Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Israel’s Next PR Nightmare


Israel’s Next PR Nightmare
On Friday March 30th 2012 tens of thousands of Palestinians and their supporters will converge on Israel’s borders demanding the right to march to Jerusalem. A publicity stunt that promises to turn into a PR nightmare for Israel.
By declaring “A million man march to liberate Jerusalem,” Hamas leader Ishmael Haniyah can ignite both the Palestinian street that had laid dormant during the Arab Spring as well as gather the support of the West’s radical left. If the march is peaceful, Haniyah will depict himself as a true leader of the masses, replacing a tired and humiliated Abbas. If  demonstrators are shot by the IDF on their way to “liberate” Jerusalem it could be very hard for Israel to stop an even more violent reaction.
The Global March to Jerusalem is a problem of Israel’s own making. For nearly a decade Israel has avoided dealing with some of the real and legitimate claims of the Palestinians. Israeli public diplomacy has demanded that Palestinians end violence and move towards a political resolution of the conflict. Mass marches will be perceived worldwide as meeting this demand.
Israel’s Foreign Ministry seems unaware of the potential scale  of The Global March to Jerusalem (GMJ) and how easily it has caught the imagination of anti Israel activists worldwide.
The marches coincide with Land Day which annually commemorates the death of six Israeli arabs, who participated in a general strike in1976.
The Global March to Jerusalem (GMJ) is not the first attempt to question the sovereignty of Israel by organizing marches to challenge its internationally recognized borders. In June 2011, several protesters were injured when they attempted to cross Israel’s northern border at Majdal Shams.
Last year the killings resulting from the failed Marmara Operation lead to a crisis in Israel’s image abroad. The March to Jerusalem will, organizers promise, be even more effective;
Our plan is to organize massive marches towards Jerusalem, or to the nearest point possible according to the circumstances of each country, in Palestine (the 1948 seizures, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip) and the four neighbouring countries: Jordan, Egypt, Syria and Lebanon. Internationals will participate in land caravans or fly directly to one of the main sites for the march. “
To compound Israel’s public relations nightmare,  there are simultaneous rallies planned in 60 countries worldwide, many outside of the Israeli embassies. In addition organizers are preparing intercontinental marches, some have already marched from to Tehran on their route to Jerusalem.  The official website of the GMJ promises;
“Massive marches will be organised from Asia, Africa and Europe to and in neighbouring countries to Palestine (Jordan, Eygpt, Syria and Lebanon) and towards Jerusalem or to the nearest point possible according to the circumstances of each country and through coordination between all groups and institutions of civil society taking part in the march, in coordination with the official and national bodies concerned.”
The group has a familiar list of supporters including,  Noble Laureates Archbishop Desmond Tutu, ANC leader Ronnie Kasrtil and Dr. Richard Falk, Professor of International Law Emeritus at Princeton University.
Inspired by changes brought by the Arab Spring, The Global March to Jerusalem is being advertised through out the Middle East. Even Al Forat TV in Iraq recently featured it.
Like there counterparts in the Arab spring, organizers of the March to Jerusalem are utilizing the internet to spread their cause.
A recent YouTube video advertising the day has received over 20000 viewers.
Campaign videos are sleek and often evoke the images of Ghandi and Martin Luther King. On March 30 2012 they claim, Jerusalem will be liberated.
The brilliance of the campaign is that it strengthens the so called “red -green alliance” against Israel. To those on the western liberal left Hamas leader Ishmal Haniyiah can depict himself as a present day Ghandi, peacefully resisting the occupation. To his Islamic supporters he can appear as the defender of Jerusalem against the Infidel.
When Israel demanded the Palestinians stop terrorism and develop a political protest movement, perhaps it should have been more careful about what it wished for.
On March 30th, Israel will have a new PR nightmare. The day after Israel will wake up to the nightmare being a reality
n Friday March 30th 2012 tens of thousands of Palestinians and their supporters will converge on Israel’s borders demanding the right to march to Jerusalem. A publicity stunt that promises to turn into a PR nightmare for Israel.
By declaring “A million man march to liberate Jerusalem,” Hamas leader Ishmael Haniyah can ignite both the Palestinian street that had laid dormant during the Arab Spring as well as gather the support of the West’s radical left. If the march is peaceful, Haniyah will depict himself as a true leader of the masses, replacing a tired and humiliated Abbas. If  demonstrators are shot by the IDF on their way to “liberate” Jerusalem it could be very hard for Israel to stop an even more violent reaction.
The Global March to Jerusalem is a problem of Israel’s own making. For nearly a decade Israel has avoided dealing with some of the real and legitimate claims of the Palestinians. Israeli public diplomacy has demanded that Palestinians end violence and move towards a political resolution of the conflict. Mass marches will be perceived worldwide as meeting this demand.
Israel’s Foreign Ministry seems unaware of the potential scale  of The Global March to Jerusalem (GMJ) and how easily it has caught the imagination of anti Israel activists worldwide.
The marches coincide with Land Day which annually commemorates the death of six Israeli arabs, who participated in a general strike in1976.
The Global March to Jerusalem (GMJ) is not the first attempt to question the sovereignty of Israel by organizing marches to challenge its internationally recognized borders. In June 2011, several protesters were injured when they attempted to cross Israel’s northern border at Majdal Shams.
Last year the killings resulting from the failed Marmara Operation lead to a crisis in Israel’s image abroad. The March to Jerusalem will, organizers promise, be even more effective;
Our plan is to organize massive marches towards Jerusalem, or to the nearest point possible according to the circumstances of each country, in Palestine (the 1948 seizures, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip) and the four neighbouring countries: Jordan, Egypt, Syria and Lebanon. Internationals will participate in land caravans or fly directly to one of the main sites for the march. “
To compound Israel’s public relations nightmare,  there are simultaneous rallies planned in 60 countries worldwide, many outside of the Israeli embassies. In addition organizers are preparing intercontinental marches, some have already marched from to Tehran on their route to Jerusalem.  The official website of the GMJ promises;
“Massive marches will be organised from Asia, Africa and Europe to and in neighbouring countries to Palestine (Jordan, Eygpt, Syria and Lebanon) and towards Jerusalem or to the nearest point possible according to the circumstances of each country and through coordination between all groups and institutions of civil society taking part in the march, in coordination with the official and national bodies concerned.”
The group has a familiar list of supporters including,  Noble Laureates Archbishop Desmond Tutu, ANC leader Ronnie Kasrtil and Dr. Richard Falk, Professor of International Law Emeritus at Princeton University.
Inspired by changes brought by the Arab Spring, The Global March to Jerusalem is being advertised through out the Middle East. Even Al Forat TV in Iraq recently featured it.
Like there counterparts in the Arab spring, organizers of the March to Jerusalem are utilizing the internet to spread their cause.
A recent YouTube video advertising the day has received over 20000 viewers.
Campaign videos are sleek and often evoke the images of Ghandi and Martin Luther King. On March 30 2012 they claim, Jerusalem will be liberated.
The brilliance of the campaign is that it strengthens the so called “red -green alliance” against Israel. To those on the western liberal left Hamas leader Ishmal Haniyiah can depict himself as a present day Ghandi, peacefully resisting the occupation. To his Islamic supporters he can appear as the defender of Jerusalem against the Infidel.
When Israel demanded the Palestinians stop terrorism and develop a political protest movement, perhaps it should have been more careful about what it wished for.
On March 30th, Israel will have a new PR nightmare. The day after Israel will wake up to the nightmare being a reality
n Friday March 30th 2012 tens of thousands of Palestinians and their supporters will converge on Israel’s borders demanding the right to march to Jerusalem. A publicity stunt that promises to turn into a PR nightmare for Israel.
By declaring “A million man march to liberate Jerusalem,” Hamas leader Ishmael Haniyah can ignite both the Palestinian street that had laid dormant during the Arab Spring as well as gather the support of the West’s radical left. If the march is peaceful, Haniyah will depict himself as a true leader of the masses, replacing a tired and humiliated Abbas. If  demonstrators are shot by the IDF on their way to “liberate” Jerusalem it could be very hard for Israel to stop an even more violent reaction.
The Global March to Jerusalem is a problem of Israel’s own making. For nearly a decade Israel has avoided dealing with some of the real and legitimate claims of the Palestinians. Israeli public diplomacy has demanded that Palestinians end violence and move towards a political resolution of the conflict. Mass marches will be perceived worldwide as meeting this demand.
Israel’s Foreign Ministry seems unaware of the potential scale  of The Global March to Jerusalem (GMJ) and how easily it has caught the imagination of anti Israel activists worldwide.
The marches coincide with Land Day which annually commemorates the death of six Israeli arabs, who participated in a general strike in1976.
The Global March to Jerusalem (GMJ) is not the first attempt to question the sovereignty of Israel by organizing marches to challenge its internationally recognized borders. In June 2011, several protesters were injured when they attempted to cross Israel’s northern border at Majdal Shams.
Last year the killings resulting from the failed Marmara Operation lead to a crisis in Israel’s image abroad. The March to Jerusalem will, organizers promise, be even more effective;
Our plan is to organize massive marches towards Jerusalem, or to the nearest point possible according to the circumstances of each country, in Palestine (the 1948 seizures, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip) and the four neighbouring countries: Jordan, Egypt, Syria and Lebanon. Internationals will participate in land caravans or fly directly to one of the main sites for the march. “
To compound Israel’s public relations nightmare,  there are simultaneous rallies planned in 60 countries worldwide, many outside of the Israeli embassies. In addition organizers are preparing intercontinental marches, some have already marched from to Tehran on their route to Jerusalem.  The official website of the GMJ promises;
“Massive marches will be organised from Asia, Africa and Europe to and in neighbouring countries to Palestine (Jordan, Eygpt, Syria and Lebanon) and towards Jerusalem or to the nearest point possible according to the circumstances of each country and through coordination between all groups and institutions of civil society taking part in the march, in coordination with the official and national bodies concerned.”
The group has a familiar list of supporters including,  Noble Laureates Archbishop Desmond Tutu, ANC leader Ronnie Kasrtil and Dr. Richard Falk, Professor of International Law Emeritus at Princeton University.
Inspired by changes brought by the Arab Spring, The Global March to Jerusalem is being advertised through out the Middle East. Even Al Forat TV in Iraq recently featured it.
Like there counterparts in the Arab spring, organizers of the March to Jerusalem are utilizing the internet to spread their cause.
A recent YouTube video advertising the day has received over 20000 viewers.
Campaign videos are sleek and often evoke the images of Ghandi and Martin Luther King. On March 30 2012 they claim, Jerusalem will be liberated.
The brilliance of the campaign is that it strengthens the so called “red -green alliance” against Israel. To those on the western liberal left Hamas leader Ishmal Haniyiah can depict himself as a present day Ghandi, peacefully resisting the occupation. To his Islamic supporters he can appear as the defender of Jerusalem against the Infidel.
When Israel demanded the Palestinians stop terrorism and develop a political protest movement, perhaps it should have been more careful about what it wished for.
On March 30th, Israel will have a new PR nightmare. The day after Israel will wake up to the nightmare being a reality
http://blogs.timesofisrael.com/israels-next-pr-nightmare/

1 comment:

  1. Don't let them into the country. Just don't let them in. That's it. We won't tolerate it - we've been pushed around all over europe - Make a stand and make it big.

    ReplyDelete