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Alon Schvartzer
Photo: PR

Im Tirtzu—from consciousness to reality

Op-ed: In an opinion piece, former Shin Bet director Carmi Gillon warned against Im Tirtzu. But while we're the leading voice against those who seek to uproot the belief in the justness of Zionism, the New Israel Fund finances NGOs that defame IDF soldiers, petition the courts against Israel's security policy, defend terrorists in courts, and lead the campaign of delegitimization of Israel.

In an opinion piece published earlier this week on Ynetnews, the former director of the Shin Bet, Carmi Gillon, stated that Im Tirtzu is "the most influential movement in Israel in recent years." And I am pleased to agree with him.

 

 

Furthermore, in Gillon's analysis of the political climate in Israel, he stated that words shape reality; in other words, consciousness, and our beliefs, shape our perception of reality.

 

Since Im Tirtzu's establishment, there has been a refreshing change in the public discourse in Israel. After many long years, the nationalist and Zionist Israeli public has gotten an authentic civil society organization that unequivocally promotes values taught by pioneers like Herzl, Jabotinsky, Ben-Gurion and Berl Katznelson. First consciousness, then reality.

 

Im Tirtzu protesters (Photo: Ohad Zwigenberg)
Im Tirtzu protesters (Photo: Ohad Zwigenberg)

 

Im Tirtzu is the leading voice against those who, in the words of poet Nathan Alterman, try to "dull his brain so that he will forget that justice is with him." This tactic, to uproot the belief in the justness of Zionism, is what prompted Im Tirtzu to come into being. And after more than a decade of activities, as Gillon stated, the fruits of our labor can easily be seen.

 

We succeeded in returning positive discourse surrounding Zionism to center stage in Israel—by conveying to students the understanding that freedom of speech and academic freedom is for everyone, not only for far-left professors; by returning the appreciation for IDF reservists nationwide; by assisting Israeli minorities to serve in the IDF or do national service; and by providing recognition to ultra-Orthodox who serve in the IDF.

 

We succeeded in restoring blue-and-white to campuses where the flag of the Palestine Liberation Organization became commonplace. We succeeded in assisting bereaved families and wounded IDF veterans to have their voices heard. Above all, we succeeded in providing a response for IDF soldiers in the face of unrelenting slander and persecution, which climaxed with the infamous Goldstone Report after Operation Cast Lead.

 

But there is still much work to be done, precisely because of the organization that Gillon proudly made a "modest contribution" to. The New Israel Fund, a foreign political organization registered in Israel as a foreign company, is aggressively working to harm the character of the state. The annual budget of the NIF is some $30 million, while the budget of Im Tirtzu is less than three percent of that.

 

Former Shin Bet director Carmi Gillon (Photo: Motti Kimchi)
Former Shin Bet director Carmi Gillon (Photo: Motti Kimchi)

 

Although Gillon admittedly did not "thoroughly examine the list of organizations benefiting from its funds," the NIF gives millions to NGOs that, inter alia, defame IDF soldiers, petition the courts against Israel's security policy, defend terrorists in courts, and lead the campaign of the delegitimization of Israel.

 

In the case of the NIF, it is money—not words—that inflict lethal wounds onto the Israeli public.

 

In recent weeks, we have witnessed a rise in activities by the NIF and its grantee organizations. One the one hand, they have engaged in activities against the freedom of expression of bereaved families who wrote a letter concerning Maj. Gen. Yair Golan and against the performance of artist Berry Sakharof in the Mount Hebron region.

 

On the other hand, they explicitly called on the public to join a protest together with the Arab High Follow-Up Committee, in which slogans like "with blood and spirit we will redeem Palestine" were chanted.

 

Whoever strives to live in a free, Jewish and democratic state, cannot stand aside and remain silent in the face of these activities.

 

Alon Schvartzer is the Director of Policy for Im Tirtzu.

 


פרסום ראשון: 08.28.18, 21:51
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