DOCSLIB.ORG

Making Aliyah to Israel's Silicon Valley

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Making Aliyah to Israel's Silicon Valley GLOBES October 2007 Translation from Hebrew article It has become customary to speak of the reverse migration from Israel with regard to hi-tech professionals. The salaries in the Diaspora, especially in the United States, are very enticing, the work is challenging, and the experience is considered critical in the challenging hi-tech world. However, have you ever imagined a positive migration to Israel? Could you ever have envisioned Jews employed in hi-tech who want to make Aliyah and are seeking to integrate into the local hi-tech arena?. As Israelis, this sounds totally surrealistic. To give up a great job, a high standard of living, great benefits and high salaries for a small country which is surrounded by enemies. With the help of Nefesh B’Nefesh, we managed to find four hi-tech professionals who decided to give up their lives in America to make Aliyah and to settle here in Israel. To Live as a Jew David Bogner was raised in Connecticut. He studied International Relations and English Literature at Yeshiva University (YU), and spent four years in the U.S Navy as a sonar technician and division petty officer on board two different frigates stationed in Pearl Harbor. He worked in several hi-tech and communication companies, including 3 different divisions of USA network (owned by Barry Diller) in the United States as well as in an Israeli telephony startup in Connecticut prior to moving to Israel. David made Aliyah in 2003 with his two children and has since had a new ‘sabra’ born as well. He is now working at Israel Aircraft Industries in their marketing and customer service divisions. Making Aliyah to In addition, he is an amateur bee-keeper, a hobby the whole family is involved with. Just this past Rosh Hashana, the Israel’s Silicon Valley Bogners collected over 55kg of honey. David Bogner grew up in Connecticut. Susan Duker was born Why did you decide to make Aliyah? Bogner: Aside from the obvious religious attraction and raised in Canada. Henry Feurte was born and raised in NY of living in Israel amongst a Jewish majority, there was actually a stronger negative impetus from feeling like a and Sim Zachs was born in West Virginia. This is the story of four second-class minority in the US. Don’t get me wrong, the US is a wonderful country and has offered greater equality American hi-tech professionals who decided to leave behind and opportunity to Jews than any country in the history of our Diaspora. But despite a clear separation of Church and their lives in the Diaspora, and move to Israel. It appears that State, the US remains a Christian society dominated by the customs and holidays of that religion. Having to explain money is not always everything. to current (or worse, potential) employers why you have to leave early on Fridays in the winter and repeatedly explain Special Supplement - 1 all these strange holidays you want to take are still very much culturally oriented to many aspects of life in the US. But off for in the fall and spring... well, it becomes our children are already 100% (okay, maybe more like 95%) Israeli... and that tiring. Also, spending a small fortune to send has always been the main goal. kids to Jewish day schools is all fine and good, but then you send them off to college What are your main challenges in comparison to your and into the work force where every aspect “previous” life outside of Israel? of their environment will conspire to undo Bogner: Keeping up the close connection with extended family and friends all that cultural education. No thank you... in the US is the main challenge. We are a close knit family, and the distance DAVID BOGNER we opted out. For all its problems and warts, makes us all work a little harder. Another challenge is constantly having to Israel is a very easy place to be, and remain, Jewish. work at lingual and cultural comprehension. These things go hand-in-hand and are a long slow road... but I have the rest of my life. My ancestors were How do you feel, now, after you have made Aliyah? ‘greenhorns’ when they came to the US and were seen as clumsy foreigners Bogner: Like I’ve been holding my breath and walking on eggshells for half for most of their adult lives. I’m just repeating the process in the place of my life... and can now suddenly relax and breathe deeply. Even the most where they really should have come in the first place. secular co-worker, tradesman or vendor in Israel knows where I go late Friday afternoon and what holidays are coming up in the calendar. Not How was your absorption here, socially speaking? only that, but when having business meetings with people - in or out of the Bogner: We had a relatively soft landing since we chose to move to a office - kosher food is a given when anyone religious is participating. community that had a sizable English speaking community (Efrat)...and where we knew forty families before we arrived. The best advice we got What did you “give up” in the Diaspora to make Aliyah? was ‘if you don’t have family in Israel to help you get settled, make sure Bogner: Higher pay, higher bills and higher expectations on the part of you move near friends... since they will become your family’. I tell this to my neighbors. I can live without all of these things since they negate one everyone I know who is contemplating Aliyah. another. Nefesh B’Nefesh provided an important framework which is often lacking... What did your spouse/family think about your decision? even with people who would really love to move to Israel. Wanting to do Bogner: The decision was a joint one made with my spouse and family. something is not the same as knowing how to go about it. Once the process My extended family was very supportive, and my parents have since made is defined, the individual concerns and worries can be categorized, prioritized Aliyah to be closer to us (a huge surprise). My siblings have also come to and cut up into manageable bites instead of completely overwhelming visit. potential Olim. Not only did Nefesh B’Nefesh speak to us in our language, but they addressed our concerns having had gone through the same Are you happy/satisfied now that you’ve made Aliyah? process themselves. Bogner: Extremely. There are obviously many cultural hurdles and barriers that my wife and I will have to deal with for the rest of our lives since we 2 - Special Supplement The Beautiful What did you “give up” in the Diaspora to make Aliyah? Duker: My salary today is lower so we live on a considerably smaller Jerusalem View budget. Otherwise the only thing I might miss is Dunkin’ Donuts. Susan Duker was born and raised in Toronto, What did your spouse/family think about Canada. She received a B.Sc from the Sy Syms your decision? School of Business with a degree in MIS. Duker: Everyone was very supportive. All my siblings and most of my She worked at PSEG (the New Jersey-based husband’s siblings are already living in Israel. SUSAN DUKER electric and gas company) where she was the senior business process design specialist, What are your main challenges in comparison to managing a nine million dollar billing system. Today Susan works at Kayote Networks, a VoIP company based in Jerusalem, managing the your “previous” life outside of Israel? company’s team of five engineers. She lives in Beit Shemesh with her Duker: I have not really become fluent in Hebrew as I work mostly in husband, Jonathan, an author and teacher, and her three sons. As a English and live in an English speaking community. I still can’t read hobby she plays basketball in the National Basketball League and is Hebrew publications, which sometimes makes me feel like I have not completely satisfied that she made Aliyah. properly integrated into Israeli society. When did you decide to make Aliyah? How was your absorption here, socially speaking? : It’s been fantastic. I think it was very easy because we moved to Duker: When I was 12 years old and I came to Israel for my first trip. Duker More specifically, my husband and I made the decision about a year an Anglo neighborhood. So many people who live here are dealing with before we came. the same challenges we are so we give each other advice and support. How do you feel, now, after you have made Aliyah? Duker: I don’t think a day goes by without me realizing how lucky I am to be here. I drive through the mountains to get to the Jerusalem Technology Park and its views never cease to amaze me. The Trauma of How do you feel, now, after you have made Aliyah? the Twin Towers Feurte: Many people have asked me this question and I tell them that Aliyah was the second best move I’ve ever made. The first was marrying Aharon (Henry) Feurte was born and raised in my wonderful wife. I feel very much at home. It wasn’t easy but it certainly Brooklyn, NY and studied biology at Brooklyn was, and still is rewarding. In Israel you can live a normal Jewish life whereas College. He worked in desktop support at Bear in galut, it was impossible. Sterns and USN Communications and then worked at Marsh Inc.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • 1 Towards a Visualisation of the Zionist Sabra 1930-1967 JC Torday
    Towards a visualisation of the Zionist Sabra 1930-1967 JC Torday A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements of the University of Brighton for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy February 2014 1 Declaration I declare that the research contained in this thesis, unless otherwise formally indicated within the text, is the original work of the author. The thesis has not been previously submitted to this or any other university for a degree, and does not incorporate any material already submitted for a degree. Signed JC Torday Dated February 2014 2 Abstract (page 3) Introduction (page 5) Research Approach (page 16) Arab Villages and colonisation (page 24) Cultural Memory and collective memory (page 31) Chapter 1: Theoretical considerations and influences on Zionist photographs (page 39) Critics of and theories about photographs (page 39) Influences on Israeli photography (page 45) Chapter 2: Zionism and colonialism (page 71) The rise of Zionism (page 71) The Iron Wall (page 76) A view from 1947 (page 81) Zionism and anti-Semitism (page 84) Zionism and Fascism (page 87) Zionism and nationalism (page 90) Colonialism (page 93) Colonialism and Zionism (97) Three waves of Jewish immigration (page 102) The Sharon Plan (page 105) Colonialism and photographs (108) Biblical archaeology (page 113) Ethnocentric myth (page 119) Chapter 3: Photography in the Holy Land and beyond (page 121) Beginnings (page 121) Photographs in the Yishuv (page 130) Photographs in Israel (page 147) Chapter 4: The Sabra (page 174) The myth of the Sabra (page
    [Show full text]
  • Israel at 70
    Israel at 70 Israel as a Double Gift Dr. Ari Berman, President, Yeshiva University Our generation is blessed to witness the 70th birthday of the modern State of Israel. While the State of Israel is of profound importance to Jews everywhere, it holds unique resonance for us as religious Zionists, for it potentially signals the coming of a long-hoped-for redemption. Consequently, as we reflect upon the seven decades since Israel’s birth, it is useful to clarify the way in which a modern nation-state like Israel can herald redemption. Of the many foundational ideas that Biblical Israel has contributed to the history of civilization, perhaps the most ambitious is the concept of a collective redemption—the notion that not only should individuals strive for their ultimate betterment, but that society can and must move history forward together. Reflections on this theme are most concentrated in the Bible’s prophetic literature. Broadly speaking, one finds therein two contrasting models for what redemption entails, the first represented in the book of Ezekiel, the second in the book of Isaiah. Ezekiel, in chapter 37, envisions redemption as a project fundamentally benefitting the Jewish people. Although dispersed throughout the world, and oppressed throughout history, this paradigmatic minority will one day be revived. The climax of Ezekiel’s best known eschatological prophecy—his vision of the valley of the dry bones—is God’s promise to His people: “I will bring you back to the land of Israel” (37:12). For Ezekiel, the goal of the redemptive process is internally oriented. Isaiah, by contrast, consistently articulates a redemptive vision that encompasses all of humanity.
    [Show full text]
  • The Israeli Diaspora As a Catalyst for Jewish Peoplehood
    The Israeli Diaspora as a Catalyst for Jewish Peoplehood An Emerging Opportunity within the Changing Relationship between Israel and the Jewish world Conceptual Framework Adar 5772 March 2012 1 March 2012 Table of Contents Acknowledgments ........................................................................................................... 2 The team .......................................................................................................................... 2 Executive summary ........................................................................................................ 4 Guidelines for quick reading ......................................................................................... 9 Background ..................................................................................................................... 9 Chapter 1: Changing paradigm in Israel-Jewish world relations ............................. 9 The 'old relationship' between Israel and the Jewish world ................................ 10 A new relationship: Jewish Peoplehood is taking center-stage ........................... 11 Chapter 2: The changing nature of the Israeli Diaspora .......................................... 13 The current mindset vis-à-vis the Israeli Diaspora ............................................... 13 The changing reality vis-à-vis the Israeli Diaspora .............................................. 15 Chapter 3: The opportunity: The Israeli Diaspora as a catalyst for Peoplehood .. 18 Emergence of an Israeli Social
    [Show full text]
  • Inquiries Into Economies of Violence in Israel/Palestine
    INQUIRIES INTO ECONOMIES OF VIOLENCE IN ISRAEL/PALESTINE A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE GRADUATE DIVISION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAI‘I AT MĀNOA IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN POLITICAL SCIENCE DECEMBER 2016 By François-Xavier Plasse-Couture Dissertation committee 1. Michael J. Shapiro, chairperson 2. Kathy Ferguson 3. Jairus Grove 4. Samson Okoth Opondo 5. Laura Lyons Keywords: Israel, Palestine, violence, race, settler colonialism, biopolitics To Anouk, Romy, Mimi, and Laurence, generous, intelligent, unique and loving women who thought me the most and have always been with me, even in difficult times. You are my inspiration. ii Acknowledgements I would like to thank the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) for the financial support that made this research possible. Additionally, I want to thank my supervisor and true friend Michael J. Shapiro for his patience, dedication, generosity, support, numerous and precious advices, his friendship, for nurturing such a young and inspiring scholarly open mind and be such a great inspiration. I am grateful to Samson Opondo for his time and generosity, for his wise comments, suggestions, discussions and encouragements on the various projects’ steps, from the proposal to the submission. I am thankful to Jairus Grove, Kathy Ferguson, and Laura Lyons for their useful and constructive comments on the various steps that lead to completion of this dissertation. I am also indebted to Philippe Beaulieu-Brossard, Samuel Vaillancourt, Joan Deas, David Grondin, Ben Schrader, Breanne Gallagher, Katie Brennan, Sharain Naylor, Rex Troumbley, Julia Guimaraes, Akta Kaushal, Noah Viernes, Nicole Grove, John Sweeney, Simon Hogue, Tani Sebro, Jimmy Weir, Yair Geva, Shiri Hornik, Amit Friedman, Avner Peled for their friendship, support, useful comments, suggestions, and generous help at various stages of the project be it during a seminar, a conference, or around a pint.
    [Show full text]
  • 18 Chapter One Making the Desert Bloom: New Jew, Ancient Orient
    Chapter one Making the Desert Bloom: New Jew, Ancient Orient and the Construction of the Sabra 18 1 Chapter O 19 1.1 From Basel to Tel Hai…from Hashomer to the Establishment of the IDF I must train the youth to be soldiers. But only a professional army. Strength: one tenth of the male population: less would not suffice internally. However, I educate one and all to be free and strong men, ready to serve as volunteers if necessary. Education by means of patriotic songs, the Maccabean tradition, religion, heroic stage-plays, honor (Theodor Herzl, 1956). From Basel to Tel Hai... “The nation’s self representation always involves myth about the nation’s creation and about its members” (Mayer, 2000, p.9). According to Mayer, in Zionism, too, as in other nationalisms, myth and memory have been crucial to the construction of the nation. Referring to a hill near .( ציון) The term ‘Zionism’ itself is derived from the biblical word Tzion Jerusalem, this term is symbolic of Eretz Israel , the Land of Israel. The term refers to the ancient patrimony of the Jews which, according to Jewish mythology, was promised by Yahweh to Abraham and his descendents, the ‘Children of Israel”. The first use of the term “Zionism” is attributed to the Austrian Nathan Bimrnbaum, founder of a nationalist Jewish students’ movement called Kadimah . Bimrnbaum first used the term in his journal Selbstemanzipation (Self Emancipation ), published between 1885 and 1894, with some interruptions, and renamed Juedische Volkszeitung in 1894. Zionism does not have a uniform ideology, but has evolved through a dialogue among a plethora of ideologies.
    [Show full text]
  • Israeli Author Amos Oz Once Said About His Country
    Prof. Dr. Anat Feinberg Hochschule für jüdische Studien, Heidelberg Hebrew Literature and Israeli History DKFZ, Heidelberg, 18.7.2008 Ladies and Gentlemen, Gvirotai ve-rabotai The best-known Israeli author worldwide, Amos Oz, once said about his country: “This nation was not built on the valour of the army, it was founded on books.” And anyone aware of the role which literature has been playing throughout the turbulant history of the Jewish people and into the present, will doubtlessly agree with him. In a country with over seven million residents, writers are recognised and much-respected figures. They voice their opinion on cultural and political issues and contribute extensively to public discourse. Authors such as Amos Oz, Zeruya Shalev and David Grossman sell well over 80,000 copies of any new title and the weekly bestseller list features older and younger writers, serious and trivial literature, historical novels along with thrillers. One tendency is conscpicuous: More and more Israelis read books in the national language, namely in Hebrew. Indeed, the renaissance of the Hebrew language is to my mind one of most fabulous accomplishments of the Zionist movement. The Hebrew language which for generations was merely a written language, that of the Scriptures and the liturgy, read at best, but hardly spoken, was awakened as it were from its beauty´s sleep and newly moulded in the Jewish Altneuland, to use Theodor Herzl´s name for the new home in Palestine. Indeed, Hebrew has become the language of daily life in Israel, the language which unites immigrants from Russia, Yemen, Germany and the United States, a means of communication as well as the natural fabric of literature.
    [Show full text]
  • OZ, YEHOSHUA, and GROSSMAN: POST-ZIONIST NARRATIVES by Copyright 2013 Nitzan Meltzer M.A., University of Kansas 2013
    OZ, YEHOSHUA, AND GROSSMAN: POST-ZIONIST NARRATIVES By Copyright 2013 Nitzan Meltzer M.A., University of Kansas 2013 Submitted to the Department of English and the Graduate Faculty of the University of Kansas in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts __________Cheryl Lester___________ Chairperson ______Byron Caminero-Santangelo____ __________Renee Perelmutter________ Date defended April 17th, 2013 ii The Thesis Committee for Nitzan Meltzer certifies that this is the approved version of the following thesis: OZ, YEHOSHUA, AND GROSSMAN: POST-ZIONIST NARRATIVES ___________Cheryl Lester__________ Chairperson ___________April 17th 2013_________ Date approved iii Absract Ranen Omer-Sherman has called David Grossman, Amos Oz, and A. B. Yehoshua the three most internationally acclaimed Israeli writers. They are also three secular Israeli men who grew up with the State of Israel, and whose writings reflect the changes in prevailing social attitudes throughout its history. All three authors reveal through their recent work (specifically, novels published in first decade of the 21st century) some aspect of Post-Zionism in literary choices that mark a departure from or a reimagining of the ideologies the modern State was founded upon, and that these authors invariably grew up with. An examination of these Post-Zionist visions is important both in terms of understanding popular cultural trends of the State but also as statements about Israel's place in on a global stage that increasingly contends with questions about the international power structures of the 20th century. The purpose of my thesis is to examine the ways that these authors challenge traditional representations of institutions of Zionism including the kibbutz and the IDF, and how they give unprecedented voice to the various populations that make up the State today, including Arabs and women.
    [Show full text]
  • Guide for the New and Visiting Faculty
    GUIDE FOR THE NEW AND FOR VISITING FACULTY GUIDE FOR THE NEW AND VISITING FACULTY Twelfth Edition The Hebrew University of Jerusalem Guide For The New And Visiting Faculty CONTENTS | 2 CONTENTS FOREWORD 3 The Pscyho-Educational Service 65 Health Services in Schools 65 CHAPTER ONE English for English Speakers 65 THE HEBREW UNIVERSITY OF JERUSALEM 4 Extracurricular Activities 66 The Adviser’s Office 4 Sports 66 Introduction to the Hebrew University of Jerusalem 5 Music and Art 66 The Edmond J. Safra (Givat Ram) Campus 6 Other Activities 67 The Ein Kerem Campus 7 Community Centers 67 The Rehovot Campus 7 Youth Movements 67 Libraries 8 Field Schools 68 Other University Units 12 Summer, Hanukkah and Passover Camps 68 The Rothberg International School 15 CHAPTER SIX International Degree Programs 18 UNIVERSITY, ADULT, AND CONTINUING EDUCATION 70 Non-Degree Graduate Programs 19 Academic Year 21 The Hebrew University of Jerusalem 70 Adult Education 71 CHAPTER TWO Hebrew Language Studies 72 FACILITIES ON CAMPUS 22 CHAPTER SEVEN Getting There 22 GETTING TO KNOW JERUSALEM: LIFESTYLE AND CULTURE 73 Security: Entry to Campus 24 Administration 26 General Information 73 Traditional and Religious Activities 30 Leisure Time 74 Academon 32 Touring Jerusalem 74 Performing Arts 76 CHAPTER THREE Cafés, Bars and Discotheques 76 PLANNING TO COME 40 Cinema 76 Visa Information 40 Media 77 Salaries and Taxes 42 Museums 78 Income Tax 42 Libraries 81 Value Added Tax (VAT/“ma’am”) 43 CHAPTER EIGHT National Insurance (Bituah Leumi) 43 OUT AND ABOUT IN JERUSALEM 82
    [Show full text]
  • The Israeli Diaspora As a Catalyst for Jewish Peoplehood
    The Israeli Diaspora as a Catalyst for Jewish Peoplehood An Emerging Opportunity within the Changing Relationship between Israel and the Jewish world Conceptual Framework Adar 5772 March 2012 1 March 2012 Table of Contents Acknowledgments ........................................................................................................... 2 The team .......................................................................................................................... 2 Executive summary ........................................................................................................ 4 Guidelines for quick reading ......................................................................................... 9 Background ..................................................................................................................... 9 Chapter 1: Changing paradigm in Israel-Jewish world relations ............................. 9 The 'old relationship' between Israel and the Jewish world ................................ 10 A new relationship: Jewish Peoplehood is taking center-stage ........................... 11 Chapter 2: The changing nature of the Israeli Diaspora .......................................... 13 The current mindset vis-à-vis the Israeli Diaspora ............................................... 13 The changing reality vis-à-vis the Israeli Diaspora .............................................. 15 Chapter 3: The opportunity: The Israeli Diaspora as a catalyst for Peoplehood .. 18 Emergence of an Israeli Social
    [Show full text]
  • The National Jewish Post & Opinion 7-13-11
    The Jewish Post &Opinion Volume 77, Number 10 • July 13, 2011 • 11 Tammuz 5771 www.jewishpostopinion.com “Hey, Dad, I mean Abba, will my Big Wheeler Over 100 children were among the 245 make it there okay like that?” asks twenty month- Olim who departed JFK Airport on old Haya (left) on her way from Monday, July 11, 2011 on this summer’s New Jersey to her new life in first charter Aliyah flight organized by Ramat Bet Shemesh, Nefesh B’Nefesh in cooperation with the Israel. Photo credit: Jewish Agency. On board the plane were Shahar Azran. 45 families and 51 singles, 15 of whom will be joining the IDF. The Olim range in age from 2 months to 81 years old. Founded in 2002, Nefesh B’Nefesh in cooperation with the Israeli government and the Jewish Agency for Israel, is dedicated to revitalizing Aliyah from North America and the UK by removing OnOn theirtheir wayway or minimizing the financial, professional, logistical and social obstacles of Aliyah. The support and comprehensive social toto aa newnew lifelife services provided by Nefesh B'Nefesh to its 27,000 newcomers, has ensured that 98% of its Olim have remained in Israel. inin Israel!Israel! Visit www.nbn.org.il. July 13, 2011 The Jewish Post & Opinion 2 Teachings of the Kotzker Rebbe.” It was Editorial taught by Yitzhak Buxbaum, a mystic, a Inside this Issue maggid, and an author of ten books, including Jewish Spiritual Practices and Nefesh B’Nefesh.............................Cover The theme of this year’s 14th The Light and Fire of the Baal Shem Tov.He Editorial.....................................................2 International Jewish Renewal Kallah was founded and directs the first ever program Rabbi Benzion Cohen “Or Chadash: Enrich, Inspire, and Brighten to train and ordain maggidim.
    [Show full text]
  • Introduction the Hummus Wars
    Introduction the hummus wars On March 14, 2006, New York–based Sabra Foods, partly owned by Strauss-Elite, Israel’s leading food producer, set a Guinness World Record for the largest plate of hummus ever, 3.5 meters in diameter and 400 kilos (800 pounds) in weight. Sabra’s American CEO, Yehudah Pearl, explained that this publicity stunt was aimed at expanding Sabra’s market share and increas- ing the popularity of hummus in America.1 Th e brand name Sabra (tzabar in Hebrew) evokes notions of national and ethnic identity. Tzabar (or, colloquially, sabres), means prickly pear, but it is used in modern Hebrew to denote a Jew born in Israel—that is, a native Israeli Jew. Israeli Jews oft en describe themselves as prickly on the outside but sweet within (Almog 2000, 4)—tough at fi rst but sensitive and kind once you get to know them. Paradoxically, the cactus is a recent arrival from the New World, a diehard, drought-resistant plant used by Palestinian farmers under Ottoman rule to delineate their fi elds. As a consequence, sabres grow nowadays mainly on the ruins of Palestinian villages (Ben Ze’ev 2011). Th is culinary symbol is therefore multivocal and evokes both an endorsing self-perception of Israeli Jews and the memory of the displaced Palestinians and their 1948 ruin. In this sense, the brand name Sabra exposes the ambigu- ity embedded in the “Israelization” of hummus: both prickly pears and hummus are conceived by Israeli Jews as symbols of their own localness, but since both are actually pre-Zionist, they uncover a continued Palestinian presence.
    [Show full text]
  • THE OCCUPATION of the AMERICAN MIND Israel’S Public Relations War in the U.S
    THE OCCUPATION OF THE AMERICAN MIND Israel’s Public Relations War in the U.S. [Transcript] Introduction Text on screen: “It doesn't matter if justice is on your side. You have to depict your position as just.” – Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel Narrator: On July 8, 2014, Israel launched a devastating military attack on the Gaza Strip. Over the course of 51 days, the Israeli military dropped nearly 20,000 tons of explosives on Gaza, a densely populated area the size of Philadelphia, killing over 2,000 Palestinians and wounding tens of thousands more. The overwhelming majority of these casualties were civilians. Television news montage: This strip of land is being bombarded from the air, sea, and land… Israel launched at least 160 strikes on the Gaza strip… And there’s one less hospital in Gaza now. Israel today flattened Wafa Hospital. Narrator: The sheer scale of the attacks sparked outrage and condemnation around the world. News anchor: Israel’s month-long pounding of Gaza shocked many people around the world. Mass demonstrations have been held in many of the world’s major cities. Narrator: But in the United States, the story was different. Polls showed the American people holding firm in their support for Israel. Anderson Cooper, CNN anchor: This is the latest CNN-ORC poll of Americans – shows 57% of those polled say Israel’s action in Gaza is justified, 34% say unjustified. Narrator: These numbers were striking, but they weren’t new. Over the course of a conflict in which Palestinian casualties have far outnumbered Israeli casualties, the American people have consistently shown far more sympathy for Israelis than for Palestinians.
    [Show full text]