Updated April 11, 2000
Recent months have seen intensive efforts on the part of the Government of
Israel, supported by the Israeli public, to advance the peace negotiations
with Syria, Lebanon and the Palestinians, while strengthening and
deepening its political dialogue with the two neighboring states with
which Israel has entered into treaties of peace - Jordan and Egypt.
It is against this background that the rhetoric voiced in some Arab
countries in recent weeks, and especially in the last few days, is of deep
concern to Israel. Certain parts of the Arab world have regressed to an
era which we thought would never return: an era of incitement, hostility,
and demonization of the Israeli 'enemy' and its leadership. This has been
expressed in such incidents as the burning in effigy of Prime Minister
Barak in the streets of Beirut, the superimposition of Hitler's face on a
photo of Foreign Minister Levy, the widely used comparison of Israeli
policy with Nazism, recent inciteful expressions by Syrian Foreign
Minister A-Shara, inflammatory commentaries appearing in the official
Syrian daily 'Teshreen' and other incidents.
This incitement is often inspired by official sources within these Arab
states. They include statements by leaders and officials, and agitation
orchestrated by the official establishment media. The message permeates
throughout the public strata and stokes the anti-Israeli atmosphere to
worrisome levels - this at a time when reconciliation and
confidence-building are needed most.
The Holocaust was the greatest tragedy experienced by mankind, certainly
in the last century, and particularly by the Jewish people. The
parallels being drawn in the Arab world between Israel and Nazism are
unacceptable and offensive, and constitute a depreciation of the
historical uniqueness of the phenomenon of the Holocaust.
The means used by elements within the Arab side - incitement and
demonization - are contrary to the concept of peace and engender much
doubt and questioning among the public and the government in Israel
regarding their true intent.
Faced with calls to punish Israel just as 'the racist Haider' is being
punished, and when such terms as 'racist', 'fascist', and 'Nazi' are being
widely used to describe Israel - it is hard to expect the Israeli
government to continue in the peace process as if nothing has happened.
If such rhetoric is being used by the Arabs as a means to advance their
cause in the peace negotiations, Israel will not bow to such pressure.
The peace-loving elements within the Arab world - in government, official
institutions, the media and among the opinion-makers - should be called
upon to halt the ugly wave of incitement and the unbridled style being
used in the radio stations of Cairo, Damascus and Beirut, and in the
editorials and opinion pieces published in such newspapers as Teshreen,
Al-Aharam, Al-Thawra, Al-Akhbar, Al-Rai, Al Baath, and others.
Just as there is no realistic alternative to the peace process, there is
also no alternative to a mature dialogue between governments and peoples
in order to bring about a transition from an era of confrontation to an
era of peaceful co-existence, from an era of isolation to an era of
cooperation, and from an era of denigration and demonization to an era of
mutual respect.
Examples of Anti-Israeli Rhetoric in the Arab Media
Excerpts from Speech by Hizbullah Secretary-General Nasrallah - April 9, 2000
In the wake of Papal visit:
Jerusalem Mufti Says Jews Exploit Holocaust - Translation of interview to La Republica, March 24, 2000 (MEMRI)
On March 22, the Palestinian daily "Al-Hayat al-Jedida" featured a front page
caricature portraying the Pope declaring: 'May there be Peace throughout the
Land', while a Satanic-looking Jewish figure labeled 'Israeli Colonialism'
replies: 'May there be Settlements throughout the Land'.
The following are a few examples of the anti-Israeli and anti-Semitic
rhetoric which has been presented in the Arab media in recent
weeks (Syria, Egypt, Qatar, Palestinians):
From the official Syrian daily Teshreen:
"At the same time that Israel is engaged in organizing international
conventions to commemorate the Holocaust, and Zionists are trying to
gag the world and prevent it from stating the truth on the subject,
Israel is itself pursuing a 'Holocaust policy' against Lebanon. ... I
think there is no greater distortion of facts and history than this."
(Editorial by Editor-in-Chief Mohammed Hir el-Wadi, February 21,
2000)
"Israel - which presents itself as the heirs of the victims of the
Holocaust - has committed, and continues to commit crimes which are
even more horrible and heinous than those committed by the
Nazis."
(Editorial by Editor-in-Chief Mohammed Hir el-Wadi, January 31,
2000)
From the official Syrian daily Al-Thawra:
"Israel has revealed itself as a entity steeped in racism, hate, and
state-sponsored terrorism, which has surpassed even the Nazis in its
criminal acts of murder, destruction and devastation, and in its
disdain for humanity."
(Editorial by Editor Muhammed Ali Bouzha, February 22, 2000)
Two weeks of the dream time - Al-Thawra, Syria, Mar 5, 2000
http://www.thawra.com/report/dream.html
"Burned . Burns . Burning . Holocaust" - Al-Thawra, Syria, Feb 28, 2000
http://www.thawra.com/report/holocaust.html
"The Great Change will be Realized" - Al-Thawra, Syria, Feb 21, 2000
http://www.thawra.com/report/great.html
"Barak's Priorities" - Al-Thawra, Syria, Feb 18, 2000
http://www.thawra.com/report/priority.html
"A Sentimental Stance with the National Ego" - Al-Thawra, Feb 15, 2000
http://www.thawra.com/report/ego.html
From the official Syrian 'Radio Damascus':
"The Zionists, who claim that they are the victims of Nazism, have
been the diligent students of Nazism. From the Nazis they have
learned the most brutal methods of tormenting ethnic minorities, and
have carried them out against the Palestinian-Arab and the
Lebanese-Arab people."
('Palestine Corner', January 4, 2000)
"Even the prison camps of the Nazis were less barbaric than those of
the Israelis."
('Palestine Corner', January 8, 2000)
From the Egyptian 'Radio Sawt al-Arab':
"Does [Israeli Foreign Minister] David Levy really have the right to
speak of Hitler's crematoria while his government has created a true
Nazi-style crematorium for the fraternal people of Lebanon?!"
(Commentary, February 10, 2000)
From the Egyptian establishment daily Al-Akhbar:
"Extortion is the lifeblood of the State of Israel, since the
inception of this blackmailing country to this very day. This
extortion began with the creation of the Holocaust myth, according to
which Hitler cremated 6 million Jews in World War II."
(Commentary, February 11, 2000)
From Al-Ahram Weekly, Egypt:
Caricature of Barak Confronting Haider, Feb 17-23, 2000
http://www.ahram.org.eg/weekly/2000/469/cartoon.htm
From the Qatari daily Al-Watan:
On February 21, Al-Watan published a caricature of Israeli Prime
Minister Barak depicted as Adolf Hitler, and dressed in a Nazi
uniform and a swastika armband. In the background is seen an Israeli
warplane bombing Lebanon, and a caption reading "Nazi Practices".
(see http://www.al-watan.com/2000/02/21/med/cartoon-main.htm)
From the Palestinian Al-Hayat al Jedida:
"Economic Advisor to Arafat and Palestinian Deputy Minister of
Economic Affairs Maher el-Kurd stated in Ramallah that 'Israel is
attempting to turn the Gaza area into a concentration camp, similar
to those of the Second World War'."
(News Report, February 8, 2000)
On March 22, the Palestinian daily "Al-Hayat al-Jedida" featured a front page
caricature portraying the Pope declaring: 'May there be Peace throughout the
Land', while a Satanic-looking Jewish figure labeled 'Israeli Colonialism'
replies: 'May there be Settlements throughout the Land'.
Jerusalem Mufti Says Jews Exploit Holocaust - Translation of interview to La Republica, March 24, 2000 (MEMRI)