54 online
 
Most Popular Choices
Share on Facebook 15 Printer Friendly Page More Sharing
OpEdNews Op Eds    H3'ed 6/27/13

A Concise Answer to Ido Aharoni's Query "Why Boycott Israel?"

By       (Page 1 of 1 pages)   4 comments
Message Lawrence Davidson
Become a Fan
  (16 fans)
Source: To The Point Analyses

(Image by Unknown Owner)   Details   DMCA

Alice Walker

Ido Aharoni, Israel's Consul General for New York, and also "the founding head of Israel's brand-management team and the originator of the Brand Israel movement," recently wrote an op-ed in the New York Post (19 June 2013). In it he took to task the famous American novelist Alice Walker for her promotion of a cultural boycott of Israel.  

Aharoni explains that, just like most countries in the world, Israel tries to promote "an attractive image" of itself -- a sort of Israeli version of "I love New York." Since "no other country has ever been criticized for engaging in this common practice of courting tourists and businesses," why does Walker try to interfere with Israel's branding campaign?  

Ahroni knows full well why Walker does so. However, for him the racism and oppression Walker sees institutionalized in Israeli society is not a good reason for a boycott. Ahroni asserts that "Israel, like many places on Earth, experiences a variety of issues and challenges. ... Israel should not be viewed through the prism of its problems, nor should any other country." On the other hand, Ahroni wants to know why Walker is not boycotting Syria?  

The question of why Americans should boycott Israel in particular, when so many other governments and societies in the world are oppressive and brutal, is an important one. And there is indeed a good answer to it:  

The fact that Zionist influence spreads far beyond Israel's area of dominion and now influences many of the policy making institutions of western governments, and particularly that of the United States, makes it imperative that Israel's oppressive behavior be singled out as a high priority case for boycott.

In other words, unlike other oppressive and brutal governments, the Israelis and their supporters directly influence (one might say corrupt) the policy makers of many Western nations and this often makes their governments (most specifically the U.S.) accomplices in Israel's abusive policies. This being so, prioritizing Israel for boycott is not hypocrisy but rather necessity.

 

Supported 1  
Rate It | View Ratings

Lawrence Davidson Social Media Pages: Facebook page url on login Profile not filled in       Twitter page url on login Profile not filled in       Linkedin page url on login Profile not filled in       Instagram page url on login Profile not filled in

Lawrence Davidson is a history professor at West Chester University in Pennsylvania. He is the author of Foreign
Policy Inc.: Privatizing America's National Interest
; America's
Palestine: Popular and Offical Perceptions from Balfour to Israeli
Statehood
; and Islamic Fundamentalism. His academic work is focused on the history of American foreign relations with the Middle East. He also teaches courses in the history of science and modern European intellectual history.

His blog To The Point Analyses now has its own Facebook page. Along with the analyses, the Facebook page will also have reviews, pictures, and other analogous material.

Go To Commenting
The views expressed herein are the sole responsibility of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of this website or its editors.
Writers Guidelines

 
Contact AuthorContact Author Contact EditorContact Editor Author PageView Authors' Articles
Support OpEdNews

OpEdNews depends upon can't survive without your help.

If you value this article and the work of OpEdNews, please either Donate or Purchase a premium membership.

STAY IN THE KNOW
If you've enjoyed this, sign up for our daily or weekly newsletter to get lots of great progressive content.
Daily Weekly     OpEd News Newsletter
Name
Email
   (Opens new browser window)
 

Most Popular Articles by this Author:     (View All Most Popular Articles by this Author)

Where Is Joe Biden?

Nationalism vs. Capitalism: Guess Which One Wins?

Domestic Terrorism American Style -- An Analysis

Who is Right in Syria?

Australia and the Fight for Justice in Palestine

More On Savage Israel -- An Analysis

To View Comments or Join the Conversation:

Tell A Friend