In the context of the debate on freedom of debate, there is a proverbial “elephant in the room” that many are reluctant to explicitly name. Recent measures such as revoking visas, detaining students and academics, suppressing protests, restricting academic freedom and pressing universities to censor professors and curricula that raise serious Conerns on civil freedoms and legal standards. This broad assault on democracy interprets a resurgence of the issues and methods of the colonial state of the settlers, exemplified today by Israel and promoted by its global allies.
As historian Tony Judt pointed out, Israel’s political structure represents anachronism. Even before the Unilateral Declaration of Independence by the Zionist Leadership in May 1948, the militias of the settlers under their command had initiated actions aimed at the local civilian population, including displacement and disposure. Since then, millions of Palestinian refugees have languor in camps in neighboring countries or under Israeli military occupation in the West Bank and Gaza. Israel’s statement of his “right to exist” has been based on coercive and violent actions against the occupied Palestinian population. This hash, predictable, generated non -violent and armed resistance. Although Israel’s case certainly has some unique characteristics, it is essential to root in the historical model of the colonial colonialism, a political framework that once increased by the Western powers but widely repudiated in the second half of the 20th century.
A parallel case arose in Africa when the white settlers in Rhodesia issued their own unilateral independence statement in 1965. For Thens, however, the colonialism of the settlers had been widely delegated. The international community condemned the actions of Rhodesia and the sanctions imposed. Israel Initial joined the sanctions, but then sell weapons to Rhodesia, which would allow him to produce his own version of the Uzi machine gun and even supply helicopters through apartheid South Africa. International pressure marked the end of the Government of White Minorities in Rhodesia in 1979.
This change was driven less by moral considerations and more by the strategic imperatives of the cold war. The Soviet Union actively supported decolonization efforts, offering material and political assistance to release movements. Despite the efforts of colonial powers to retain control through violent repression, they finally failed. Concerned about Soviet influence in Africa, the United States gradually withdrew the support of its traditional allies, including Britain, France, Portugal and later, Apartheid South Africa, contributing to the success of Brader of political decolonization.
Zionism, the nationalist ethno ideology of settlements that support the Israeli State, was initially saved. However, in 1975, the United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution 3379, stating that “Zionism is a form of racies and racial discrimination.” The resolution aligned with the 1963 statement on the elimination of all forms of racial discrimination and reflected the influence of socialist and recently decolonized states. Sponsored by 25 nations, including the Soviet Union, the resolution approved with 72 votes in favor and 35 against, in much of the Western countries. In 1991, shortly before the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the General Assembly repealed the resolution, a consequence of the change towards a global order dominated by the United States often referring to the “unipolar moment.”
The war against Gaza crystallizes the image of Israel
Yakov M. Rabkin
The modern Israel attracts much attention to analysts and the public, but our ability to understand it is affected by ideology, prejudices and myth. However, the fundamental difficulty lies in the usual association of the State in Western Asia with the Jews. Should we see those who inhabit and the governor Israel as Jews or have become something else, namely Israelis?
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This geopolitical transformation significantly benefited Israel, who has since enjoyed robust and largely unconditional support from the United States, Germany and several other Western powers. However, geopolitical realignment alone does not take into account the exceptional status of Israel. An additional crucial factor has been the sustained effort of the actors of the Israeli and non -state state to equate the criticism of Israel and Zionism with anti -Semitism. This strategy of controlling political discourse has helped Israel discredit dissent and divert scrutiny, particularly following military actions against the Palestinians. Several academics, Israeli journalists and politicians have warned for a long time that the country is exhibiting increasingly fascist trends.
These trends intensified after the attack led by Hamas against southern Israel in October 2023. In its sequelae, Israeli society, dehumanizing for a long time the Palestinians, embarked on the military campaign in Gaza, an operation that numbers that numbers, politician, politician, non -nose, nose. The expressions of empathy towards the Palestinian civilians, including children, have been denounced by Israeli officials that reflect the openly racist feelings expressed by the Israeli public. Access to Gaza has been severely restricted to international journalists, while Palestinian reporters, together with doctors and humanitarian workers, have been specifically attacked and killed. To justify their actions, Israel disseminated terrible accusations regarding Hamas, which were informed without criticism by the main Western media before many of the statements were challenged or refuted by independent in Israel and in other places.
Althegh Religious and ideological narratives continues to justify Israeli policies for parts of Western audiences, criticism of the Zionist State continue to grow. Just in the United States, FDI’s actions in Gaza become public opinion against Israel. This makes Israel’s lobby work in overtime to counteract this tendency to contain a free debate over Gaza. Under the pressure of the lobby, several Western governments have gradually based on legal and police measures framed as efforts to combat anti -Semitism. These initiatives cannot distinguish between legitimate political and moral criticisms of Israel and the racial or religious preacher against the Jews. While many Jews, including Visible identifiable Haredim (ultra-orthodox), are at the forefront of pro-Palestinian activism, state authorities in Western countries have assumed the right to define, while support.
Israel’s influence has extended beyond foreign affairs, where support to that country often annuls national interest. It has constantly impacted the domestic spheres of Western nations.
Organizations such as Canary Mission, Betar and Project Esther, which act for the benefit of Israel, collect and disseminate personal data on pro-palestinian activists, critical academics and university curricula of “inappropriate”. These groups function as vigilantes of thought, providing information to government agencies and universities, which in turn impose sanctions ranging from expulsions from universities to revoke vishas, arrests and deportations.
Israel’s willing collaborators in the western government have come to censor thought. At one time, the information of the Visa of the United States Department of State included a warning against “illegal ideas”, a phrase that was then eliminated due to its incompatibility with constitutional protections under the first amendment. In practice, however, the visas have been revoked, individual detainees and, against the law, sent to more conservative jurisdictions where judges are likely to approve this type of repression. The campaign to suppress dissent persists and gathers the impulse. Despite the protests of Jewish and Israeli scholars, most of the most prestigious American universities are being attacked by an alleged tolerance to anti -Semitism in the courses they teach and manifestations that allow in their facilities.
Fascist measures are spreading from Israel to countries that generally consider liberal democracies.
Some interpret thesis developments as part of the broader efforts of the ruling classes, nowadays associated with the Trump administration, to manage the perceived national deterioration and socioconomic instability. The phrase “Make America Great Again” underlines recognition that the United States no longer has undisputed global supremacy. Beyond its dependence on millions of Christian and Jewish Zionists, Israel has taken advantage of the insecurity of the rulers to promote domestic repression under the pretext of combating anti -Semitism. Once this repression is normalized, it is likely to be expanded to suppress other forms of dissent, special as economic inequality and, consistently, an increase in political disturbances.
A fixed network of followers or Israel identifies and tracks pro-palestinian activists worldwide. Historical, the Zionists have long exhibited a bold posture and without apologies in the progress of their objectives in Palestine. Today, they openly parade to fined politicians for Israel’s lobby in the United States, France and other places. This undermines fundamental democratic principles, including civil liberties and the rule of law throughout the world. Israel has developed population methods to monitor politics and is exporting surveillance and knowledge technology to numerous countries. The repercussions of Israel’s actions are no longer limited to the Middle East. An established anachronistic colonialism or settlers, the Zionist State raises a global challenge not only for international stability, but also with democratic freedoms worldwide.
Anti -Semitism and Anti -Issue: A dangerous combination
Yakov M. Rabkin
Anti -Semitism is reaching the headlines. Israeli prime minister describes as an anti -Semitic the accusation that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, and even US students who ask for a high fire. In fact, what Israel is doing causes anti -Semitic acts against synagogues, Jewish schools and even individual Jews. Therefore, it is important to understand what anti -Semitism is, what it is not and how it can be distinguished from anti -rings.
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