corporations - a little man creating his own business. When that business became successful and grew, it became the target of scorn, with incidents of vandalism and arson of several Seattle Starbucks stores. Even without the affects on Israel by their silly protests, it shows a real cause for concern for the future of our world.
45. #40 - just the beginning...for the past 2 decades
William ,   Israel   (12.24.10)
How have those efforts worked so far? You certainly are a force to be reckoned with, huh? A poorly choreographed flash mob in a St. Louis Best Buy that led some people to believe it was creative marketing FOR Motorola. A theater production for Rachel Corrie, an anti-US, terrorist supporting ISM member killed when she was protecting a weapons smuggling tunnel. Several university-based "Palestinian" support groups causing a scene but little more. One group has been banned for a year in a California university, and in Princeton they couldn't even get another brand of humus introduced. Flotillas? When is the one called "Audacity of Hope" coming? Certainly the weather in Israel is much better than NYC, right? What's the matter - afraid of another BBC Panorama documentary on your actions? End support for Israel, with the help of ISM and MoveOn.org? Congress solidified their support of Israel, with a few lambasting the support for "Palestinians" because they've not kept one promise. Wide ranging polls show majority of Americans WITH Israel. UNHRC reports? Useless. The ICT has their eyes on Sudan's Bashir first, along with rebel leaders from Africa first. UK is changing their universal jurisdiction laws in favor of Israel. Not one call from INTERPOL for the arrest of Israelis...but there is a Red Letter warning for Julian Assange and Iranian govt officials. I realize that to your ilk, the only people in the world who matter are those who agree with you, with the rest of us (>80%) being considered backward, racists, white colonialists, and needing guidance. Your altruism must be the reason why Dems lost massively in the last election, mostly because of disenchanted youth who bought into your Utopian ideology. Can't say that you haven't tried, though.
46. #43 - Less "rabid pro-Israelis" and more "rabid justice seek
William ,   Israel   (12.24.10)
While many people who complained were Pro-Israeli, many more still were those fed up with the hijacking of issues by the Left to demonize people and gain notariety for themselves. The Left are known for demonizing people they disagree with and pulling the race card at a moments notice the shut down discussion or opposition. That was the impetus for the reaction to the falsehoods being presented on the sides of buses through these ads. Their actions are no less an atrocity than the Florida pastor threatening to burn a Koran. It too got him tons of exposure for free and lots of donations thanks to the "rabid pro-Islamists on the Left".
47. Smart move, Seattle.
Heather Czerniak ,   Mississauga, Canada   (12.24.10)
The last time Seattle bashed Jews (Christmas tree/menorah controversy at Sea-Tac Airport), The Almighty walloped Seattle big-time.
48. To: William at No. 23
Sarah B ,   U.S.A. / Israel   (12.24.10)
The Corries have received remarkably little support in their home state, William. Most people in Washington think she got exactly what she deserved. Washington State is no longer the home of lunatic fringe left wingers. That would be Oregon, these days. Washington has come to its senses except, of course, for the hangers-on that took a left turn in 1968 and have yet to join the 21st century.
49. Don't you mean the bay area is the home of the loonies?
American responding ,   To sarah b   (12.24.10)
50. To: No. 36
Sarah B ,   U.S.A. / Israel   (12.24.10)
And when the Jewish community takes out advertising on buses showing "Palestinian" children dressed up like suicide bombers, what do you think the response will be? When the Jewish community runs television ads showing "Palestinians" wildly celebrating the events of September 11, 2001 in the West Bank and Gaza, what do you think the response will be? No wonder the idiots in Seattle canceled their ad campaign. They knew exactly how the Jewish community would counter. A million dollars' worth of really negative exposure for the "Palestinians" isn't much of a victory for their "cause" at all, is it? Maybe the Jewish community will run those ads, anyway. It's called incremental reinforcement. But you wouldn't know that -- it takes brains to figure that out!
51. Get the hell out of Palestine - no peace israelis anywhere
Get the hell out   (12.24.10)
52. # 50 The whole world knows about the Israelis
Chris ,   USA   (12.24.10)
From the time of Jesus of Nazareth or it takes brains to figure that out?
53. Seattle .. did they win or lose and what's coming
GZLives   (12.24.10)
Dennis Mast and his ISM friends lost this time around but will continue to keep coming back until they are completely discredited. Mast has a mixed background including a UN Human Rights award and a history of writing children's theater which makes him appear to be warm and cuddly but he also has a darker side which includes some associations with very questionable characters who have made it clear on the record what they think of Israel and "Zionists" This was an opening salvo in the global delegitimization campaign that the usual groups will begin to mount. We've already had the anti Israel Billboards in New Mexico and unlike Seattle, those did go up. They need these billboard type ads to compliment the BDS component that so far hasn't had much traction in the US. That's where I think they believe they can really do some damage to Israel's economy. Just like the Islamists who like to have many explosions simultaneously, these groups also look for that. Visual advertising, supporting BDS, street demonstrations in front of shops that carry Israeli products asking shoppers not to buy while sending another, darker message to shop owners about continuing to carry Israeli products. And all the while the PA and PLO acting out on the world stage positioning themselves as the peacemakers and Israel as the intransigent party. And now following the election there will be more of the usual about how the US Congress is owner by the Zionists and so the President is helpless At some point I believe the issue will explode onto American cable news outlets where so far it seems its been more of a third rail but that won't last. The fact that any story regarding Israel/Arabs garners enormous interactive response is not lost on cable news producers. They just can't figure out how to present it without offending one side or the other not to mention the potential violence that might also be generated. But they will figure out how to present it properly and when that happens, many more Americans and politicians will have to take a position. The use of disguised anti Semitic themes could shift support enough so that policy could be influenced. Of course the Arab game is also to pre empt anyone who dare use the term anti Semitic as being someone who's only interest is to shut down the conversation. And needless to say, those claim are more often then not made by a full blown anti Semite inoculating himself against the expected and valid accusations The other side understands how to use the anti Semitic classic stereotypes either because they've seen them work or they themselves believe them. Either way, they understand how these messages can be effective. Although they will always insist what they're saying isn't about Jews their campaign is ALL about what they believe many non Jews somewhere in their visceral gut do believe about Jews. In this Seattle ad they were setting out the premise that Israel - the Jews are taking money from US taxpayers and using that to kill Muslim / Arab children. A blood libel combined with the stereotype that the Jews will cheat you and steal your money in one neat little package. I think they believe there's a group of people just like them out there who have mixed feelings about Jews and if they can work on these untapped gut feelings by showing these people how they can feel comfortable expressing those feelings openly, they believe politicians will see the shift in their polling efforts and vote accordingly. You can see it clearly by what aspect of the Arab narrative they repeat most and that has to be "land theft" "stealing land" and all the variations of that one theme.
54. 44 - in Seattle. Anarchists came out and heavily protested
split ,   US   (12.24.10)
That was in 1999 but how would you know, you're here to paste hasbara crap not to inform, aren't you ?
55. Dunno 'bout that one, Sarah
Cameron ,   USA   (12.24.10)
I remember rolling up there & prowling around a bit when my sister was going to law school in the area, and as interesting as the city was, it was full of vacant-eyed, coffeehouse robots that would have done San Fransisco proud. What trends or data suggest that Seattle/Washington state is starting to smooth out in the political/social sense? I lurk close by to that area in a regional sense, and have not caught wind of any profound shift toward a more balanced, moderate vision on their part. Afford me some insight into this particular matter if you would.
56. # 31
(12.24.10)
If you think your campaign will help the pallies why dont you stick your crap on your faces instead of on buses?
57. #31 FREE PALESTINE
LAWRENCE ,   SAFED ISRAEL   (12.24.10)
With every $100 spent .Roll up folks ,SPECIAL OFFER .Get your free palestine here .
58. #31 Free Israel of Palestinian facism and terrorism.
Frank ,   Argentina   (12.25.10)
59. #20
(12.25.10)
as a seatle resident and a non jew, no one paid attention in the least. you are comforting yourself if you believe any one gave a hoot! people passed by and actually LAUGHED!!!! i was there and people were joking about the "bus nuts" as they called them. so rest assured, these ads up or down made not a single dent. shirley seatle
60. 20
(12.25.10)
not a single person that i saw even glanced their way. people were walking around, getting on the bus and most just shrugged their shoulders and said to themselves and others that the mouzies have come to town. it was more a joke on the arabs than having any effect on anyone at all. people do not care because they know who the enemy really is.
Previous talkbacks
Next talkbacks
Back to article