Thursday 24 March 2011

Zionist Propaganda: Lieberman's "Battle Bus" At British Universities

By Nadia Marques de Carvalho
(London School of Economics Palestine Society)

The Zionist "Battle Bus"

On the 3rd March 2011, the Chair of the Union of Jewish Students Alex Dwek claimed there was a rise of anti-Semitism on British campuses, coupling this with a rise of extreme anti-Zionist rhetoric: notably the two are very different but naturally it is easier to just stamp all anti-Zionists as anti-Semitic. He accused all pro-Palestinians as being “far-left and radical Islamists” who seek to corrupt our universities with “hate speech” such as the controversial LSE event with Abdel-Bari Atwan (which was after investigation deemed not anti-Semitic). Nonetheless the Hasbara Handbook (a guide to pro-Israeli Activists) claims that at times like this one must “neutralize negativity”. Ergo the Zionist “Battle Bus” sent for war on British University Campuses.

This Zionist “Battle Bus” is made up of 25 students exported from Israel who are travelling the campuses of London, Leeds, Manchester and Birmingham as part of the “largest pro-active pro-Israel campaign in recent years to mark Israel Awareness Week. Smart, but dirty propaganda Mr. Lieberman. Again this is rather ironic, as one does not need such campaigns to be aware of Israel, their “defense campaigns” in Gaza attracting the attention of Amnesty International and the Human Rights Watch as well as the foreign media does well in making us aware of Israel. This is a move to counter the International campaign of Israeli Apartheid Week, which seeks to educate people about the apartheid policies in Israel against Palestinians, noting that Israeli Apartheid Week does not endeavor to delegitimize Israel, as fortunately Israel does this for herself.

The Birmingham Jewish Society has described this Israeli propaganda as seeking to provide an alternative narrative that focuses on the “core principals of the region –‘Peace, Reconciliation and Cooperation.’” Is this naïve or a desperate and patronizing bid to blind British students of Israel’s actions? Cooperation – well this was exactly what the Palestine Papers showed us, with the Israeli Government flagrantly refusing any compromise with the Palestinian Authority, even when they offered Jerusalem. Reconciliation – this is why Israel has broken all recent ceasefires with Hamas and planning Operation Cast Lead II, despite fervent international condemnation. Peace – exactly what Zionism promotes, right? But in reality what happened between Tuesday 22nd – Thursday 24th March? At Birmingham University the Zionists set up their wooden bridge, which was supposedly meant to emulate their “core principals” and they danced, gave out free falafel and sandwiches as well leaflets: a pretentious attempt to create a little peace-loving Israel. Simon Furse of the Birmingham Palestine Society has described it as a “complete failure” especially as they were trying to distort what was happening on the ground by claiming, "civilian casualties on both sides of the conflict are about equal." The Birmingham Jewish Society also hosted an event entitled “meet the Zionists,” where by accounts of attendees described the Zionists as “nice and open-minded individuals who didn’t always agree with the actions of their government” however another attendee records that “whenever someone from the audience criticized Israel they were quick to switch the topic and point to the corrupt Arab states especially Saudi Arabia out of all 24 countries. But at least we acknowledge our governments are corrupt and we are trying to change that with the Arab Uprising, whilst they are trying to cover it up and justify their government’s crimes.” In response to the Zionist Bus, the Birmingham Palestine Society set up a mock checkpoint which attracted much attention from students however it was reported that the Israeli camera crew would not stop filming the pro-Palestinian activists, and were intimidating many people who wanted to ask questions to the pro-Palestinian activists.


The Zionist “Battle Bus” also took their war to Goldsmiths University campus whereby the President of the Goldsmith’s Palestine Society, James Haywood described the event as so: "Without prior permission, a large group of Israeli students arrived on a battle bus to Goldsmiths on Monday (21st March 2011). They attempted to set up a marquee, which was promptly stopped by security, and then spent over an hour nailing together a five-foot bridge, causing complaints from nearby classrooms and utter confusion to the majority of students. The bridge was then moved to a distant spot on the backfield, and little more than leafleting took place. From the texts I was receiving and a glance at Facebook it seemed the majority of students were disgusted at what was taking place - whitewashing of Israel and vicious attacks on those who supported boycott. In the end we had students crying from the intimidation they had received from these Zionist students, and our Palestine stall at the Multiculturalism day event at the Student Union became filled with students wanting to read up our literature and buy things in solidarity." Goldsmith's Palestine University also carried out a mock checkpoint in response, reminding Zionist activists that it wasn't as simple as they were portraying all to be. 

Goldsmith's Mock Checkpoint

As Pro-Palestinian activists we must, and I believe we do, strive to understand the Zionist narrative, as it is quintessential to peace, as with this understanding that we can commit to dialogue. However such low and aggressive tactics by the Israeli State do not stretch the olive branch out any further. Indoctrinating British students with a dishonest and fabricated story of how Israel is committed to “Peace, reconciliation and cooperation” are not only contrary to its policy in the Occupied Territories but also highly distort and debase the truth. Instead of parading around British Universities as Lieberman’s mouthpiece building five-foot wooden bridges, handing out free falafel (which would do far more good to the thousands of hungry Palestinian orphans in Gaza) and simplifying the idea of peace by handing out pieces of the chocolate “peace cake”, these “nice and open-minded Zionists” should commit themselves to learning the Palestinian narrative, condemning Netanyahu’s promise of an Operation Cast Lead II and reading up on the human right’s and international law violations of their beloved Israel.


It is only natural that we all have a strong affinity with our countries, promise to protect her regardless and only want the best for her children; especially in the case of Israel where because of many reasons she has been highly disliked and threatened with liquidation. However I call out to all Israelis, Zionist or not, we all have an obligation towards humanity. When your country is murdering civilians behind the veneer that it is attacking Hamas’ military arsenal even though three babies end up dying (perhaps they were playing with some Molotov cocktails) and your country flagrantly defies international law with an iron wall, 146 illegal settlements, a siege on its occupied territory and constant bombardment of innocent civilians, but justifying all this under the false pretense that the Israeli Supreme Court says it is all in self-defense, you must stop and ask yourself whether violation of basic human rights can ever be justified with self-defense: forget international law, I am appealing to your moral conscience. 

The Bridge at Goldsmith's University 
This is why a Zionist “Battle Bus” does nothing for peace, nothing for truth and nothing for justice. If Israel is sincere in wanting peace then it will firstly have to help the Palestinians, and it is only this way that pro-Israeli activists and Israel, will attain the core principals that she supposedly strives for, “peace, reconciliation and cooperation.”

14 comments:

  1. You're a laughing stock, PalSoc

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  2. Nadia Marques de Carvalho25 March 2011 at 19:27

    Thank You for your support Joel =]

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  3. BirminghamNeutral26 March 2011 at 10:39

    What a load of garbage.

    It is truly amazing the lengths that some students will go to in order to try and disrupt the importance message of peace.

    I've learnt a lot this week and I thank Birmingham Israel Awareness Week for giving a very effective and encouraging lesson to hundreds/thousands of students.

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  4. I think it's fairly clear to most people that this rant is not only bigoted but entirely unwarranted.
    Your suggestion that Alex Dwek "accused all pro-Palestinians as being “far-left and radical Islamists”" is a falsification. He was talking about extremists on campus, and not 'all pro-Palestinians'.
    Quite beside this, it is pure hypocrisy to suggest that handing out falafel and building a bridge presents a one-sided view while building mock checkpoints doesn't. Think before you post, Nadia.

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  5. People need to stop being so ignorant and learn to only practice and preach things that they have first hand information on. Shouldn't believe everything you see on TV - how can people be so naive !!

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  6. you are pathetic

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  7. maybe you should start activism for your own hateful country that is Iran

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  8. the fact that there is a palestinian flag at a zionist event shows that this isnt the one-sided narrative you claim it to be. i don't see any israeli flags at your filthy events

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  9. why is the author being attacked as a person? and why are palsoc events suddenly filthy? does that make zionist events pure? look into your conscience seriously before you label someone else's efforts as filthy. if jews were actually building bridges in palestine and giving freedom to the oppressed palestinians there would be no need for boycotts... btw please explain how Iran is a hateful country? As far as i am aware a lot of its discontent is directed against zionist elements in "israel" which is quite justified

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  10. Very nice. Ad hominem attacks, empty rhetoric and some vintage Zionist propaganda, without any attempt to substantiate the responses made to this blog. No evidence, no sources, no arguments...excellent

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  11. You meant just like your first post?

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  12. Will Ms Marquez please inform this blog and the world at large, of another 'refugee' problem that has existed for over 60 years? Where are the hundreds and thousands of Germans expelled from Poland at the end of WW2? The hundreds of thousands of Indians forced to fell during the 1947 partition of India. Or thnumbre of Jews, many more than the Palestinians, forced to flee Arab lands in 1948 - where are their refugee camps?

    The Lebanese treat the Palestinans despicably, leaving them in ghastly camps and refusing to allow them to work - altohugh this has changed slightly recently. On the subject of racism - the Jordanian constitution specifically forbids any Jew to live there, the Palestinian leadership has made clear that no Jew can live in their new state. Israel has over a million Muslims on its lands.

    Anyway, so far as so called massacre is concerned, the Arab revolts in the 20s saw thousands of Jews killed. However, the Arabs seems very fond of killing each other in vast numbers, as recent events have shown. Sadly, the entire Middle East, with the exception of Israel, remains utterly despotic and onlyt time will tell whether recent events will move these coutries some way toward the 20th century. The 21st, I fear, would be too big a leap for them as yet

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  13. From behind a desk topped by a miniature model of Palestine’s hoped-for blue United Nations chair, Ambassador Abdullah Abdullah spoke to The Daily Star Wednesday about Palestine’s upcoming bid for U.N. statehood.

    The ambassador unequivocally says that Palestinian refugees would not become citizens of the sought for U.N.-recognized Palestinian state, an issue that has been much discussed. “They are Palestinians, that’s their identity,” he says. “But … they are not automatically citizens.”

    This would not only apply to refugees in countries such as Lebanon, Egypt, Syria and Jordan or the other 132 countries where Abdullah says Palestinians reside. Abdullah said that “even Palestinian refugees who are living in [refugee camps] inside the [Palestinian] state, they are still refugees. They will not be considered citizens.”

    Let’s read that again, shall we?

    “Even Palestinian refugees who are living in [refugee camps] inside the [Palestinian] state, they are still refugees. They will not be considered citizens.”

    Need one say more about the attitude of the Palestinian leadership towards their own people?

    PAwns, pawns, pawns, in theior loathsome game

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  14. Emancipation education inspire he educators to learn in hand and they do so musty on there. As a result the more number of students are now interest in this education.

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