jordan pulse -

Dr Ezzat Jaradat
Concept of ‘Israeli Narratives’
The term ‘Israeli narratives’ refers to stories and accounts orally transmitted from the Children of Israel, whether accurate or not depending on source credibility. Over time, many of these stories were inserted in misleading ways. Pro-Zionist writers succeeded in promoting such narratives and attributing them to religious references without evidence or academic or ethical standards.
Examples
Anti-Semitism
The term refers to peoples descended from Shem, son of Prophet Noah, including Arabs, Jews, Arameans, Akkadians and other Middle Eastern peoples. Jews managed to appropriate the term in Europe in 19th century to denote hostility towards Jews specifically, despite Semitic identity also encompassing Arabs.
With escalation of Jewish question in Europe, where resentment towards Jewish behaviour peaked, Jews exploited—and continue to exploit—the slogan of anti-Semitism whenever Jewish interests, individual or collective, face harm.
Boycott of Israel movement
Movement refers to boycott, divestment and sanctions against Israel and settlement products. With expansion of movement known as BDS, Israel launched campaign to promote settlements and their products in particular.
Israeli forums succeeded in establishing two movements:
– Holocaust promotion movement (IHRA – International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance)
– Movement opposing boycott of Israel commercially and academically and combating BDS (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions Movement)
These efforts created fear among community leaders in Europe and United States whenever attempts made to confront these movements. For example, former New York mayor banned any written or verbal opposition, questioning or defence of BDS movement.
However, new New York mayor Zohran Mamdani issued first decision cancelling ban on rejecting Holocaust commemorations or opposing boycott movement, decision considered among boldest and most challenging.