In France, as in Great Britain and Germany, any criticism of Israel is considered anti-Semitism, a racist aberration that can only be supported by politicians who have no sense of history or international law. To argue that massacres can and should be defended everywhere except when it comes to Israel, because it is a country with a Jewish majority, remains incomprehensible. This is all the more true given that we are more royalist than the king, because in Israel, despite Netanyahu’s attacks on judges, the media, and the Supreme Court, it is still possible—if you are Jewish, of course—to criticize these same massacres. There are still pockets of freedom there, with journalists saying out loud what we are virtually forbidden to say or write in France for fear of being labeled anti-Semitic. Israel’s representatives in France who refuse to accept any criticism of Israel would do well to take inspiration from this rather than repeating the talking points of the “victim/mass murderer state,” because their vicissitudes will become increasingly evident as the extent of the massacres is confirmed by investigations on the ground. Here are a few examples to follow and read in order to say less nonsense in the media:
- Gideon Levy of the Haaretz newspaper, certainly the most powerful and informed journalist at this newspaper, which is equivalent to Le Monde in France. “I love my country, but it has become the most brutal of countries for three reasons: First, the majority of Israelis are convinced that we are the ‘chosen’ people and therefore we can do whatever we want. Reason 2: Of course, there have been other occupations, colonizations, and massacres, but this is the only one in which the occupiers present themselves as the victims, the only victims in the entire region, and therefore we can have a clear conscience. Reason 3, the hardest one, is the dehumanization of the Palestinians, because if they are not human beings like us, then there is no need to worry about human rights, etc. It’s harsh language, reminiscent of the dark days of the Nazis and the Spanish massacre of the Incas, but it corresponds exactly to reality.
- Amira Hass, recipient of the Grand Prize for Journalism, has repeatedly said that Israel has destroyed any possibility of coexistence with the Palestinians. The arrogance, brutality, and massacres committed by Israel despite the compromises accepted by the Palestinians. Amira is unique, the daughter of a Holocaust survivor and the only Israeli Jew who has lived for years in Gaza, protected and accepted by the Gazans. Her book “I Will Go on Vacation to Gaza” is a classic.
- +972: the only truly independent newspaper composed of Jewish and Arab journalists from Palestine. I strongly recommend that you support them because they do unique journalistic work and are under constant pressure from the fascist authorities in Israel.
- B’Tselem: “in the image of – a theme used in the Bible when describing the creation of man, who is made in the image of God.” A unique organization that tries to report violations of Palestinian rights and reports torture in prisons, “our” genocide in Gaza, massacres in the West Bank by settlers and the army, etc.
- The Union of French Jews for Peace (UJFP), which has been courageously fighting for a long time to restore peace and truth about the massacres perpetrated by Israel against the Palestinians.
- The International Court of Justice in The Hague on Palestine. It is always edifying to watch the presentations by lawyers from different countries in the trial against Israel for massacre and intent to commit genocide in Gaza… The long speeches by the lawyer representing Palestine, such as that by Monique Chemillier-Gendreau, are impressively intelligent and incisive. On the other hand, according to Michael Brison in an article published by the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, “If one of the Israeli lawyers had been able to connect a lie detector during his speech, the electrical network in The Hague would have collapsed.”
- Almost all non-governmental organizations, including lawyers, doctors, jurists, the WHO, Reporters Without Borders, Amnesty, etc. The list is long, and with the exception of Israel and the US, no one disputes the facts. Holocaust survivors, including those living in Israel, such as many rabbis, clearly condemn Israeli policy, comparing it to that of Hitler!
- We should take inspiration from our Swiss neighbors when a FedPol official, Nicoletta de la Valle, decides to ban a speaker, Ali Abunimah, journalist and activist with The Electronic Intifada, from coming to Switzerland. This decision is subsequently overturned by the courts and the canton is ordered to pay CHF 9,500 to the speaker, who is invited to give his lecture.
- Incidentally, following the example of our British neighbors, whose prime minister imprisoned more than 1,000 people who were demonstrating for Palestine, is not a good idea either. The Supreme Court overturned this draconian law as incompatible with freedom of expression.
We must stop refusing to see reality. This regime has turned the country into a pariah that is not only heading for disaster but is also leading the world into endless wars under the umbrella provided by the occupant of the White House. Trump is BIBI’s puppet.
Photo Nikolas Gannon – Unsplash
