Silencing. That's what is going on here. We have become the most silencing democracy in the Middle East. Apparently, we're fine with that, if not then pray because praying is the best and then no one will ask you to shut up and await your turn. If you think otherwise and by mistake you're not a believer, even at this time of stress, you're a traitor and advised to move to Judea and Sumeria (Please do not use the term "West Bank" so said MK Ayelet Shaked, it's a traitors jargon) and defend Palestinians and may you also be kidnapped.
Every sentence regarding the current situation must begin with an expressive heart breaking, yet full of cliches, thoughts regarding the three kidnapped young men; only to prove that the fact that you have other thoughts, and your mind is not one tracked, doesn't make you instantly a traitor that should be sent to Syria, at the very least. If your words do not start with a saying of how your heart goes out to the kidnapped and their families (like a proof of concept), you are marked as inhuman? In fact, if you have any reservations, would should probably shut up. No doubt - democracy. The IDF actions are necessary (remember that the second war in Lebanon was also necessary?), and if you think otherwise - you're wrong, this is the only possible way to return our boys hone. An answer to every doubt, and the answer stays the same - 3 kidnapped boys. The fact that the IDF's extensive actions probably sealed those boys fate and caused an escalation.
We're shutting our eyes or stick them in a prayer book, while the IDF is implementing a contingency plan and re-occupies the West Bank. News of killing, uncalled for destruction of education institutions, shops, innocents' livelihood, violence and looting. And what do we say? Oh, surely it's all orchestrated to bring the boys safely, the real concern to the fate of the three.Come on, such an extensive and violent operation - how can one "buy" that? How easy it is to incite us? The kidnapping and real concern for their lives are cynically used to justify our actions. How easy it is for us to justify the "necessary" violence cause we're dealing with savages who only understand power, while we thoroughly color the other.
Collective punishment? Oh, that's quite all right, they are all terrorists/they enable terrorists to work within them - well, please decide are they all terrorists or not? Besides, they say, what other choices do we have? Oh, that's it - there is a difference between closing the area and extensive search and what we are doing right now. I am not a high rank military person or anything, I do not know if this is necessary, but I will agree to assume that Israel is trying to null the possibility of transporting the kidnapped boys (although I must say that The IDF's operation is leading me to believe they act under the assumption that the kidnapped are already dead or that this time negotiating and prisoners release is not on the table this time). What the IDF is actually doing, the arrest of elderly people, uncontrolled shooting, destruction of education institutions, private houses, shops, citizen's livelihood and looting - is surely way beyond necessary even in the current situation.
And the media? well the media is drafted. No room for any other opinion, oh well maybe except of Ha'aretz, which give a small room for doubt. Israel Today dedicated an awfully long PR article to the first lady, Sarah Netanyahu. What started as a report of her visit to the families of the kidnapped continued as an image building report that shed a light on this rare woman among us, the one the public likes to act but is actually the motherly psychologist the nation truly needs. I cannot stop but to cynically think how comfortable this operation is - just imagine that they'd be asked to explain the whole garden furniture thingy. Not that, God forbid, I am implying that they enjoy the kidnapping, I'm just saying that the wave of public opinion is positive. Sarah worried and Netanyahu hugging the families is far better than Sarah irritated and Netanyahu twisting.
Alas, everything is a spin. The decision that it's the Hamas who's behind the kidnapping is also a spin. I don't know what organization is responsible, no one really knows. But it's comfortable to blame Hamas, it serves a purpose - it goes to show that Hamas is a terror organization and not a possible partner, and so is the unity Palestinian government. And if eventually turn to be a false accusation, the work on the Israeli public opinion will already be done. Our long term national memory is so short that even mentioning that the PLO was also considered a terror organization not to be recognized by Israel is redundant.
And what about the Palestinians? Abu Mazen renouncing the kidnapping? Well, not good enough since it's in English and it's aimed to international ears. Abu Mazen renouncing the kidnapping in Arabic? Not good enough, he must show it in actions, not words. Amazingly it's easy to set the bar high on Abu Mazen's side and not the Israeli one. Where is the Palestinian Nelson Mandela? He's is standing right in front of us only his opponent is a well rehearsed actor that will deem everything unsatisfactory and publicly claim that there is no Palestinian partner and only provocations. And what does the Israeli public do? Follow like blind men. There are no doubts, no independent thought, we follow. Being part of the herd is always easier. We keep on asking where humanity was during WWII. Forget history, where are we here and now?
Palestinian youth killed by IDF's fire? answer - "Where are their parents?" Israeli kids hitchhike in the middle of the night in dangerous zones? answer - "What on earth do you want? boys will be boys they never listen to their parents!" Well it's good that we have things in perspective. Palestinians are bad and they are the worse parents, but we are just fine. Yeah, right.
The Palestinians are fanatics? Oh, well, here everything is just swell. Religious charlatans are announcing that if all the Jewish women will lit candles on Friday night, good news will come and if we will all pray some miracle will happen. Apparently a good Israeli is not only a right-winger, he also must believe in God. If you believe in human rights and do not believe in God - you have no room here. You are a traitor. We all know what the verdict is for traitors. It is lovely that we can call ourselves a democracy and feel really good about ourselves because autosuggestion is a great cure, especially in times of need.
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