Channel 4 News | Why Israel is losing the social media war over Gaza
For the first time in a major Arab-Israeli conflict, the world has access to non-traditional sources of reality such as Twitter – and it means Israel is losing the battle for hearts and minds.
Related Tweets:
4 attacks on 4 UN schools in 4 days. UNRWA gave Israel the GPS coordinates. This is nothing but intentional bombing of the schools. #Gaza
— Remi Kanazi (@Remroum) July 25, 2014
Gallup: 31% of US Democrats said Israel's actions in Gaza justified. 47% unjustified. Independents: 36% justifed, 46% unjustifed 1/2
— Laura Rozen (@lrozen) July 25, 2014
"I saw no evidence of Hamas using Palestinians as human shields" http://t.co/9hABESBGci
— Rania Khalek (@RaniaKhalek) July 25, 2014
Richard Engel: UNWRA says it conveyed location of "safe" school 12 times to Israel, including just before attack. http://t.co/9dUzQWwLqx
— Greg Mitchell (@GregMitch) July 25, 2014
House of my mom's colleague, a gynaecologist, was shelled by Israeli tanks in #Khanyounis near our home forcing my family to evacuate. #Gaza
— Jehan Alfarra (@palinoia) July 25, 2014
German astronaut orbiting the earth:
My saddest photo yet. From #ISS we can actually see explosions and rockets flying over #Gaza & #Israel pic.twitter.com/jNGWxHilSy
— Alexander Gerst (@Astro_Alex) July 23, 2014
In human folklore, all around the world, people tell stories about the suffering and unexpected triumph of the underdog.
Here’s a list of just a few underdogs who are well-known in the West: David versus Goliath. Luke Skywalker versus Darth Vader. Captain Stephen Hiller versus Alien Invaders. Harry Potter versus Voldemort.
Historically, the Jewish people were the underdog, chased from place to place around the globe by a never-ending list of “giants” who forced them to develop the resilience and creativity that is the hallmark of the underdog’s unexpected success.
But, today, Israel is the giant. The Palestinians are the underdog. And Israel is dismayed to discover that many see it as a mash up of Goliath + Darth Vader + Alien Invaders + Voldemort.
When you get power, the only way to not become a figure of evil is to be magnanimous and treat all others very well, even better than they deserve, simply because you are powerful enough to do so.
A familiar heroic example is of The Lone Ranger who was powerful enough that he could have used his gun to shoot foes through the heart, but who instead wins our favor by treating each enemy with dignity (even the baddest of the bad) and by shooting the gun out of his opponent’s hand.
The lesson for Israel? Security measures like the Iron Dome along with restraint, compassion, mercy, and dialogue are the only way to achieve peace and to be respected as a figure of power. To do otherwise is to cross to the dark side.
They are so scared of not being able to control the news they are doing this: link to independent.co.uk