Spring Break
American Bashing of Israel Must Cease
Aaron Igdalsky
Issue date: 10/2/07 Section: Commentary
That is not to say Israel is perfect. They have made many questionable judgment calls. But for some reason, the media at large - and in turn many Americans - have decided to ignore the positive things Israel does accomplish. Just a week ago, Israeli intelligence, gained from interrogation of suspected terrorists, allowed Israeli police to stop a terrorist plot in Tel Aviv. Bombers had planned a suicide attack at a synagogue on Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish year. Fortunately, this despicable act was never able to occur, thanks to strong anti-terrorist measures undertaken by the state of Israel.
Israel's military is indeed quite strong, but acts completely within its limits based on international diplomatic standards. This is demonstrated by fact, not propaganda like that of Al-Jazeera, the BBC and the Hartford Courant. These outlets regularly describe Israel as some kind of massive barbarian regime that rules with an iron fist. This could not be further from the truth. To begin with, Israel is a small nation of just over six million people, roughly the size of New Jersey. Israel is surrounded by much bigger, much angrier enemy states that pay big money to fund anti-Israeli and anti-American terrorism. Israel enforces stringent security rules that are necessary to maintain the security that benefits Jews and Arab-Israelis alike. To describe the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) as anything less than honorable is inaccurate. They serve their country as best they can given the extremely difficult circumstances in Israel.
Stability and the Middle East are not often grouped in the same sentence. Chaos in Iraq, suicide bombings in Afghanistan, and nuclear development and anti-American threats from Iran are just a few of the examples of how wild the Middle East truly is. There is a great deal of disorder, which is why all democracy lovers bank on Israel's support. They are one of the only bulwarks of sanity left in the region. Unlike Iran, where homosexuals have been sentenced to death under the current Ahmedinejad administration, or Egypt, where four newspaper editors were recently sent to prison for publishing stories critical of the Egyptian president, Israel provides its citizens with basic human and civil rights. That is unique and unprecedented in the Middle East. There is freedom of religion - contrary to common misconception. Any religion may be practiced in Israel, as is evidenced by the large Muslim and Christian populations in the country. There is freedom of the press. One can regularly find anti-government and anti-military editorials in the major newspapers. Most importantly, there is freedom of speech. In Israel, one can speak critically of the government or an elected official without fear of imprisonment.
Israel's military is indeed quite strong, but acts completely within its limits based on international diplomatic standards. This is demonstrated by fact, not propaganda like that of Al-Jazeera, the BBC and the Hartford Courant. These outlets regularly describe Israel as some kind of massive barbarian regime that rules with an iron fist. This could not be further from the truth. To begin with, Israel is a small nation of just over six million people, roughly the size of New Jersey. Israel is surrounded by much bigger, much angrier enemy states that pay big money to fund anti-Israeli and anti-American terrorism. Israel enforces stringent security rules that are necessary to maintain the security that benefits Jews and Arab-Israelis alike. To describe the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) as anything less than honorable is inaccurate. They serve their country as best they can given the extremely difficult circumstances in Israel.
Stability and the Middle East are not often grouped in the same sentence. Chaos in Iraq, suicide bombings in Afghanistan, and nuclear development and anti-American threats from Iran are just a few of the examples of how wild the Middle East truly is. There is a great deal of disorder, which is why all democracy lovers bank on Israel's support. They are one of the only bulwarks of sanity left in the region. Unlike Iran, where homosexuals have been sentenced to death under the current Ahmedinejad administration, or Egypt, where four newspaper editors were recently sent to prison for publishing stories critical of the Egyptian president, Israel provides its citizens with basic human and civil rights. That is unique and unprecedented in the Middle East. There is freedom of religion - contrary to common misconception. Any religion may be practiced in Israel, as is evidenced by the large Muslim and Christian populations in the country. There is freedom of the press. One can regularly find anti-government and anti-military editorials in the major newspapers. Most importantly, there is freedom of speech. In Israel, one can speak critically of the government or an elected official without fear of imprisonment.
Viewing Comments 1 - 5 of 8
Rick
posted 10/02/07 @ 10:33 AM EST
Why is it that Americans can criticize every other nation in the world, including our own ... but hands off Israel? If society has been misled or the media have been dishonest, then set us straight. (Continued…)
Jill
posted 10/02/07 @ 10:34 AM EST
well written thoughtful article
Nizzle
posted 10/02/07 @ 11:11 PM EST
I agree
Saleh
posted 10/03/07 @ 1:55 AM EST
This article is full of fallacies...
1) It is so hypocritical that you are so proud that Israeli newspapers have the freedom to criticize the Israeli government (and its violations of international and humanitarian laws), yet you are so angry when American media and newspapers occasionally do the same thing!
2) It is flat-out dishonest to ignore the very crucial question of why those angry neighbors of Israel are angry in the first place. (Continued…)
Jonathan
posted 10/13/07 @ 11:53 PM EST
Well-written article. People just don't understand that the Israeli government is TRYING to make peace. They are TRYING to give away the West Bank. It's just that no responsible government will take it. (Continued…)
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