Sunday, November 05, 2006

Harun Yahya video - not really the philosophy of Zionism and Israel

Mohamed Maher pointed me to a film which I found intriguing. I feel that contrary to its title, this film demonstrates a total misunderstanding of the philosophy of Zionism and Israel. I wonder how this film is understood by Arabs.

Zionists are portrayed here as murderers with a racist agenda. The film explains that "devout Jews oppose Zionism", and are against Israeli violence. I was very glad the film showed pictures of Israelis opposing Israeli violence (e.g., demonstrating against the Sabra and Shatilla massacres). I'm sorry the filmmaker forgot(?) to mention that these people are also Zionists.

There are many truths in this video, but there are also many many omissions, and even some falsehoods. Mohamed - I wish you could have heard the Israeli Zionist crowd cheering as Zionist writer David Grossman, in his speech tonight, called on our Prime Minister to acknowledge Palestinian suffering. David Grossman lost his son in the recent Lebanon war. He gave his speech during a remembrance to Prime Minister Yizhak Rabin. Rabin was murdered by a Jewish right wing extremist. Indeed - there are Israeli Zionists who are criminals and brutal murderers. But things are not so black and white as the film suggests. Not all Zionists are racist fanatics. In fact, the vast majority of us are not.

I was surprised to hear the opinion in this film that suicide bombings are against the sayings of the Qur'an. As far as I know, these brutal killings of Israelis are carried out mostly by devout Islamic factions. (@Mohamed - I'd really like to hear your opinion about this).

I found the film's call for peace at the end especially surprising, because most of the film seemed to me like propaganda against Israel. The film puts a lot of emphasis on Israeli violence, but chooses to explain this violence as rooted in some social Darwinist philosophies which I have never heard of, rather than the vicious cycle of violence and counter-violence which we all witness.

I see this film as another example of each side viewing itself as "the good guys", without even a minimal sympathy towards the feelings of the other side, and without acknowledging its own responsibility for much of the violence.


@Mohamed, I wonder how you feel about this film?

-I.B.

4 comments:

Israeli Blogger said...

Hi Mohamed,

> well, i want u to know that this
> film, is a mirror for what all
> the arabs feel about zionism !!

Yes - I could very much feel this when I read the comments posted on YouTube for this film. (I found it at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XiGgDtsKvog&feature=PlayList&p=06EC83AC87410C24&index=13)

This explains so much of the violence and hatered!

> we believe that they are some
> evil guys that all they want is
> to increase the land of israel
> (even if they killed all
> the arabs)

There are many factions of Zionism. I think that a very small minority of extreme right wing settlers - who call themselves Zionists - indeed come close to what you describe.

But as an overall description of Zionism: this is SSSSSOOOOOOO WRONG!


> it asks for the hate of others

Well - now I understand why all of you were so surprized by my postings :-)

Zionism doesn't ask for the hatred of anyone. What Zionism asks is that the Jewish people have a country of their own - a country which can protect them from persecution.





I certainly heard of the Bayt Hanoon tragedy. I am very sorry this happened.

I can't blame any Arab for being outraged at this - because I believe I felt the same way 4 years ago when 30 Israelis were murdered in the Park Hotel bombing by Hamas. (see the Wikipedia article about the Passover Massacre). I remember being so outraged when I heard of this - that I cheered Israel's severe retaliation operation. I can only imagine that many many Arabs will be happy to see innocent Israelis being murdered in retaliation to Bayt Hanoon.

It is this cycle of vengence that creates the mutual hatred. Not the philosophy of Zionism.

Israeli Blogger said...

@Mohamed Maher said:

> can u just explain to me ,
> how would u think that you want
> to make a country on other
> people's land , and you don't want
> to kill them ... do you think that
> you will say to them "go away" and
> they will go !!!

Mohamed - are your words directed at me personally? I did not steal anybody's land. I was born here. My parents were born here. I did not create Israel: the country already existed when I was born. I live here. It is my home. How do you think I feel when you ask me to evacuate my home? To paraphrase your own words: do you think that you will say to me "go away" and I will go ???

I understand your anger - but please try to put yourself in my shoes. How would you feel if you were in my place?

Palestinian said...

Hi all , am from Palestine ,and I hope you accept me to join you with this conversation

I think the only solution for the conflicts between Palestinians and Israeli is peace
We are the only country till now still occupied ,and we know as Palestinians that’s many people from Israeli seeking for peace and we accept peace .

I believe that with dialogue between two parts and others from the world can help us .

What I see in this blog people still talking about history ,and forgot that’s civilians get kill every day .

I am as Palestinian . I looking for peace with Israelis and live as neighbors , we have the right to live and feel as human beings ,and I think the most work should be from Israelis people who want peace

Michael L said...

To Palestinian: I applaud your emphasis on stopping the killing and finding solutions, rather than debating historic wrongs. If only more people in our troubled land shared your pragmatic and humanistic approach.

Micky Latowicki, Israeli citizen.
Jerusalem