

The capital of South Africa by Carlos Latuff

Student hasbarists are exhausted whitewashing Israel’s apartheid on campuses all across America. That’s not the overall conclusion of a blunt Ynet Op-ed by Israeli journalist Steve Rubin, it’s what’s reflected in the exasperation expressed towards the end.

Is Israel losing the battle? is about the expanding movement of solidarity on US campuses, what Rubin references as a ‘Palestinian narrative’. Yep Steve, American kids like human rights. Sounding the alarm too; “the existential threat that Iran poses to Israel is not nearly as threatening as is the one coming from those that will eventually be influencing American foreign policy and its policies towards Israel.” Triple ouch.

With regards to college campuses, this is not an issue of bigoted anti-Semitism; rather, it is a case of educated and intelligent young adults who have been easily and convincingly swayed by an overwhelmingly powerful Palestinian narrative. Even more troubling is that these well-educated, anti-Israel activists are the future of America and its leadership. This is a new generation that is no longer enamored with the State of Israel; rather, it is increasingly angry and cannot comprehend how America can maintain such steadfast support for the Jewish state. It is this same generation that will be leading America over the next 50 years – a period that will prove to be ever so critical in terms of Israel’s prolonged survival. As for the American Jewish community, there has been an increased disillusionment with the State of Israel’s policies. No longer is Israel the mighty David that defeated the Arab Goliath in a fight for its survival. Rather, it has become an added headache in trying to explain and understand Israel’s prolonged policies in a way that connects to their “American-Liberal” perspectives.

Shocking/not.

Ultimately, Rubin fails to ‘get it’. He thinks Israel is its own worst enemy because it doesn’t have the ‘proper resources in place’ to educate the cream of the crop of American youth. Talk about having blinders on; open your eyes Steve, you said it yourself, ‘disillusionment’ with Israel’s policies. So why not suggest Israel change those policies? Can you even say Apartheid? Because that is what we see.

(Hat tip Karen Platt)