Israeli Government Video Irks Palestinians
July 28, 2011 13:56 by Simon PloskerCongratulations to the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon for taking the initiative in the vital battleground of social media.
Ayalon’s YouTube video “The Truth About the West Bank” is evidently considered to be such a threat to the distorted Palestinian historical narrative that Saeb Erekat (who still appears to be the chief Palestinian negotiator despite resigning from the position in February 2011) has responded by publicly condemning the video in no uncertain terms.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGYxLWUKwWo[/youtube]
Here’s your chance to help Israel online.
It’s really simple – click on the video and watch as Danny Ayalon explains the status of the West Bank. In September the Palestinian Authority plans to tie Israel up in legal knots at the UN with an appeal for statehood in the West Bank and Gaza based on the 1948 armistice line (commonly and misleadingly referred to as the “1967 borders”).
Wherever you are on the political map, it’s time that the world is reminded of Israel’s historical and legal rights as well as how Israel found itself in control of the disputed territories.
By simply clicking on this video or sharing it on social media platforms such as Facebook, you won’t just be reminding your own friends and friends of Israel of the facts. You will also be promoting this material “beyond the choir” to the millions of people who browse YouTube and know nothing of the Israeli narrative.
Evidently, the Palestinians find it difficult when Israel reasserts its rights in the face of the assault on the country’s legitimacy. According to the PA press release:
“With this video, the Israeli government has left no doubt on its pro-conflict agenda. Now, the international community knows the Israeli government is committed to denying the Palestinian people their inalienable right to self-determination and on continuing their illegal and colonial enterprise in the occupied Palestinian territory”, said Dr. Saeb Erakat.
Dr. Erakat said this video, presented by the Israeli deputy minister of Foreign Affairs Danny Ayalon, denies the validity of UN resolutions and claims that the illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank are a legitimate part of Israel. He added, “This is not an amateur video prepared by an extremist group. An official representing the State of Israel presents a cynical and falsified account of history and international law.”
Dr. Erakat continued: “In its desperate attempt to gear international discourse away from the pursuit of genuine peace to the outdated arguments of those who oppose it, this official video went as far as discarding United Nations Resolution 181 (II).” “I want to remind the government of Israel that it was accepted at the UN as a full member based on its acceptance of this resolution” said Dr. Erakat.
Danny Ayalon
In reaction to the condemnation, Ayalon said: “For too long the Palestinian narrative of international law and rights has gone unchallenged and this over the top reaction to a public diplomacy video proves that they are acting like spoilt children who have had their way for too long. They are unable to challenge a single fact in the video and have completely avoided a legitimate and honest discussion on the issues.”
In the press release, Erekat claims that Israel was accepted to the United Nations on the basis of UN General Assembly Resolution 181. “This false claims shows that Erekat misconstrues international law and its system proving exactly how misguided the Palestinian attempt to have their unilaterally declared state recognized at the United Nations really is. Israel was admitted as a full United Nations member in 1949 by United Nations General Assembly Resolution 273, after a recommendation by the Security Council, because it met the criteria of statehood and signed armistice agreements with our neighbors, something the Palestinians should bear in mind before they further their confrontational and damaging plan towards September.”
Help us to help Israel get the facts out. Spread this video and make a difference.
Michael
8:51 pm
Jul 28, 2011
The video is a very good explanation of legal geopolitical history, but ignores the reality on the ground. People living in the territories are governed by a state that they are not citizens of. When Israel can cut off water, electricity, sanitation service, access to work, cut farmers off from their fields, bull doze houses and orchards, build fortress settlements for citizens on top of areas where the local non-citizen inhabitants were pushed out of; and the people affected do not have a voice in those decisions, I accept that they feel occupied. No other state has claim to that land, but that does not erase the fact that the people living there get pushed around, and have legitimate grievances. I don’t know what the solutions to the disputes are either, but just as negotiations must be based on legal and historical facts, they must also recognize the humanity and legitimate grievances of the people on the losing side.
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Joe S
1:08 am
Jul 29, 2011
I think that the people living in the ” territories “, who have never given up hope of destroying Israel should feel VERY lucky to still be there. Had the decision makers known then ( after the 67/73 wars ) what they know now, that there is no chance of peace because the Arabs refuse to recognize Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state, they might have been tempted to change the ” reality on the ground” and expel the enemy population in the same way that 900,000 Jews were expelled from Arab countries in the wake of the 1948 war of Independence. After all Judea and Samaria legally belong to Israel.
I know the solution to the dispute and it’s simple. The Arabs have to recognize Israel as THE Jewish state and stop trying to destroy it. They have to recognize that they have lost all the wars waged to destroy Israel, and stop demanding another “Palestinian” state ( Jordan is Palestine ) on Israel’s already tiny land mass. If this ever happens, we will all see peace.
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stu woolley
9:14 pm
Jul 28, 2011
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
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Martin
10:24 pm
Jul 28, 2011
You might say?? Instituting a blockade on another country is a clearly recognized act of war. There is no question about it. When Israel struck they were already in a state of war with Egypt and it’s ally Syria and there is no weaseling out of that fact.
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LUIS FROM MEXICO
10:33 pm
Jul 28, 2011
Maybe so…..but Egypt and Syria declared that they woul’d fight along Jordan from the beginning, and if this is not a declaration of fisical war (besides closing the canal), then I don’t know what is; and Israel did the right thing attacking first.
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Gary Katz
10:36 pm
Jul 28, 2011
One thing the Jews learned is, when someone says they’re going to kill you, believe them.
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Dom
10:51 pm
Jul 28, 2011
You need to read “Israel Journal: June 1967″ by Yael Dayan if you believe that.
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HILLEL KAPLAN
9:51 pm
Jul 28, 2011
If closing the Suez Canal was an act of war how can
any one claim that Israel struck first ?
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vibeke lichten
10:50 pm
Jul 28, 2011
What took israel so long to produce this piece information?????? it will take a long time to reverse the damage done by the palestinians having had such success at setting the terms and the terminology of the regions history !!!
better late than never !!
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Esther Oliver
10:51 pm
Jul 28, 2011
Oh I love this. A big comment, at last! A bit complicated and the accent makes it sound too much like propaganda (sorry, I know, I know … it’s just my opinion as an educator. Sounds like Arnold Schwartenegger, and a neutral voice would seem to give a more neutral opinion. that’s just the power of media.) Still …. a GREAT start to a good ‘fight back’ argument. Would like to see it edited, re-done. Can I start??? Anyone want to help me? We could argue all day about how it should be and use all this wonderful information, add to it, etc. etc.
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Dom
11:01 pm
Jul 28, 2011
Pieces from Dayan’s book, “Israel Journal: June 1967″:
“…Syria and Jordan and Egypt were on the borders backed by the armies of Iraq, Algeria, Kuwait, Lebanon, and Sudan.”
“They are greater than us in numbers, but we will hold them. We are a small nation, but we are determined. WE SEEK PEACE, but we are ready to fight for our lives and our country…” [caps added]
“It was nineteen years of trying to believe that the Middle East would accept our presence, nineteen years of building what we were about to defend–it was all those moments of holding back, of being threatened, of being condemned and being left alone.”
“We have united Jerusalem, the divided capital of Israel–we have returned to the holiest of our holy places, never to part from it again.”
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Cliff Ross
11:10 pm
Jul 28, 2011
Israel needs to do a lot more of this debunkling Arab propaganda. The Arabs are very good at stating lies as facts, and being believed. Israel has fallen W A Y behind in the information fight. Israel- protect yourselves physically and mentally. Make sure the falsehoods spread by Arabs is countered by the truth. Outfight them in the propaganda wars.
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Jules Tabak
11:15 pm
Jul 28, 2011
The garbage people are angry because their evil cannot dominate the good people of Israel
Jules
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Shlomo
11:17 pm
Jul 28, 2011
Yes, legal and historical fact, Jordan or East bank [Benyamim/Gad] does belong to Israel.Yes, Israel has given far too much. As usual Palestinians have given nothing and they are not about to. Historical dealings or agreements with Muhammed have proven Islamic treaties are of no value even today as their actions have proven this time and again throughout past history .
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Catherine H. Gerry
11:21 pm
Jul 28, 2011
A Mazel Tov auf Deine Kopf…(sp). I’m so proud of you Danny and being a JEW.
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Raoul
11:43 pm
Jul 28, 2011
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
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Michael
3:28 am
Jul 29, 2011
Raoul: Your comment was misunderstood by many.
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Byron Logman
4:14 am
Jul 29, 2011
There is the Fourth Choice – ISRAEL WINS – for they are not alone!
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Rami
11:55 pm
Jul 28, 2011
s.e.w.
Kingston, ON does not know what he is talking about. Not only did Nasser block the Gulf of Akaba for all ships to Eilat including oil tankers. He also send home the UN troops along the Sinai borders. Both acts of war and Israel waited weeks before they gave the first blow to Egypt.
Syria was shelling Israeli villages and workers in the field from their bunkers on the Golan. I was one of the soldiers taking the Golan and we took a Syrian General prisoner and found maps in his bunker showing the Egptian, Jordanian and Syrian armies infiltrating Israel and cutting it in 5 pieces inorder to cut of paralize all logistic movements.
Israel bagged King Hussein not to participate in this war, but he also started the war from Judea and Samaria. As for the history of Palestine, just look at Wikipedia and see how distorted the Palestinian thruth is.
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gloria diamond
12:19 am
Jul 29, 2011
THE jEW HATING UN SHOULD MOVE TO THE GAZA STRIP OR THE WEST BANK
OF ISRAEL [OR FRANCE]
NY HAS TOO MANY JEWS
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Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Tells the Truth About the “Occupied Territories” «ScrollPost.com
12:21 am
Jul 29, 2011
[...] with that ground rule, our Comment section is open to you.Incidentally, as you might expect, the Palestinian Authority is apopletic over this video. In their view when the Israeli government presents the truth, it amounts to a rejection of the [...]
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Tommy
1:04 am
Jul 29, 2011
Sure, any liar is upset with the truth.
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Dr.E.S.Lombard
3:17 am
Jul 29, 2011
My computer is not giving me the oral message. I hope in the matter of truth telling that Israel will get around to speaking of the”population exchange”, the roughly 750,000 “Palestinian refugees” of 1948-67 and the 830,000 Mizrahi 1948-67 refugee Jews from eleven Muslim countries. The injustice done the Mizrahim was far greater than anything suffered by the “Palestinians.” There has been no UNRWA for the Mizrahis and so far no claims for restitution. I do hope that someday the “Palestinians” will sue the Arab League for placing them in those soul wrenching, humiliating camps.
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faye
3:22 am
Jul 29, 2011
I am so proud of the Israeli government for finally fighting Media bias using the Media!!!! Keep up the good work.
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Brent Pudsey
4:15 am
Jul 29, 2011
Excellent historical and legal analysis with references to international agreements and bodies such as the United Nations. It clearly explains Israel’s view and claim to land in peace.
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Pamela M
4:49 am
Jul 29, 2011
The Facts – Love it, Great Job! I hope this gets wide spread attention!!!
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Bruce H.
5:53 am
Jul 29, 2011
I trust Israel FAR MORE than ANY Muslim state. Israel is/was built on God’s Word. Muslimism is based on a pack of lies.
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