What type of language is used to describe Jerusalem and the event? What pictures or visuals accompany the text? What perspectives and biases are present? Can you draw a connection between your analysis of the articles and Dr. Nassar’s article or the material on contemporary art of Jerusalem?
Failure of IDF and Shin Bet
This article speaks candidly about the harsh realities of the contradictions of the Occupation and the fact that, "young soldiers and officers identify with their basic mission of protecting Israelis in the territories, namely the settlers". It is a too-often occurrence that Palestinians in the territories are treated as guilty until proven innocent by the police or the IDF while Israeli settlers are usually treated innocent until proven guilty, and even then they are not harshly prosecuted, as is described in this sad sentence, "There is no similarity between the investigation of a Palestinian suspected of terrorism and the investigation of a Jewish suspect. The former is subject to sleep deprivation, psychological and sometimes physical pressure". The article also notes that, "When extreme fringes among the settlers commit violence against Palestinians, few soldiers can internalize this and change their behavior." This article also recognizes in objective terms the deliberate land-grabbing that the settlements seek to continue: "The placement of settlements in the Shiloh valley was carried out after careful planning. They constitute a “finger” thrust eastwards, bringing the cluster of settlements surrounding Ariel closer to the Jordan valley".
The perception of the IDF is something that is highly controversial, and this article cuts right to the center of why and how it is envisioned differently by different populations, namely pro-settlement and anti-settlement people.
The difference between violent Settler attackers & Palestinian terrorists is in name alone
"Here are some bleak statistics: From January 3, 2011 to September 15, 2013, the pogromchiks who went down from the outpost of Esh Kodesh perpetrated 28 attacks of various kinds. Fifteen of them involved beating and shooting, nine involved damage to olive trees, one case involved the killing of animals, one mosque was torched, one car was set ablaze, and one case involved threats"
This article is written in extremely critical language, but I approve. I agree that violence is violence, and that, ultimately, terrorism is terrorism (SHIT that was difficult to type-breathing now). People who deny the Occupation or deny the violent nature of many settlement dwellers just aren't being honest, and that will get us nowhere close to peace. Nassar would absolutely comment that the picture below, showing a Palestinian man aiding IDF soldiers in helping an injured settler to escape Palestinian attackers, improves the perception of the Palestinians and damages the image of the settler population. This photograph probably contributes to people's perception that the settlers are the perpetrators and instigators of violence and that the Palestinian population is more generous, peaceful, and innocent overall.
Summary: "No difference between Settlers and Palestinian terrorists but in name alone."
Ein Hijleh non-violent protest village & More Ein Hijleh
"tensions in the West Bank will rise along with the risk of terrorist acts committed by Jews in addition to Hamas and the Islamic Jihad."
These two articles both praise the non-violent actions of the Palestinians who were involved in the initiation of the protest village of Ein Hijleh ("Salt of the Earth"). The image below (and many others) depicts these peaceful activists as people who want peace and quiet, despite being antagonized further by IDF soldiers who raided the village after dark to try to dismantle their efforts.
1. What are your perceptions based on these images?
2. What do you think is going to happen with the settlements and when?
3. Do you think that the world's perception of either side ultimately matters? Is the fate of each population up to the leaders who are making treaties and writing up legislation at the end of the day? Why or why not?
No comments:
Post a Comment