'de-legitimization threat is false'
Photo: Roee Idan
Lunatic fringe powerless
Op-ed: Lunatic fringe behind efforts to de-legitimize Israel can do little to undermine Jewish State
The notion that Israel faces a global de-legitimization threat is false. This myth is promoted, among other things, by failing to make a distinction between anti-Jewish lunatic fringe groups and global governments. The former are responsible for what is often labeled as de-legitimatization, but in fact this is just plenty of hot hostile air. This lunatic fringe is largely impotent to do anything to truly undermine the State of Israel.
The world’s governments are the only bodies that have the true power to delegitimize Israel, yet they are not doing that. As the international effort to curb the recent Gaza flotilla proved, Israel has many friends. The same is evident by the decision of several Western countries to boycott the racist Durban conference.
- Receive Ynetnews updates
directly to your desktop
Hollow Criticism
Nathalie Rothschild
Op-ed: Criticism of Boycott Bill by BDS supporters in Israel and abroad rings hollow
A prominent effort to de-legitimize Israel is undertaken by the Palestinian-led Boycott Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement. However, BDS is a loosely organized gang of Jew-haters and Israel-haters who base their entire initiative on the lie that Israel is an Apartheid state. These activists hold before their eyes the image of South Africa, which despite its military and economic might ultimately caved under the accumulating pressure of years of sanctions and de-legitimization.
Yet while South Africa maintained the most despicable form of racial injustice in its constitution and entire social fabric, Israel is a democracy that grants its 1.5 million Arabs full citizenship. Hence, the BDS movement will not get far by basing its entire effort on a brazen, malicious lie only aimed at harming the Jewish State’s image. Israel is not an Apartheid state and will not be suffering the same fate as South Africa in terms of severing of diplomatic ties, trade ties and banking ties.
Another example of a failed de-legitimization effort is the Goldstone Report, which constituted the worst UN criticism of Israel since the resolution equating Zionism to racism. Yet even this storm passed after a few months. Goldstone himself later admitted that he got the facts wrong. Today, this episode lies in the dust heap of history; Goldstone is yesterday’s news.
While de-legitimization efforts should not be ignored or underestimated, they should also not be blown out of proportion. The anti-Jewish lunatic fringe may be infuriating and at times dangerous, but it does not dictate the world’s policy towards Israel. We should certainly keep in mind that while we do have many foes, we also have quite a few friends.
- Follow Ynetnews on Facebook
