Seeing Through the Fog: Israel and Alleged Millitaty Abuses

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I once sat in on a presentation given by "Combatants for Peace" called "Breaking the Silence." It is an interesting group and an interesting study in the polarization over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Their message is clear. ATROCITIES ARE NOT THE NORM - IN FACT THEY ARE THE RARE EXCEPTION TO THE RULE.

They are also clear about one other thing. Israeli soldiers can be young, inexperienced, stupid, and sometimes very racist. At times, because of the socialization that happens to many growing up in Israel, they are insensitive to the humanity of the Palestinians they interact with. This leads to mistreatment and is a recipe for misunderstanding, needless death, and an overall horrible situation. Now I happen to know this is true because of the work I have done in Israel, the military people I know who acknowledge this, and I know of the programs the army has put in place to address it. So its true. But the message of the group is still clear. Let's end the situation that makes it all happen. Let's get on with a two state solution, get us out of the West Bank, and stop this cycle of violence and resentment.

That is their message. Yet, for people on the far right - the hard line pro Israel side - their title is threatening because it seems to admit that there are secret atrocities going on. For the far left, they are adopted as the "proof in the pudding" that atrocities do happen and that even Israeli's think Israel is evil.

The interesting paradox is that their message is centrist but ends up spurring intense hostility between the polarized sides - as they attack each other with the message THEY THINK the group represents.

It is a real problem. In the presentation I sat in on, right after the speaker was done saying that atrocities are rare, and not the point of the presentation, a polite elderly woman began her question with "So given all these atrocities that are going on ...." I almost lost it.

What is clear is that no one is listening. No one is looking at the facts. No one is looking deeper into reports. We have our points of view and then just pontificate until we are blue in the face. As I like to say - we shout our monologues at each other instead of having any real dialogue. And what this means for all those confused folks in the middle is that they either get sucked in by one side's distortions, or they just tune out and want nothing more to do with the issue.

We can do better.

Here is an example.

Here is an article from the globe from today.

Israel disputing accounts of military abuses in Gaza
http://www.boston.com/news/world/middleeast/articles/2009/03/28/israel_disputing_accounts_of_military_abuses_in_gaza_1238215097/

To summarize the article. it brings up many points from my previous post. It reminds people that woman have been just as involved in the practices of wearing bomb laden vests, in running into soldiers with hand grenades, and carrying out all sorts of terrorist missions. It also speaks about the common use of no-go zones and that well, they are called that for a reason - you don't go there unless you want to get shot. Pretty clear.

But what it also talks about is the same message as "Combatants for Peace."
ATROCITIES ARE NOT THE NORM AND ANY GROUP THAT TRIES TO STATE OTHERWISE IS FULL OF IT.

It even reveals that the way these stories come to light is less through proof and eyewitness accounts and often more about urban legend and false accounts.

Now let me be clear - this does not negate the real tragedies and pain that do occur. But that is no reason to shy away from these VERY REAL ATTEMPTS TO DISTORT THE TRUTH AND DEMONIZE ISRAEL.

In case my readers are unaware - or just as a reference for others - here are two links to the al-Dura hoax exposed years ago - yet still used as a rallying cry against Israel.

Palestinian boy’s death staged
Network accused of manipulating video to show Israel using excessive force
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21091254/
Second Draft - Journalism is the First Draft of History
http://www.seconddraft.org/

But to be fair in regard to the globe article, Israelis really don't talk enough about the troubles they have with their soldiers not being experienced enough, tolerant enough, or respectful enough. And even with that, I need to make clear that I have never been a soldier - but know that my saying that may sound hollow. It is the truth, as admitted by soldiers themselves, but that still does not account for the difficulties presented to these young boys on a daily, hourly and minute by minute basis. If you study any military or police sociological study - situations create behavior much more than behavior creates the situation.

A quick story to close:

A story from an Israeli colleague from One Voice - abridged

At a checkpoint - it was hot, people were upset (as is the norm), the line was long.
There was a misunderstanding over the proper paperwork help by a Palestinian Family.
The Father/Husband, clearly frustrated and upset in general with Israeli soldiers, put his hands on a soldier and grabbed him. That is enough to get you shot - as it would in many places around the world.

As my friend explains it. He was the commander on the scene with his attention pulled in a million directions. He just happened to see this happen very quickly and even though, as he tells it, it seemed like a movie frozen in time, he acted as quickly as he could to give the order to put their guns down and stop. Had he not been looking in the right place, at the right time, this Palestinian man would have been dead. And the soldiers would not have been malicious or wrong. They would have been defending their comrade, and following proper orders.

In this situation, my friend, was not a monster. In fact he was the exact opposite. He was a hero. His fellow soldiers were not monsters, they were doing their job. But the situation itself could have just as easily have had this man shot - and another reason would be created to hate Israelis.

And the final gem of the story of course is not that anyone realized my friend was a hero and prevented a death. He was just one of the bastard Israeli soldiers that not only make life miserable for Palestinians but also have the nerve to hold them at gunpoint.

Be careful what you read. Be critical of what you hear. Take every side into consideration before laying blame.