Stop Palestinian PORN!

It's known "a lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes." However, in the world we're living in no one cares about truth and facts in the first place. People only care about stories, feelings, emotions, perceptions. You know, "narratives". This is the reason the Palestinian propaganda machine is so successful. However, much like other massive lies, the seemingly unstoppable colossus of Palestinian propaganda, stands on weak, brittle, hollow clay legs. An academic analysis of the endless parade of Palestinian moaning and whining reveals there are four such "legs", four major themes, on which everithing else rests. It is enough to shatter one for the entire structure to crumble, however knowing and seeing all can get you immunity from Palestinian lies for good.

This article will suggest a framework of recognising, understanding and dealing with the Palestinian propaganda machine, by exposing the four "legs" at the base of this colossus.

At the foundation we can always find four myths: the myth of Peoplehood, the myth of Occupation, the myth of Refugees and the myth of the Nakba.

Yes, you got it.

PORN.

Every Palestinian lie is inspired by Palestinian PORN.

Every Palestinian narrative relies on Palestinian PORN.

Every Palestinian agenda is based on Palestinian PORN.

Pro-Palestinian activist groups? They're spreading Palestinian PORN.

All Palestinian propaganda is based on PORN.

Let's analyze Palestinian PORN and expose it for what it is.

Peoplehood

The myth of Palestinian peoplehood goes along the lines of "a proud, ancient, indigenous Palestinian people predating Israel", which doesn't make any sane person with any basic clue burst into laughter, because Political Correctness poisons such notions as truth and knowledge.

The most basic, simplest way to destroy this fallacy is to ask about the history of such a wonderful, ancient people. No need to go all ancient history (you know, like the Jews can), just some basic stuff. Who were the Palestinian kings in the 14th century? Who were the prominent Palestinian poets of the 17th century? What was the Palestinian coin of the 19th century? What, nothing?

If you're lucky enough to find somebody, who's actually willing to discuss facts, you can point out to them the word "Palestine" comes from the Hebrew word for "invaders" (oopsie!) and was originally describing an ancient Greek people, that has nothing to do with modern day Arabs. You can explain them the late 19th century - early 20th century Arabs of the area were mostly promoting Pan-Arabism with absolutely no idea they were secretly "Palestinians". You can show that after declining the UN given opportunity of establishing an Arab state in 1947, they never identified themselves as such "Palestinians", until late 60s when the notion of Palestinian self determination was really born - as a political tool against Israel. Then they can perhaps understand that without Zionism and without Israel there'd never be a "Palestinian" peoplehood.

But you shouldn't count on meeting someone like that too often.

Bottom line is, if Palestinians want self determination - Ahlan wa Sahlan!

But be honest about it, about your origins and your timeline. Otherwise, you're just spreading PORN.

That awkward moment when you try to prove Palestinian Peoplehood with an old Zionist newspaper.

Mahmoud Abbas is a slave to PORN. Photo credit: SPA. 

Occupation

"Israel breaks international law by occupying and building in the West Bank, which is an affront to Palestinian human rights and all humanity."

Well, a winning narrative is winning narrative.

To factually combat it, one has to explain what international law is, then that Israel has the best claim to Greater Israel under international law, that the territories in dispute never legally belonged to anyone before Israel, that even if it did occupy the lands, occupation in and of itself is perfectly legal, when the neighbors pose a threat to the country, that chronology matters and all of it - the wall, the checkpoints are a result of Palestinian actions, moreover a result of the establishment of the Palestinian Authority, that didn't even exist before the the 90s, and that since the two disputing parties signed an agreement regarding the territories at The Oslo Accords, any occupation that there might have been before - ended and a new phase began.

But who cares about that? That's just a bunch of pesky, boring historical and legal facts.

It's much easier to scream "occupation"! Especially, when one has no idea what that word really means.

More interestingly than trying to wage a factual argument with PORN fans, The Occupation Myth is used to justify Palestinian terrorism ("it's honorable resistance, if it's an occupation", you see), which makes me wonder what was causing Palestinian terrorism before 1967? What was causing Palestinian terrorism before 1948?

Ugh, that annoying cause and consequence thing again!

Even more interestingly: Who France, Belgium, Spain, Russia or the United States are occupying? What drives Islamic terrorism there? What drives ISIS, Al Qaeda, Boko Haram? What drives the mad rape epidemic all over Europe?

Is it "Israeli occupation" as well?

Rest assured, many PORN aficionados will be quick to explain you that it is.

According to the Larousse French Dictionary, 1939 edition (almost a decade before the establishment of Israel), this was the flag of Palestine. Tell me again how is Israel is an "occupant"?

Refugees 

"Israel is denying the "basic right" of some 5 million refugees to return home *since 1948* keeping them in poverty. There can be no reconciliation until Israel provides a *just* solution to the refugees."

Guess what?

No such thing as "Palestinian refugees" in the world!

There are two UN refugee agencies. One, UNHCR, exists for all of the refugees in the universe and is mandated to find them new homes. The other, UNRWA, exists exclusively for Palestinians and is mandated not only to perpetuate their refugee status (!), but also to pass it on to next Palestinian generations - hence the outlandish 5 million number. Sounds crazy? Just put their internet "about" pages one next to the other.

The existence of UNRWA in 2016 is an affront to international law, a money laundering scam, depriving world governments (that's world taxpayers - you and me) of their funds and quite simply an act of contempt to the intelligence of the general public - everywhere. A horrid example of an international body taking over and putting itself above the law.

More fun facts about "Palestinian refugees"?

A Palestinian "refugee" can be a citizen of a third country and still remain a Palestinian "refugee"!

A Palestinian "refugee", unlike any other refugee in the world, can be filthy rich!

A Palestinian "refugee" can be *born* in a third country!

A Palestinian "refugee" is still a "refugee" since 1948! All other refugees of that tumultuous, post WWII, time were resettled.

UNRWA is the main employer in the Palestinian territories!

Among UNRWA employees in Gaza, many are Hamas members!

UNRWA employees have immunity under Palestinian law - they're literally above the law!

UNRWA employees use that immunity, among other things, to sexually harass Palestinian women!

For more on UNRWA and the "Palestinian refugees" canard, read here.

Nakba

"Israel was born in sin, occupying and kicking out indigenous population! Thus, Israel has no right to exist!"

A sort of an uber myth on its own, comprised of many elements, it ignores on the most basic level, in the best traditions of Goebbels propaganda tactics, context, cause and concequence, chronology. In a nutshell, Arabs refused diplomatic solutions. Arabs attacked. Arabs planned a genocide of Jews. Arabs lost. Arabs brought their tragedy on themselves. Arabs' defeat and population exchange in 1948 is in no way more unique, than any other similar defeat or population exchange of the time. In fact, it's much "less unique" by every measurable parameter. Here too, only one group whines and moans professionally about their loss till today. You guessed which.

For more on the Nakba farce, read here.

Now you have better tools to identify and combat Palestinian propaganda in the information war it wages against Israel.

Remember, PORN is immoral.

PORN is wrong.

PORN is bad for you.

Overexposure to PORN may cause BDS symptoms.

One cannot spread PORN and be a decent person at the same time.

Protect your children!

Left to right: UNRWA spokesperson Chris Gunness, BDS founder Omar Barghouti (top),

Electronic Intifada founder Ali Abunimah, author Reza Aslan (bottom). 

Stop #PalestinianPorn!

#MakeLoveNotPorn

Use your head!

Tweet

Netanyahu's political genius strikes again; What REALLY happened in the latest Israeli coalition shift?

Last month contrary to the weeks long buzz of an upcoming deal with dovish opposition leader Isaac "Boozhi" Herzog, upsetting every and all predictions by top pundits and talking heads, PM Benjamin "Bibi" Netanyahu went on to sign a deal with the perceived hawk Avigdor "Evet" Lieberman, joining his party "Yisrael Beiteinu" (Israel Our Home) to the government instead of Boozhi's "Zionist Union" at the expense of former Defense Minister, Moshe "Bogie" Ya'alon. (Confused yet?)

As result, the leftist media (once again) went batshit, competing each other in doomsday predictions and "slope to fascism" scenarios. Indeed, following Israeli media hasn't been so joyful since Bibi's landslide elections victory.

So I decided to take a few hours off my busy schedule, to clear away the piles of media vomit, accumulated during the month, and bring you all a perspective no one else will.

"What other perspective?!? It's all about political survival!!!"

Let me tell you a little secret.

But you have to promise not to tell anyone.

Ready?

Politicians do things for political survival.

*SHOCK!*

Benjamin Netanyahu (right) and Avigdor Lieberman.

Photo credit: Menahem Kahana / AFP / Getty Images.

Of course Netanyahu's actions are motivated by political survival. All politicians' actions are motivated by political survival. That really goes without saying. No need to repeat that phrase over and over again like some mechanical leftist monkey. It might have given you some cred back in high school, but not anymore. Not among grown ups.

Now let's discuss some serious issues.

From the get-go, with the establishment of the current narrow, bare minimum, 61 MKs strong, right wing government Netanyahu announced his plans for future coalition expansion. "61 is a good number, 61 + is a better number" - he said, keeping a few key portfolios unmanned for potential future partners. A wide majority is obviously better than a narrow majority, allowing the government more freedom of action, less dependence on each MK's caprices or, for that matter, simple sick days. For that purpose of government expansion Netanyahu's Likud people have reportedly held secret talks for months with Herzog's Zionist Union (formerly known as the Israeli Labor Party joined by Tzipi Livni's immaterial latest list).

"Why reach out for an apparently obvious rival? One that ran on the platform of replacing him, and that still pretends to be a viable alternative?"

For Netanyahu that strategy makes perfect sense and has worked out brilliantly for him in the past. By uniting (historically) bitter ideological rivals behind him in his coalition Netanyahu demolishes any points they might have gained over him. This move presents them as empty shells with no substance and no real ideology. Talk talkers but no walk walkers. Job seekers, spitting on their electoral base. Regardless of any real achievements or gains the other party might have achieved for the people, in or out of government - the perception of them was wrecked after joining. It worked seamlessly, practically destroying the political careers of Ehud Barak, Shaul Mofaz, Tzipi Livni (until the union with Herzog gave them both momentum) and, to a lesser degree, Yair Lapid.

Bibi and a selection of politicians nearly destroyed by his "Midas touch".

Left to right: Ehud Barak and Shaul Mofaz (up), Tzipi Livni and Yair Lapid (down).

Boozhi was thrilled of the possibility, recounting fantastic tales of gains he managed to hustle from Netanyahu during negotiations. He was ready to join, with portfolios for him and certain other party members. Labor would split like it did once already under the leadership of Ehud Barak, and Likud's traditional main rival would suffer another humiliation from which it would take a few election cycles to recover.

So what happened?

International involvement happened. According to a Haaretz publication (not Bibi supporting, Adelson owned Israel HaYom, mind you), Tony Blair was heavily involved behind the scenes in support of adding Zionist Union to the government, "updating" John Kerry on the progress. Now let's face it, with all due respect to Blair, the days of him being an independent actor in Middle East matters are long gone (if there ever were such days). And normally one "updates" one's boss. So we see here a continuous interference with internal Israeli politics. A logical continuation to the failed attempt of meddling in Israeli elections previously described and foreseen here. The goal here is Israeli capitulation under the guise of the politically-correct, PR-pumped slogan of "Two States Solution".

This is why inserting Herzog was paramount. External players already bet on him by supporting (and funding) him in the elections in hope he'd establish a left wing government - that would capitulate. That plan failed. So now they tried to push him through the back door, hoping he and his party would change the government enough for capitulation (hopefully, by throwing out HaBayit HaYehudi). This time - away from the Israeli voter's eye, and more importantly away from his vote, since every Israeli election in recent years tells you unequivocally the Israeli voter is tired of the destructive Two States paradigm. That's the reason the left hadn't won Israeli elections for 15 years. The Israeli voter astonishingly doesn't want Israel to capitulate, and astonishingly keeps on electing leaders that share this strange desire.

To further this goal of pressing an Israeli PM to capitulate, it was decided involve Egyptian president al-Sisi in the racket. According to Haaretz, Tony Blair urged Sisi to promise in a speech strengthening of ties with Israel, if a Palestinian state is established. Herzog, aware of the international struggle on his behalf, jumped in on the action, assuring his Facebook followers (from his garden, yet still wearing a suit): "President Sissi's speech is a historic breakthrough [...] identifying unique regional opportunities [...] Is the PM ready to utilize these opportunities?"

It is now clear, those "breakthrough opportunities" were, in Boozhi's mind, the chance of having HIM, the savior, in the government.

This was probably their greatest miss. Whether getting some intel on the backroom deals, putting 1+1 together or actually receiving a phone call from Sissi (which is not as outlandish a scenario, as one might imagine), Bibi quickly readjusted to the new circumstances and reshuffled his political deck, reaching out to Lieberman instead.

"But isn't Lieberman a crazy, genocidal fascist, with no relevant military experience, who would be super dangerous in the Defense Cabinet???"

Well, not really.

That is, yes, he has no relevant military experience, but shouldn't the left applaud an appointment of a civilian to the Defense Ministry, as is the custom in Western democracies? Not to speak of hailing yet another "glass ceiling" broken with the appointment of a Russian speaker to the elite, prestigious office?

As for his "dangerous" views, nothing illustrates the reality better than Haaretz columnist Uri Misgav's two columns put one next to the other.

In the last election cycle leftist press sought to portray Lieberman as a centrist hope in the imaginary "just not Bibi" coalition. Misgav went as far as to "predict"... a defense ministry for him under Herzog in his "hope" list. Now, a year and a half later (in a piece that apparently wasn't translated to English... I wonder why?), it turns out that "the very idea (of Lieberman in the Defense ministry) is madness". You can't make these stuff up.

Misgav A: December 09, 2014.

Misgav B: May 19, 2016.

A 'madman', by his own diagnosis.

In a similar fashion, ousted Defense Minister Ya'alon turned overnight from an "unworthy", "serial trouble seeker, "a technician, not a statesman" into an "experienced", "one of the more impressive and appreciated Defense Ministers we had". This magical transformation in the "newspaper for thinking people" was only caused by one thing only - the rift in Ya'alon's relationship with Netanyahu.

As for Lieberman, from his POV, he finally managed to "conquer" yet another "pillar" of the three unofficial "pillars" on the way to Primiership; Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Defense and Ministry of Finance. With two out of the three jobs now in his pocket, he's able to present a better case to the Israeli public in the next elections.

What he misses, though, is the potential of a growing electorate, which, for him, can only grow in the opposition, where he can portray himself as a farther right alternative to the Likud. His "centrist" agenda failed, and a "rightist" agenda from within the Netanyahu coalition has little credibility.

So, that's the gist of the recent political upheaval in Israel in a nutshell, from a perspective you won't read anywhere else.

If you wish a better understanding of Israeli politics, you should realize one important thing: Benjamin Netanyahu is a world class, planetary level politician, putting both 'House of Cards' and 'Game of Thrones' to shame. Regardless of your political opinions, your views of his policies or your preferred party, this realization will immediately make you much more proficient in Israeli politics, enabling you to get a better glimpse of what happens in the Knesset corridors, and more importantly why it happens the way it happens.

It's also always a good idea to use your head.

Tweet