10-7-2016 Our Misconceptions of Israel Undermine our Ability to Advocate for Peace – Huffington Post

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/57f7e919e4b0d786aa52b0c3?timestamp=1475866185281

 

…Israelis sense that their American friends sit on the moral high ground, speak of the evils of the occupation and Jewish values, but are tone deaf to the economic difficulties facing them. ..A recent Pew survey shows this gap in hard numbers. While four-in-ten Israeli Jews cite economic issues (inequality, rising housing costs, etc.) as the single biggest long-term problem facing Israel (this number is higher among Arabs), when U.S. Jews were asked the same question, almost none (1%) mentioned economic problems, and two-thirds cited various security issues as the biggest long-term problem facing Israel…As long as the pro-peace community chooses a language of universal human rights, the Israeli media can continue portraying us in pro-Palestinian colors. Only developing an understanding to Israelis' daily lives will allow us to puncture their shield of suspicion and help steer them toward peace and to an end the occupation.

 

Posted by Judith Ferster, AIME member

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