Tents and generators

OPINION PIECE BY ROBERT FESTENSTEIN

I wrote a couple of weeks ago about the use of language and in particular the word ‘occupation’. It occurred to me that there are many other words and phrases which have crept into the debate on Israel which for some are accepted as fact without any justification.

We have got so immersed in these various phrases that many of us have simply lost the plot in advocating for Israel and particularly peace. In no particular order then, let’s have a look at some of these. Borders. A simple word you might think but one which is seriously misused. Although many find history dull or even irrelevant when talking about the Israel/ Palestine issue, it is vital to gain an understanding of what happened and when. In May 1948 Israel declared independence followed by a war which lasted until February/March of the following year. There was no peace agreement, just an armistice which still applies to the line between Israel and the land west of the river Jordan – Judea and Samaria. That armistice line is called the green line. It is not a border and any reference to it as such is simply incorrect. Talk of return therefore to pre-1967 borders in the context of land East of Tel Aviv is meaningless.

JERUSALEM.

Easy you might think since it is readily identifiable. Not so. When used with the word occupation, it means that this is a divided city. In other words, the Kottel (western retaining wall of the second temple) is over the green line and therefore for some is in disputed territory. As an aside, it is disappointing that in all the rhetoric from our communal leaders about a two-state solution, there is little said about Jerusalem being a united city and very little said when the BBC and others talk about East Jerusalem as if it were a different city.

SETTLERS AND SETTLEMENTS.

These are used in so many pejorative ways and nearly always as an accompaniment to overt or discreet criticism of Israel. Again, as an aside I don’t remember reading on the BBC website anything about illegal buildings erected by Palestinians. Back though to the settlers, the impression given is that of fanatical Jews (rarely Israelis) pitching a tent and powering their lights by generator whilst they dig latrines for toilets and cook over a campfire. I am sure the reason for this is that if there is an impression of a temporary habitation, it will be very easy simply to take the tents down and shoo the naughty Jews back over the green line to where they belong. Or even further depending on who is doing the shooing. The reality is that very many of the towns over the green line are just that, towns with decent infrastructure serving solidly built neighbourhoods which are worlds apart from the idea of tents and primus stoves.

For those of you who might say I am repeating myself from earlier articles I say you are correct, because I cannot emphasise how important language is and how as a community, we have missed this over and over again. It is bad enough that those who dislike us use terms which are incorrect, it really is galling that some of those who claim to be leaders do the same. It is time to deal with this and now, because the longer it goes on the easier it becomes for inaccurate information (or lies if you prefer) to be accepted as fact.

Robert Festenstein is a practising solicitor and has been the principal of his Salford based firm for over 20 years. He has fought BDS motions to the Court of Appeal and is President of the Zionist Central Council in Manchester which serves to protect and defend the democratic State of Israel.