The Israel Project Recommends Stoking 9/11 Immigration Fears In ‘Right Of Return’ Talking Points
The Israel Project Recommends Stoking 9/11 Immigration Fears In ‘Right Of Return’ Talking Points
The Israel Project (TIP), a pro-Israel Washington-based group dedicated to educating the press and the public on Israeli issues, is advising its supporters to invoke the United States’ immigration concerns as a general rule when discussing Israel’s “right of return” debate because it resonates with Americans’ fear of immigrants. Its 2009 Global Language Dictionary, described as “a manual on how to talk to journalists and opinion molders about the Arab-Israeli conflict,” states:
“Mass Palestinian immigration.” Thanks to 9/11 and the continuing threat of terrorism, Americans are particularly afraid of mass immigration of anyone right now. Comparing the challenges facing Americans in dealing with unrestricted immigration and Israel’s situation will be well received.
Thanks to 9/11 and the continuing threat of terrorism? You’d think the pro-Israel hawks would be a little more sensitive to the blatant exploitation of the violent deaths of thousands of people at the hands of hateful insurgents and the constant fear of future attacks.
Not only are TIP’s “talking points” shamelessly offensive, they’re also based on a total misinterpretation of the immigration issue in the United States. TIP is debating that the “right of return” principle doesn’t apply to the thousands of Palestinian refugees and their descendants that were forced from their homes in Israel, which doesn’t really have anything to do with immigration at all. Secondly, the only people who are framing the immigration issue in America using scare tactics like the ones TIP recommends are anti-immigrant xenophobes. Chances are someone like nativist Mark Krikorian isn’t going to help them win over any level-headed supporters. By appealing to the worse instincts of Americans, TIP isn’t contributing much to either the “right of return” or the immigration debate.
7 Responses to “The Israel Project Recommends Stoking 9/11 Immigration Fears In ‘Right Of Return’ Talking Points”
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It’s a 116 page document. You quoted a five line passage. Let’s do better next time. Try reading the entire thing. Yes you can!
July 11th, 2009 at 12:54 pmThe return of refugees is the return of refugees, not mass immigration. So, maybe, the return should be denied because of lag time — the departure in 1948 was soooo long ago. And it’s not just the original refugees, but their descendants — that’s just toooo many. Who could possibly countenance such an untimely and large return?
Of course, the last Jewish departure was in 77 CE. If ever there was a return of refugees which constituted mass immigration, it would be the creation of Israel. And none of those “refugees” had been alive in the year 77.
So, the reasons for denying the return of the Arab refugees are the same that should have prevented the creation of Israel?
July 11th, 2009 at 4:41 pm^Agreed^ The Jews lost their lease over 1,900 years ago. The great good will the civilized world held toward the 20th Century Hebrews after their Nazi horror is playing out rapidly.
July 11th, 2009 at 6:13 pm“xenophobes”, btw.
July 11th, 2009 at 7:37 pm^Ad hominem^ is failure, Mr. Durrett. [btw]
July 12th, 2009 at 10:25 pmCare to try it again?
At least they admit to scapegoating migrants for their own purposes. It’s better than scapegoating migrants while pretending that it’s about the economy, healthcare, education, or any number of issues that people use migrants to blame for.
July 13th, 2009 at 5:16 amI’ve read the whole thing & blogged extensively about it (see attached link) & Nill has got it precisely right. This is a piece of agitprop with absolutely no factual value.
If you disagree why don’t you read the entire document yrself & tell us what facts or useful information you’ve been able to glean fr. it.
July 13th, 2009 at 5:16 pm