--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By Paul J. Balles
26 October 2010
Paul J. Balles views one of Israel’s mouthpieces in the United States, the American Jewish Committee, and debunks some of their propaganda lines on peace, Iran, human dignity, energy security and the nature of Israel.
A few days ago, Robert Elman, President of the American Jewish Committee (AJC), published a letter praising David Harris, Executive Director of the AJC.
The AJC boasts that it has worked since 1906 to safeguard Jewish life and to protect the dignity of all people.
In that motto alone, the thinking reader must see a dichotomy, a contradiction that casts doubt on what the organization represents.
If the AJC has worked to "safeguard Jewish life", it cannot honestly claim to protect the dignity of all people in the same breath, under which lays its treatment of Palestinians.
David Harris, as executive director of the AJC, has been the organization's leading spokesman. In short, he has been their chief propagandist in America for Israel.
A closer look at Elman's letter reveals how Harris and the AJC have used their propaganda machine to brainwash America.
In praising Harris for his 20 years of service as AJC executive director, Elman says:
No single professional has epitomized AJC's values, vision, activism, humanitarianism and achievement more than David Harris. David has been hailed as one of the Jewish people's foremost advocates and most distinguished and eloquent spokesmen.
Elman adds: "Looking to the future, David will continue to advocate for the issues most important to the Jewish people…"
Cheap propaganda
Here are the mythical issues Elman attributes to Harris. Each has an element of propaganda in it:
•Supporting a democratic Israel in its quest for peace and security.
Israel's claims to be democratic are belied by its treatment of the Israeli Arabs as lesser members of an apartheid state.
Its so-called "quest for peace and security" has been proven to be nothing more than sound-bites for peace and military hardware for security.
•Speaking out against Iran's mission to build nuclear weapons.
This is an outright lie similar to the lie about Iraq having weapons of mass destruction aimed at Israel. There's not a shred of proof that Iran's nuclear development involves weapons.
•Building mutual respect between different religious and ethnic groups, leading to a more tolerant world.
Instead of working toward mutual respect, Israel has done everything possible to breed animosity.
•Moving America towards energy independence – critical for both our national security and our environment.
In other words, cut American dependence on foreign oil, thereby diminishing positive relationships with Arab oil-producing countries.
•Seeking a world in which all people are afforded human rights, human dignity and human freedom.
Before anyone can believe this Goebbels-type rubbish, Israel will have to vastly upgrade its relationships with the Palestinians.
Three themes run through most Zionist propaganda:
1. Brainwash the public into believing that Arabs are devils and all Muslims are extremist bombers.
Professor Jack Shaheen’s in-depth studies of American films thoroughly establish how Arabs have been consistently vilified in that medium for a century.
2. Convince the public to believe it's a hate crime to criticize Israel, while propagating guilt for the holocaust.
Criticism of Israel in America is a guaranteed route to castigation as anti-Semitic at best and unemployment, like Helen Thomas’s, at worst.
3. Instil fear in Jews and their supporters that others are out to destroy Israel and Jews. “Israel is surrounded by enemies,” writes Steven Rosen. If true, why?
This theme ignores Israel’s peace treaties with Egypt and Jordan. More importantly, it overlooks the fact that Israel thrives on keeping Syria and Lebanon as antagonists and Iran as a threat. The propaganda device maintains unrestrained American support.
AJC propaganda does more harm than good. Israel needs healthy criticism from Jews in America and around the world.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
River to Sea
Uprooted Palestinian
No comments:
Post a Comment