Somebody on Quora asked:
What myths about Israel both you?
I answered:
Firstly, I live in Israel and politically I am mostly a strong supporter. I say that because it might otherwise seem strange that the myths I take issue with are actually criticisms of pro-Israel talking points.
“Israel is the only democracy in the Middle East.” It’s more democratic than its neighbors, but the truth is that, to a significant extent, Israel is a semi-theocratic state. It’s also difficult for me to think of Israel as a vibrant democracy when its prime-minister is seeking to pass a law granting him immunity from prosecution, routinely vilifies the media (now the judiciary), and — at one time — held five government ministries. I’m not saying that Israel’s mode of governance is necessarily a bad one, but I think that describing it as a democracy is false advertising.
“There is no apartheid in Israel. Arabs and Jews live in total harmony.” The Apartheid analogy is completely false and reprehensible, in my view. However, I also think it is disingenuous to claim that there is complete integration in Israel. Having lived in Jerusalem for almost five years, I can tell you that there is very, very little day-to-day interaction between the two sides of the city — save in workplaces and the contrived setting of dialogue groups.
“Israeli Arabs have it better than Arabs in any other country.” Again, I think it is unfair to make this claim solely because they might have a higher per-capita GDP or live in a comparatively stable democracy – say more stable than Syria.
“Israeli Arabs….”
This is slightly controversial, but I think that most Israeli-Arabs understand themselves as ’48 Palestinians — those that took Israeli citizenship in order to support their tribe in the West Bank to achieve statehood. If they do not regard themselves as “Israeli” nor feel allegiance to the State because it of its Jewish character — which they understandably feel alienated from— then why are we persisting with the illusion of forcing upon them a name that they themselves reject in their own discourse?
“Jerusalem is united. It must never be divided again.” Jerusalem is “united” only by the absence of a physical boundary, as existed when Jordan manned the city’s divide. In every possible respect — developmental, social, political, and cultural — the city is cut in half by an invisible wall. You call that a “united” city?
“The West Bank Barrier is actually mostly just a smart fence — not the concrete fortification depicted in the media” This actually isn’t a myth but it matters not one iota. For what it’s worth, I support the West Bank Barrier and think that until and unless the Palestinians relinquish their violent struggle against Israel that it will remain a necessity. But I also can’t quite understand its inclusion in the hasbarists’ playbook.
