- in the name of Allah -


Among the more interesting articles I come across, this one seemed worth bringing up, via BBC. In it, I found a quote to be very relevant and poignant to the current climate:


"If there's something that frightens me about Holocaust remembrance it's the recognition of the nauseating processes that occurred in Europe in general, and particularly in Germany, back then - 70, 80 and 90 years ago - and finding signs of them here among us today in 2016," the deputy chief of staff said on Wednesday.

"There is, after all, nothing easier and simpler than hating the foreigner... arousing fears and terrifying." - Maj-Gen Yair Golan, military deputy chief of staff in Israel

Not only does the quote itself evoke truth, after all what modern society has not used 'fear of the Other' to some degree in its propaganda and media outlets, but the response by Israeli PM Netanyahu to immediately criticize and denounce what was said as "outrageous" and an "injustice to Israeli society and cause a belittling of the Holocaust" just goes to show how far leaders in power will go to deny the truth when it even comes from within a society itself. To any objective person, the Maj-General's words are spot on; Israeli society today is using xenophobia to help drive its campaign against not only Palestine but really, any entity in global society that disagrees with the actions of the Israeli government. Such disagreements often end up being labeled as "anti-Semitic" by the Israeli establishment, when often there is no underlying sentiment except simple disagreement of politics and methods (though there is usually nothing 'simple' in politics ever, especially politics of the Mid-East variety). This catch-all defense doesn't do anything except perpetuate the carte blanche that Israel acts with. Where are the checks and balances? Where are the reasonable voices of moderation within the Israeli population? No doubt being stifled by the ones in power, seeking as usual to dominate and cast their words as the only strain of truth. If Israeli society truly wants to seek peace, then it must learn that it cannot do so while it considers Palestinians and 'gentiles' as enemies or outsiders. Bullets and guns and tanks can only go so far, the battle for the heart can only be won with earnest actions and words, not deceit or obfuscation.