The Western stance on the recent tragic events in Gaza has surprised many. Some have observed a perceived bias in European and American media outlets towards Israel. Furthermore, there have been instances of refusal to permit pro-Palestinian demonstrations in Western cities, and cases of individuals facing punishment or job terminations for expressing dissenting opinions. This has led some commentators and analysts to label these actions as double standards and Western hypocrisy.
However, it's crucial to consider several key points. First, many Western governments and legislative bodies have previously classified "Hamas" as a "terrorist" organization, and this classification remains unchallenged. Consequently, any military actions carried out by "Hamas" are viewed as acts of terrorism from their perspective, and condemnation is seen as appropriate.
Second, the majority of critics of Western media are often accused of bias and lack of credibility. Still, they are quick to praise these media outlets when their reporting aligns with their own viewpoints. This inconsistency can erode the credibility of these criticisms.
Third, it's important to acknowledge the numerous Western thinkers, including a significant percentage of Jews and even Israelis, who have consistently supported the Palestinian cause and related issues. However, their efforts often go unnoticed or unappreciated by those who could benefit from their support. This lack of recognition can contribute to a sense of neglect.
Israeli best-selling science author Yuval Harari says the dead cannot be brought back to life, and personal traumas will never be completely healed. But we must prevent further escalation. The conflict is currently being led by “religious fanatics,” and this makes reconciliation and understanding very difficult, and external powers must intervene to calm the conflict.
As for Uri Avnery, the Israeli journalist, writer and peace advocate, he was one of the first to stand with the Palestinian right, as did the late great Israeli writer Amos Oz, who came up with the idea of the two-state solution and author of “In the Land of Israel.” There is Yossi Beilin, the former Israeli politician, and Gideon Levy, the columnist for Haaretz, a staunch defender of Palestinian rights. Tzvia Greenfield, Member of the Knesset, known for her positions on human rights and the Palestinian issue.
There is also the British Jewish historian Avi Shalem, and Ilan Pappé, a professor of history at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, and hundreds of other enlightened thinkers and free people of the world. This is in addition to several Israeli organizations concerned with human rights, which have long defended the rights of the Palestinians, inside and outside Israel. Among them are former Israeli fighters who previously refused to participate in any wars.
The government thanked the charitable organizations for their approval to organize a fundraising campaign to provide relief to the afflicted people of Gaza.
In order to make the benefit greater, as we and our colleague Khaled Al-Bahr have previously called for, the government must prevent associations from deducting the percentage of “those in charge of them,” especially since the victims of Gaza are more deserving of this money than the associations.
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By Ahmed alsarraf
