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Global Peace and Justice Groups Threaten
Israel's Legitimacy
By Stephen Lendman
Al-Jazeerah, ccun.org, April 19, 2010
Working pro bono for Israeli government agencies, the Tel
Aviv-based Reut Institute (RI) provides "real-time strategic
decision-making" support in areas of national security and socioeconomic
policy. Saying global peace and justice groups threaten Israel's
legitimacy, its recent series of articles, policy papers, and
presentations counterattacked - a combination of damage control and
rethink despite legitimate criticism showing Israel delegitimizes itself,
and no amount of policy paper makeover will change it. Only Israel can do
that, but in its 62 year existence never tried. In a January 28
brief, RI said Israel: "face(s) a dramatic assault on the very
legitimacy of its existence as a Jewish and democratic state. While the
ideological framework for this delegitimacy was solidified after the first
Durban" World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia
and Related Intolerance, "the trend (got) a boost by the perceived lack of
(political) progress, coupled with Operation Cast Lead in Gaza," followed
by the damning Goldstone Report. Groups "making the fundamental
delegitimacy" claim want to internationally isolate Israel and ultimately
turn it into a pariah state by: -- demonizing it in public
protests, the media, on campuses, and through events like the annual
Israel Apartheid Week and World Social Forum, asking its affiliates to
excommunicate Israel; -- promoting the Global BDS Movement
(boycott, divestment and sanctions) in areas of the economy, academia,
culture, sport, and security; at risk is it achieving equivalency between
Israel and apartheid-era South Africa, yet legitimate critics, including
Jimmy Carter, accuse Israel of being worse than apartheid; and --
targeting the state and its officials legally, including through the
International Criminal Court (ICJ) and universal jurisdiction (UJ) to
charge Israeli generals and politicians with war crimes. On
February 14, ahead of a detailed policy paper, RI issued an executive
summary headlined, "The Delegitimization Challenge: Creating a Political
Firewall," saying the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is the "engine driving"
world criticism of Israel, "resulting in an erosion of its international
image, and exacting a tangible strategic price." Of special concern - the
2006 Lebanon War (officially called the Second Lebanon War) and Operation
Cast Lead (December 2008 - January 2009), global grassroots condemnation
during and after both, besides accusations of daily crimes against
humanity throughout the Occupied Territories. Then in March, RI
issued Version A of a detailed final report titled, "Building a Political
Firewall Against Israel's Delegitimization: Conceptual Framework,"
discussed below. Its theme - poor Israel, victimized again,
targeted by global justice, equality, and peace forces influential enough
to become an "existential threat within a few years." Instead of
acknowledging justifiable criticism and advising real change, RI
recommends an aggressive counteroffensive to "sabotage network catalysts"
then later softened language against global opposition forces to defuse
and discredit them, rebrand Israel as a humanitarian nation, and build a
network of strategic "elites (and) influentials." Two groups are
of particular concern: The Middle East-based "Resistance Network,"
comprised of nations, organizations and individuals - ideological
Islamists, groups representing them, and Iran, Hezbollah, and Hamas that
"reject Israel's right to exist." They advance an "implosion strategy" to
precipitate Israel's collapse by undermining its control of the
Palestinians, delegitimize it, and defeat it asymmetrically. The
Western-based "Delegitimization Network," consisting of organizations and
individuals from the "radical European left, Arab and Islamic groups, and
so-called post or anti-Zionist Jews and Israelis." Their aim - replace
Zionism with a state based on "one person, one vote" by demonizing Israel
and its moral legitimacy. RI is alarmed, saying these forces have
ideas that are "increasingly sophisticated, ripe, lucid, and coherent"
enough to succeed if not stopped at a time "pro-Palestinian activity (has
become) trendy." Thus far, Israel's diplomatic standing is strong, but
it's eroded "among the general publics and elites," Israel rebranded as a
pariah state, vilified for its Gaza siege, BDS grassroots momentum aiming
"to correct Israel's ways." As these forces mature and converge,
they're "exacerbating Israel's predicament" by tarnishing its reputation,
undermining its relations with Palestinians for a two-state solution in
favor of one for all its people. Further, they seek no conflict resolution
based on "co-existence or peace (embodying) an acceptance of Israel's
existence." Any compromise will be only temporary, even placing the June
1967 borders at risk. "A tipping point would be a paradigm shift from a
Two-State (to a) One-State Solution." A comprehensive permanent
status agreement establishing a Palestinian state would weaken Israeli
delegitimization efforts, but the campaign will persist. Upcoming -
mobilizing Israeli Arabs (20% of Israel's population), so far with limited
success but they continue. Israel's strategic challenge requires
an effective counteroffensive against already urgent problems that include
"international interference in Israel's domestic affairs;" limiting its
military option; boycotts, divestment, and sanctions; and travel
restrictions out of fear of criminal prosecutions abroad if travel.
Relying on military force against threats is "out of date." A new focus is
needed, including effective PR, and a restructured, better
financed/staffed foreign affairs establishment to "wage a global campaign
on the non-governmental level." Other militarily powerful nations have
been toppled by effectively mobilized "political, diplomatic, and economic
dynamics...." Israel must avoid that fate. As a result, its
"diplomacy and foreign policy doctrine requires urgent overhaul." PR and
policy changes aren't enough. "Clearly, a credible and persistent
commitment (for) peace and ending control over the Palestinian population,
as well as....full integration and equality of Israel's Arab citizens, are
essential for effectively battling Israel's delegitimization" - or at
least the appearance in this direction. "Synchronized victories"
are needed militarily, politically, diplomatically, and in the media. "It
takes a network to fight a network," and intelligence sabotage abroad to
do it. Human network power stems from their "hubs (and)
catalysts:" the former in key areas like London, Paris, Toronto, Madrid,
and San Francisco; the latter comprised of mobilized global peace and
justice groups. Strategy requires rebranding Israel and its
adversaries, winning elite hearts and minds, and building influential
networks, especially in key hub areas. Also, "engage the critics; isolate
the delegitimizers." Mobilize Israeli NGOs to engage global ones, and
Jewish/Israeli diaspora communities to lead by dealing with their local
dynamics and respond appropriately. Instead of recommending an
equitable end to a 62 year conflict, RI advises sabotage and subterfuge
against growing global forces it fears, ones effectively undermining
Israel's legitimacy, so to prevail they must be subverted and stopped.
Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago and can be reached
at
lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net. Also visit his blog site at
sjlendman.blogspot.com and listen to cutting-edge discussions with
distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive
Radio Network Thursdays at 10AM US Central time and Saturdays and Sundays
at noon. All programs are archived for easy listening.
http://www.progressiveradionetwork.com/the-progressive-news-hour/.
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