Historian Ilan Pappe’s introduction of fellow Israeli journalist Gideon Levy as “a rare voice in the moral wilderness of Israeli Jewish society” was itself prophetic about Israel’s present apartheid reality. For in twenty minutes, Levy spelled out how the recent formation of a Netanyahu coalition government has dispelled any remaining illusions about Israel’s de-occupation intentions. Also what Pappe prefigured: Israel society no longer has the political ability to change, nor to respond to Palestinians’ aspirations.
Gideon Levy: Repeating his conversion history from ‘good boy Tel Aviv’ to long-standing OPT journalist of record and thoughtful critic of Israel, Levy began by acknowledging pathfinder historian Pappe. Outlining his own post-election verdict on a society so deeply in denial there’s now no chance of change from within, Levy listed reasons: the occupation is so well hidden, life and the economy is so good for Israelis, the further collapse of liberal influence within any party. He was optimistic, however, because of a parallel collapse of illusions about government intentions and non-intentions.
Post-1967, justifications for the continuing occupation, colonisation and inaction – the two-state solution and waiting for the right Palestinian partner – are now exposed. The Israeli state had worked deliberately to create an irreversible Jewish settler state as a fait accompli. With more than 700, 000 settlers now on the West Bank, the two-state game is now over.
After 55 years the occupation that has come to define Israel is also proof of “the big lie”. How can a country that runs one of the most brutal tyrannies in the world, asked Levy, claim democracy when half the population within the country lacks basic civil rights? Despite rejecting the word ‘apartheid’, Israel continues to pass legislation that strengthens such systemic supremacy.
Also, despite populations of 6.5 to seven million in both communities, Israel is the only state in the world with no national borders. While the old border, the Green Line, has been totally erased for Jews, Levy argued that for Palestinians their Green Line has become a Red Line. The entire OPT is now controlled by Israel, even Gaza. As examples of an already entrenched ‘one-state solution’, Levy cited police authority to stop any driver – even within zones of limited self-rule, such as the West Bank. A Palestinian chef, for example, has been unable even to meet his Gaza mother for twenty years. What is this if not one state total control?
Although individual rights may exist, national rights for Palestinians do not. For this election made it clear both left and right prefer extreme right-wing racists to those seeking change. Despite 140 Palestinian victims this year, including 34 children [See below for comparative figures for last four years] self-regarding progressives – both Right and Left – declared they have more important things to do than to deal with the occupation..
In a ‘darkest hour before the dawn’ summary, Levy listed increases in religious extremism, nationalism, Jewish immigrants, and Jewish supremacy thinking. Yet also the sunlight of a final end to all bluffs and illusions. Yes, occupation statistics can get worse, but he appealed to Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) as now the only way to change entrenched, self-satisfied mind-sets.
Ilan Pappe: Introducing Q&A, Professor Ilan Pappe also expressed hope for a new clarity worldwide, that Israel will no longer be exempt from international condemnation.
Panelist Miyuki Kinjo: Although fellow discussant Afro-Middle East Centre director Na’eem Jennah was unable to attend (stranded, internet-less, in a delayed airliner on a Munich tarmac!), research fellow at Japan’s Ritsumikan University’s Miyuki Kinjo contributed by outlining Korean-Japanese parallels with Palestinian struggles.
Miyuki Kinjo: Asked to give an East Asian perspective to West Asian/Middle East social justice quests, Miyuki cited the importance of Palestinian collective memory in her research on Korean immigrants to Japan. After the 1910-1945 occupation of her grandfather’s country, Japan revoked the citizenship of 500, 000 of the 600, 000 Koreans who stayed on in Japan. Linking these two groups “from one fringe of Asia to the other” Miyuki described them both as “physically present but politically absent”: discrimination and hate crimes against both ethnicities continue still. Modern Japan is still in denial about the 1923 massacre of 10, 000 Koreans – and WWII use of comfort women’ or sex slaves. While former Japan PM Shinto Abbe initiated this indenialism, no comprehensive action has yet been taken to redress it. Kinjo was encouraged, she said, by Levy’s outspoken journalism within Israel. Kinjo also saw the need for connections (‘intersectionalities’) to be made between other oppressed groups such as Afro-Americans and Korean-Japanese. Given this East Asian Nakba, she asked whether other possible parallels and solutions could be suggested by Levy and Pappe. She concluded with an appeal for Levy and Pappe to visit Japan to motivate a new generation of activists to better ways of organising.
Gideon Levy: The model for such struggles is still South Africa under their apartheid. Sanctions and boycotts were brought to bear both from outside and within. Differences: large numbers of white South Africans stood shoulder to shoulder with Black freedom fighters, including SA Jews and a great leader. But even lacking a Mandela, change can still happen – despite the previous 10 days displaying how weak and lost the international community is. Within Israel, young people are forced away from criticism by political vacuums or the anti-Semitic slur. Also, in many EU countries criticism of Israel is illegal under similar confusions. Some years ago supporters were unable to find a talk venue in whole of Berlin because of this. Hope for change, as always, lies with civil society. In EU, the US, but also in Asia in an awakened Malaysia and Indonesia.
Q&A answers:
Aquip Ra (Pakistan) asked if Israeli Jewish society is becoming more self-critical as many younger Jews outside Israel are becoming. Levy replied the recent football World Cup in Qatar had certainly renewed Palestinian hope as it showed Israeli sports journalists being often spurned when they identified their nationality. Although Israelis ‘self-content’ and ‘best-in-the-world at everything’ blindness is difficult to shake, people all around the world saw these rejections. Israelis too.
But no, in Levy’s opinion Israelis were definitely not becoming more political in seeking change.
Recalling his own “blind eyes” re Palestinian history and ethnic cleansing, opened by Ilan Pappe amongst others, Gideon disclosed that most Israelis never meet Palestinians – unless they are construction/restaurant workers and the like. Most are totally convinced theirs is the most moral army, you can never trust an Arab, and that all Arabs want to do is stab and kill you.
Leila Passah asked how Gideon was able to speak out so strongly without being banned by Israel’s govt? And whether he considered BDS had been effective if not what will end occupation? International pressure is it working?]
Gideon replied he enjoyed journalistic freedom because the paper he worked for, Hareetz, was “the only independent and open-minded paper in Israel”. While he was a privileged Jew in this way, and free to write what he liked, proposals to make illegal photographing of soldiers on West Bank, or criticism of IDF, this may cease under a new government. He couldn’t see an end to the occupation at present as Israel had vibrant economy fuelled in large part by arms trade success. Words condemning Israel “are getting us nowhere”. For him BDS was “the only game in town” in terms of practical action but at present insufficient to change anything.
Journalist Imtiaz Muqbil (Bangkok) queried how India’s pro-Israel pivot on the basis of “shared values” and consequent Israeli foothold there would play out in Asia and geopolitically. Identifying India as Israel’s biggest client for weaponry, Levy said it was unlikely to criticise Israel. As supporters of Israeli supremacy, no different than many right wing governments at present. Likewise the Abrahamic Accords “had made change from the Arab world difficult. For sanctions to work, from whichever quarter, they will have to reach a level where Israelis say to themselves “Are we willing to pay this price for continuing occupation?”
Marwan Durzi asked what both Gideon and Ilan thought of the often expressed US views that sanctions will make extremist more powerful and extremist. And whether Palestinians should consider popular peaceful resistance or a military one.
Gideon replied that extremism was already a fact of life under occupation. And as to what Palestinians themselves could do, everything from hijacking to violent and non-violent resistance had been tried. No progress has been made in the face of continuing legal and economic terror, and the failure of appeals to internal and international law. He repeated a common Israeli dream that Palestinians would get so tired that they will just one day cross the river to the east and leave the land to Israel. And while it was easy to say violence gets nowhere, on the other hand Israel understands only force.
Mohuddin Khan asked given that the US and UK are currently major supporters and sponsors of the apartheid Zionist state what can be done to influence support and solidarity. Levy replied younger people, especially on US campuses, are beginning to raise their voices, with civil society momentum building. Certainly more than the EU. However, the US present administration is still firmly pro-Israel.
Steve Liddle (New Zealand) instanced Ukraine PM’s present 10-point peace plan and asked whether the speakers supported something similar for Israel-Palestine – or an International Conference as promoted earlier this year by Abbas?
Levy replied he was tired of peace plans and was adamant promoting them is just a way of prolonging the occupation. As perhaps the only community in the world without citizenship rights, Palestinians’ goal should be to seek some rights, equal justice, without conditions. As perhaps the only communities without any rights maybe these need now to be imposed by the international community.
Miyuki Kinjo: Shinto Abbe strengthened cooperation agreements with Israel. Japan’s present social movement, too, is busy with other matters, focusing on their own suffering. If this could be linked to others’, BDS could be more effective. But please, come to Japan!
Ilan Pappe: Palestinians should focus on vision for the future rather than falling for traps “what should peace look like?” Focus on dismantling and decolonisation rather than cul-de-sac discussions re one or two-state solution.
No, BDS will not make present situation more or less extreme, so yes, offers some hope.
Ilan Pappe: Concluding summary
If Palestinians are to succeed in liberation struggle , no liberal Zionists or ‘peace camp’ within Israel can be relied on. Therefore, we all must support BDS
The world does not only include the West – or EU or US – but also Latin America, Asia, Africa, and entire Muslim world.
With 1.3 billion adherents, much more is expected of the Muslim World – that is, if it is to become an antidote rather than complicit in ‘normalisations’.
Agreed with GL – Palestinians will suffer more in near future yet still optimistic because of South Africa example. Also, civil societies worldwide include Jewish and other groups currently not reached by MSM or upper echelons of decision-making.
We are in midst of a process that has not matured yet – but one that certainly needs greater regional and Islamic interventions.
