An article by one of the organizers of Israel Apartheid Week in Toronto University sheds light on the coordinated and broad attack being waged against Israel, and reflects one of the strategies behind the movement’s growth – forming wide alliances with progressive organizations by framing the Palestinian struggle in the context of anti-racist and anti-colonialist movements.
Writing in Electronic Intifada, Ilaria Giglioli writes Apartheid Week in Canada “has worked to build solidarity with First Nations communities, and is endorsed by a broad base of progressive organizations.” This focus is also reflected in the themes tackled during the week itself. For example, the 2010 IAW Toronto program includes a night focusing on the environmental costs of apartheid, another on queer solidarity activism in the anti-apartheid movement, and one on “Fighting Racism, Fighting Apartheid.”
Giglioli’s article helps explain how delegitimizers of Israel – who represent a relatively marginal political and societal force in Europe and North America – have been able to mobilize and engage many others groups within the mainstream.
This is done through ‘branding’ Israel as a pariah and apartheid state and making pro-Palestinian activity ‘trendy’ by associating it with other liberal goals. In addition, delegitimizers aim to ‘blur’ the line between criticism of specific Israeli policies on the one hand, and undermining its political legitimacy on the other. This blurring allows many groups to stand together, even when they disagree on the political solution to the conflict.
Related Links
Apartheid Week: Delegitimization not Criticism
General
Amit Granek
Yuval Holtzmann
Ronit Gudes
Gidi Grinstein
Gaddy Weissman
Calev Ben Dor
Yossi Horesh
Dana Preisler
Omri Dagan
Eran Shayshon
Liran Bainvol
Merav Pick
Noa Ecker
Netaly Ophir
Yariv Mann
Reut Institute
Omri Zegen
Yael Weisz
Toni Hasson
Talia Gorodess
Gil Murciano
Anat Horowitz
Abed Assli
Daphna Kaufman
Shay Gurion
Elad Leshem
Aliza Petrack
Jessica Brandt
Yael Brendel
Martin Ben Moreh
yotamhacohen
It is a mistake to use the term ‘liberal goals’ in this context. The more correct designation is Far Left. If the goal is to separate the well meaning ‘soft’ pro-Palestinian sympathizers from the ‘hard’ delegitimizers, then using the term liberal denigrates all of those who are not right wing and refuse to see support of Israel as a right wing phenomenon.
Thanks for the comment – i completely agree that Israel needs to creare a discourse for itself that attracts those on both the center left and center right.
what i meant by ‘liberal goals’ is a strategy in which the delegitimizers try to connect the Palestinian issue more ‘lefty’ issues like protecting the environment, supporting gay rights etc…
by allying with groups who promote these issues, the Palestinian issue is framed as being trendy and liberal.
Calev