[h=1]Israel Paying the Price for the West's Self-Hatred[/h] by Peter Martino
November 27, 2012 at 4:30 am
Gatestone Institute EXCERPT (EMPHASIS MINE)
Although Nirenstein is Jewish, many of the demonstrators were not. In a statement released after the event, Nirenstein wrote that the demonstration showed how important "the existence of Israel and its safeguard is to the Italian people and its representatives." She said it also showed that "people are more and more capable of identifying the lies disguised as criticism to the Israeli government." Nirenstein, chairperson of the International Council of Jewish Parliamentarians, expressed her satisfaction that the Italians and their political leaders understand that Israel is "a bastion of human rights and democracy in the Middle East."
Unfortunately, Italy is exceptional in the European context. It is doubtful whether in other countries a similar pro-Israeli demonstration, openly supported by the Speakers of both houses of parliament, would be possible. The contrary, a demonstration in support of the Palestinians, is probably much more likely to attract broad political support. The Italians' awareness of Israel's plight is proof of the importance that a single person can have; it is to a large extent the result of the writings of one woman, the journalist Oriana Fallaci (1929-2006).
<<<SNIP>>>To the left-wing European intellectual, Israel equals the West equals imperialism. Western interests are portrayed as voracious destroyers of the weak and vulnerable. Israel is paying the price for Western self-hatred. The West, in fact, does not equal imperialism and destruction. On the contrary, the West equals civilization and human rights. While Israel is fighting its war with Hamas, it is also trying to respect human rights and spare the civilian population of Gaza as much as possible. At the same time that Israel was under heavy and indiscriminate rocket fire from Gaza, the Israeli army was organizing the safe passage of 124 trucks with supplies and medicines to Gaza. The Palestinian city is almost entirely dependent on Israel for its water and electricity supply. This supply was not cut. Neither did the Israeli Central Bank cut the supply of shekels to Gaza. Since the shekel is the currency in Gaza, without these shekels, Hamas cannot pay the wages of civil servants in Gaza. As the Israeli commentator Guy Bechor says about Israel: "We represent the first instance in history of one side feeding and financing its enemy, even during a time of war between the two."
<<SNIP>>
All these facts are hardly known in Europe, where Israel-bashing remains one of the favorite pastimes of the media. A 2010 study showed that for every two stories reflecting negatively on the Palestinians, the BBC published 51 stories reflecting negatively on Israel. What is constantly missing in the coverage of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is the context in which events take place. The media simply do not tell the truth. If they were to do so, ordinary Europeans would have a more balanced view on the conflict. Which is why Fiamma Nirenstein has a point when she called last week's demonstration in Rome a demonstration for the truth as well as for Israel.
END EXCERPT
Yep
November 27, 2012 at 4:30 am
Gatestone Institute EXCERPT (EMPHASIS MINE)
The moral question "Who began the war and who denies its adversary's right to exist?" is never asked. The media simply do not tell the truth.
Last Thursday evening, some 1,500 demonstrators convened in front of the Italian Parliament in Rome, waving Israeli and Italian flags. The demonstration "For the Truth, for Israel" had been organized in barely two days by Fiamma Nirenstein, a member of the Italian Chamber of Deputies, Italy's equivalent of the House of Representatives. The demonstrators listened to messages by over 50 people, including Matteo Renzi, the Mayor of Florence and a prominent leader of the Democratic Party, Angelino Alfano, Italy's former Justice Minister and the president of Berlusconi's party PDL, Gianfranco Fini, the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies and the leader of the FLI party, and Renato Schifani, the Speaker of the Senate.
Although Nirenstein is Jewish, many of the demonstrators were not. In a statement released after the event, Nirenstein wrote that the demonstration showed how important "the existence of Israel and its safeguard is to the Italian people and its representatives." She said it also showed that "people are more and more capable of identifying the lies disguised as criticism to the Israeli government." Nirenstein, chairperson of the International Council of Jewish Parliamentarians, expressed her satisfaction that the Italians and their political leaders understand that Israel is "a bastion of human rights and democracy in the Middle East."
Unfortunately, Italy is exceptional in the European context. It is doubtful whether in other countries a similar pro-Israeli demonstration, openly supported by the Speakers of both houses of parliament, would be possible. The contrary, a demonstration in support of the Palestinians, is probably much more likely to attract broad political support. The Italians' awareness of Israel's plight is proof of the importance that a single person can have; it is to a large extent the result of the writings of one woman, the journalist Oriana Fallaci (1929-2006).
<<<SNIP>>>To the left-wing European intellectual, Israel equals the West equals imperialism. Western interests are portrayed as voracious destroyers of the weak and vulnerable. Israel is paying the price for Western self-hatred. The West, in fact, does not equal imperialism and destruction. On the contrary, the West equals civilization and human rights. While Israel is fighting its war with Hamas, it is also trying to respect human rights and spare the civilian population of Gaza as much as possible. At the same time that Israel was under heavy and indiscriminate rocket fire from Gaza, the Israeli army was organizing the safe passage of 124 trucks with supplies and medicines to Gaza. The Palestinian city is almost entirely dependent on Israel for its water and electricity supply. This supply was not cut. Neither did the Israeli Central Bank cut the supply of shekels to Gaza. Since the shekel is the currency in Gaza, without these shekels, Hamas cannot pay the wages of civil servants in Gaza. As the Israeli commentator Guy Bechor says about Israel: "We represent the first instance in history of one side feeding and financing its enemy, even during a time of war between the two."
<<SNIP>>
All these facts are hardly known in Europe, where Israel-bashing remains one of the favorite pastimes of the media. A 2010 study showed that for every two stories reflecting negatively on the Palestinians, the BBC published 51 stories reflecting negatively on Israel. What is constantly missing in the coverage of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is the context in which events take place. The media simply do not tell the truth. If they were to do so, ordinary Europeans would have a more balanced view on the conflict. Which is why Fiamma Nirenstein has a point when she called last week's demonstration in Rome a demonstration for the truth as well as for Israel.
END EXCERPT
Yep
