22 April 2010By
Stephen Lendman
Working pro bono for
Israeli government agencies, the Tel Aviv-based
Reut Institute (RI) provides "real-time
strategic decision-making" support in areas of
national security and socioeconomic policy.
Saying global peace and
justice groups threaten Israel's legitimacy, its
recent series of articles, policy papers, and
presentations counterattacked - a combination of
damage control and rethink despite legitimate
criticism showing
Israel
delegitimizes itself, and no amount of policy paper
makeover will change it. Only Israel can do that, but
in its 62 year existence never tried.
In a January 28 brief, RI
said Israel:
"face(s) a dramatic assault
on the very legitimacy of its existence as a Jewish
and democratic state. While the ideological framework
for this delegitimacy was solidified after the first
Durban"
World Conference against
Racism, Racial Discrimination,
Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, "the
trend (got) a boost by the perceived lack of
(political) progress, coupled with Operation Cast Lead
in
Gaza,"
followed by the damning
Goldstone Report.
Groups "making the
fundamental delegitimacy" claim want to
internationally isolate Israel and ultimately turn it
into a pariah state by:
-- demonizing it in public
protests, the media, on campuses, and through events
like the annual Israel Apartheid Week and
World Social Forum, asking its
affiliates to excommunicate Israel;
-- promoting the Global BDS
Movement (boycott, divestment and sanctions) in areas
of the economy, academia, culture, sport, and
security; at risk is it achieving equivalency between
Israel and apartheid-era
South Africa,
yet legitimate critics, including
Jimmy Carter, accuse Israel of being
worse than apartheid; and
-- targeting the state and
its officials legally, including through the
International Criminal Court (ICJ) and
universal jurisdiction (UJ) to charge Israeli generals
and politicians with
war crimes.
On February 14, ahead of a
detailed policy paper, RI issued an executive summary
headlined, "The Delegitimization Challenge: Creating a
Political Firewall," saying the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict is the
"engine driving" world criticism of Israel, "resulting
in an erosion of its international image, and exacting
a tangible strategic price." Of special concern - the
2006
Lebanon War (officially called the
Second
Lebanon War)
and Operation Cast Lead (December 2008 - January
2009), global grassroots condemnation during and after
both, besides accusations of daily
crimes against humanity throughout the
Occupied Territories.
Then in March, RI issued
Version A of a detailed final report titled, "Building
a Political Firewall Against Israel's Delegitimization:
Conceptual Framework," discussed below.
Its theme - poor Israel,
victimized again, targeted by
global justice,
equality, and peace forces influential enough to
become an "existential threat within a few years."
Instead of acknowledging justifiable criticism and
advising real change, RI recommends an aggressive
counteroffensive to "sabotage network catalysts" then
later softened language against global opposition
forces to defuse and discredit them, rebrand Israel as
a humanitarian nation, and build a network of
strategic "elites (and) influentials."
Two groups are of
particular concern:
The Middle East-based
"Resistance Network," comprised of nations,
organizations and individuals - ideological Islamists,
groups representing them, and
Iran,
Hezbollah, and Hamas that "reject
Israel's right to exist." They advance an "implosion
strategy" to precipitate Israel's collapse by
undermining its control of the Palestinians,
delegitimize it, and defeat it asymmetrically.
The Western-based "Delegitimization
Network," consisting of organizations and individuals
from the "radical European left, Arab and
Islamic groups, and so-called post or
anti-Zionist Jews and Israelis." Their aim - replace
Zionism with a state based on "one person, one vote"
by demonizing Israel and its moral legitimacy.
RI is alarmed, saying these
forces have ideas that are "increasingly
sophisticated, ripe, lucid, and coherent" enough to
succeed if not stopped at a time "pro-Palestinian
activity (has become) trendy." Thus far, Israel's
diplomatic standing is strong, but it's eroded "among
the general publics and elites," Israel rebranded as a
pariah state, vilified for its Gaza siege, BDS
grassroots momentum aiming "to correct Israel's ways."
As these forces mature and
converge, they're "exacerbating Israel's predicament"
by tarnishing its reputation, undermining its
relations with Palestinians for a
two-state solution in favor of one for
all its people. Further, they seek no conflict
resolution based on "co-existence or peace (embodying)
an acceptance of Israel's existence." Any compromise
will be only temporary, even placing the June 1967
borders at risk. "A tipping point would be a paradigm
shift from a Two-State (to a) One-State Solution."
A comprehensive permanent
status agreement establishing a Palestinian state
would weaken Israeli delegitimization efforts, but the
campaign will persist. Upcoming - mobilizing Israeli
Arabs (20% of Israel's population), so far with
limited success but they continue.
Israel's strategic
challenge requires an effective counteroffensive
against already urgent problems that include
"international interference in Israel's domestic
affairs;" limiting its military option; boycotts,
divestment, and sanctions; and travel restrictions out
of fear of criminal prosecutions abroad if travel.
Relying on military force
against threats is "out of date." A new focus is
needed, including effective PR, and a restructured,
better financed/staffed foreign affairs establishment
to "wage a global campaign on the non-governmental
level." Other militarily powerful nations have been
toppled by effectively mobilized "political,
diplomatic, and economic dynamics...." Israel must
avoid that fate.
As a result, its "diplomacy
and foreign policy doctrine requires urgent overhaul."
PR and policy changes aren't enough. "Clearly, a
credible and persistent commitment (for) peace and
ending control over the Palestinian population, as
well as....full integration and equality of Israel's
Arab citizens, are essential for effectively battling
Israel's delegitimization" - or at least the
appearance in this direction.
"Synchronized victories"
are needed militarily, politically, diplomatically,
and in the media. "It takes a network to fight a
network," and intelligence sabotage abroad to do it.
Human network power stems
from their "hubs (and) catalysts:" the former in key
areas like London, Paris, Toronto, Madrid, and
San Francisco; the latter comprised of
mobilized global peace and justice groups.
Strategy requires
rebranding Israel and its adversaries, winning elite
hearts and minds, and building influential networks,
especially in key hub areas. Also, "engage the
critics; isolate the delegitimizers." Mobilize Israeli
NGOs to engage global ones, and Jewish/Israeli
diaspora communities to lead by dealing with their
local dynamics and respond appropriately.
Instead of recommending an
equitable end to a 62 year conflict, RI advises
sabotage and subterfuge against growing global forces
it fears, ones effectively undermining Israel's
legitimacy, so to prevail they must be subverted and
stopped.
Stephen Lendman is a Research Associate of the
Centre for Research on Globalization. He lives in
Chicago and can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net. Also
visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com and
listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished
guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the
Progressive Radio Network Thursdays at 10AM US Central
time and Saturdays and Sundays at noon. All programs
are archived for easy listening.
http://www.progressiveradionetwork.com/the-progressive-news-hour/.
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