It’s
not often that I feel a surge of patriotic pride! In fact truth to tell, I’ve never done so
before. It’s something to do with that
phrase in the Communist Manifesto about workers of the world uniting and have
nothing to lose except their chains. Or
in Dr Samuel Johnson’s immortal phrase, ‘patriotism
is the last refuge of the scoundrel.’
not often that I feel a surge of patriotic pride! In fact truth to tell, I’ve never done so
before. It’s something to do with that
phrase in the Communist Manifesto about workers of the world uniting and have
nothing to lose except their chains. Or
in Dr Samuel Johnson’s immortal phrase, ‘patriotism
is the last refuge of the scoundrel.’
However when I read this I felt a surge of pride inour achievements, minimal though they are, to date. The Knesset The Sub-Committee for Israel-World Jewish Community
Relations (they issue orders to Jewish community leaders outside Israel and
generally police the communities for any sign of dissidence) has named the UK
the ‘Centre of Political Struggle against Israel.’ Quite what we’ve done to earn this accolade is difficult to say.
Despite the BBC’s wall to wall support for Israel –
you cannot even mention the words ‘free Palestine’
together for fear of implying that Palestine is not free(!), opinion in
Britain is over 4-1 against Israel. Just
16% view it favourably and a whopping 68% have negative views. Of course there is no trope too racist for
the BBC not to adopt it when it comes to Palestinians. The territories are, as Israel’s Goebbels
Mark Regev repeats ‘disputed’. Maybe in
future the BBC will refer to the ‘disputed’ Falklands/Mavinas islands or the ‘disputed’
Gibraltar? Or maybe it’s only when the
powerful dispute something that it is an issue?
Or maybe ‘Free Tibet’ is not outlawed as the Chinese would certainly
dispute it?
you cannot even mention the words ‘free Palestine’
together for fear of implying that Palestine is not free(!), opinion in
Britain is over 4-1 against Israel. Just
16% view it favourably and a whopping 68% have negative views. Of course there is no trope too racist for
the BBC not to adopt it when it comes to Palestinians. The territories are, as Israel’s Goebbels
Mark Regev repeats ‘disputed’. Maybe in
future the BBC will refer to the ‘disputed’ Falklands/Mavinas islands or the ‘disputed’
Gibraltar? Or maybe it’s only when the
powerful dispute something that it is an issue?
Or maybe ‘Free Tibet’ is not outlawed as the Chinese would certainly
dispute it?
But however much our ruling class and their
institutions, which of course the BBC is, try to swamp us with lies and
half-truths, reality has a nasty habit of getting in the way.
institutions, which of course the BBC is, try to swamp us with lies and
half-truths, reality has a nasty habit of getting in the way.
Tony Greenstein
Wednesday,
16 May 2012 13:11 Alternative Information Center (AIC)
16 May 2012 13:11 Alternative Information Center (AIC)
Calling
Britain “the European and even world centre of the political struggle against
Israel”, the Knesset Sub-Committee for Israel-World Jewish Community Relations
has scheduled a discussion on “the challenges standing before the Jewish and
pro-Israeli community in Britain, and the range of possible responses to these
challenges”.
Britain “the European and even world centre of the political struggle against
Israel”, the Knesset Sub-Committee for Israel-World Jewish Community Relations
has scheduled a discussion on “the challenges standing before the Jewish and
pro-Israeli community in Britain, and the range of possible responses to these
challenges”.
The
discussion was initiated by the Chairperson of the Sub-committee, MK Einat Wilf
of the Atzmaut party of Defence Minister Ehud Barak.
discussion was initiated by the Chairperson of the Sub-committee, MK Einat Wilf
of the Atzmaut party of Defence Minister Ehud Barak.
Initiation
of this discussion is a clear victory of the Palestinian-led,
global movement for the boycott, divestment and sanctions of Israel; MK
Wilf cited the recent call
to boycott the Israeli Habima’s Hebrew-language performance of The
Merchant of Venice at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre on 28-29 May 2012.
of this discussion is a clear victory of the Palestinian-led,
global movement for the boycott, divestment and sanctions of Israel; MK
Wilf cited the recent call
to boycott the Israeli Habima’s Hebrew-language performance of The
Merchant of Venice at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre on 28-29 May 2012.
No fewer than 20 senior Israeli
government ministries and NGOs will take part in this discussion, which will
further include leaders of the Jewish community in the UK. Government offices
to be represented include the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Prime Minister’s
Office, the Ministry of Public Diplomacy and Diaspora Affairs and the Ministry
of Immigrant Absorption while semi-governmental bodies and NGOs represented
include the Jewish National Fund, the World Zionist Organisation and the Shalom
Hartman Institute.
government ministries and NGOs will take part in this discussion, which will
further include leaders of the Jewish community in the UK. Government offices
to be represented include the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Prime Minister’s
Office, the Ministry of Public Diplomacy and Diaspora Affairs and the Ministry
of Immigrant Absorption while semi-governmental bodies and NGOs represented
include the Jewish National Fund, the World Zionist Organisation and the Shalom
Hartman Institute.
A date for the sub-committee
discussion has not yet been made public.
discussion has not yet been made public.
BBC Poll: Israel ranked third most
negatively-viewed country in the world (JPost)
negatively-viewed country in the world (JPost)
Great
going, “Brand Israel” campaign! Is this the best that hundreds
of millions of propaganda dollars can buy? Bullying and intimidation don’t seem
to be working either. Deep down, the world is sick and tired of Israel’s
occupation, colonization and apartheid. Looking more like 1980s South Africa
everyday.
going, “Brand Israel” campaign! Is this the best that hundreds
of millions of propaganda dollars can buy? Bullying and intimidation don’t seem
to be working either. Deep down, the world is sick and tired of Israel’s
occupation, colonization and apartheid. Looking more like 1980s South Africa
everyday.
Crucially,
the table shows how undemocratic Western governments are when it comes
to listening to their publics in regard to Israel. On average, two thirds of
people in Britain, Germany, France, Spain, Australia and Canada view Israel in
“mainly negative” light, while their governments bend over backwards
to boost military, economic, academic and cultural ties with the apartheid
state. Not sustainable, looks to me.
the table shows how undemocratic Western governments are when it comes
to listening to their publics in regard to Israel. On average, two thirds of
people in Britain, Germany, France, Spain, Australia and Canada view Israel in
“mainly negative” light, while their governments bend over backwards
to boost military, economic, academic and cultural ties with the apartheid
state. Not sustainable, looks to me.
Omar
Poll:
Israel viewed negatively around the world
Israel viewed negatively around the world
By JPOST.COM STAFF
17/05/2012
 |
|
| Views of Israel’s Influence by Country 2012 |
BBC
survey measures public opinion on 22 countries, places Israel in company of
North Korea, ahead of only Iran, Pakistan.
survey measures public opinion on 22 countries, places Israel in company of
North Korea, ahead of only Iran, Pakistan.
Israel
retained its position as one of the world’s most negatively-viewed countries,
according to BBC’s annual poll published Wednesday night.
retained its position as one of the world’s most negatively-viewed countries,
according to BBC’s annual poll published Wednesday night.
With 50
percent of respondents ranking Israel negatively, Israel keeps company with
North Korea, and places ahead of only Iran (55% negative) and Pakistan (51%
negative).
percent of respondents ranking Israel negatively, Israel keeps company with
North Korea, and places ahead of only Iran (55% negative) and Pakistan (51%
negative).
The 2012 Country Ratings Poll was conducted among 24,090
people worldwide, and asked respondents to rate whether the influence of 22
countries was “mostly positive” or “mostly negative.”
people worldwide, and asked respondents to rate whether the influence of 22
countries was “mostly positive” or “mostly negative.”
Evaluations of the Jewish state, already largely
unfavorable in 2011, have worsened in 2012. Out of the 22 countries polled, the
majority in 17 of them view Israel negatively, while only three (the US,
Nigeria and Kenya) view Israel positively. In Kenya, negative ratings of Israel
fell by 10 points to 31%, while the country experienced an even larger increase
in positive ratings of Israel, rising 16 points to 45%.
unfavorable in 2011, have worsened in 2012. Out of the 22 countries polled, the
majority in 17 of them view Israel negatively, while only three (the US,
Nigeria and Kenya) view Israel positively. In Kenya, negative ratings of Israel
fell by 10 points to 31%, while the country experienced an even larger increase
in positive ratings of Israel, rising 16 points to 45%.
Negative perceptions of Israel in EU countries have
continue to rise, reaching 74% in Spain (up 8%), 65% in France (up 9%), while
in Germany and Britain the negative views remain high but stable (69% and 68%
respectively). In other Anglo countries, perceptions of Israel are worsening,
including in Australia (65%), and Canada (59%).
continue to rise, reaching 74% in Spain (up 8%), 65% in France (up 9%), while
in Germany and Britain the negative views remain high but stable (69% and 68%
respectively). In other Anglo countries, perceptions of Israel are worsening,
including in Australia (65%), and Canada (59%).
Among Muslim countries, perceptions of Israel have
continued to deteriorate. Of particular concern for Israel is the country
sitting on its southern neighbor, Egypt, where 85% of the population views
Israel negatively, up 7% since 2011.
continued to deteriorate. Of particular concern for Israel is the country
sitting on its southern neighbor, Egypt, where 85% of the population views
Israel negatively, up 7% since 2011.
In Asian countries, public opinion on Israel is growing
increasingly antagonistic. In China, just 23% of those surveyed view Israel
positively compared with 45% negatively. In India, overall opinion has shifter
from being divided in 2011 to leaning negatively. In South Korea, negative
views of Israel rose a full 15% (to 69%), while positive views decreased 11%
(to 20%)
increasingly antagonistic. In China, just 23% of those surveyed view Israel
positively compared with 45% negatively. In India, overall opinion has shifter
from being divided in 2011 to leaning negatively. In South Korea, negative
views of Israel rose a full 15% (to 69%), while positive views decreased 11%
(to 20%)
The saving grace for Israel is United States, where the
proportion of people viewing Israel negatively has decreased six points to 35%
since 2011. This statistic marks the most positive views on Israel expressed in
the US since tracking began in 2005.
proportion of people viewing Israel negatively has decreased six points to 35%
since 2011. This statistic marks the most positive views on Israel expressed in
the US since tracking began in 2005.
People viewing Israel negatively around the world cite
the Jewish state’s foreign policy as the main factor influencing their
perception, while those who view Israel positively cite culture and Jewish
traditions.
the Jewish state’s foreign policy as the main factor influencing their
perception, while those who view Israel positively cite culture and Jewish
traditions.
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