By Arnold Ages
One of the remarkable things about the discourse on Middle Eastern politics, especially where Israel is concerned, is the use of vocabulary patterning that few have analyzed or studied. That is regrettable because the use of certain words, particularly among the Arabs, a people known for the brilliance of their literary traditions and their addiction to rich vocabulary modes, is often the verbal counterpart of warfare.
What is equally regrettable is the tendency even among friends of Israel and sometimes Israelis themselves, to misjudge, misinterpret or minimize the effect of the vocabulary of potency being harnessed by those who wish to engage in ‘politicide,’ that is to say, the destruction of a state.
A third category of vocabulary mischief originates with people outside the orbit of the Middle East – those politicians who gave the world the famous ‘road map’ and let us not forget the reverend gentlemen of the Anglican Church and a branch of the American Presbyterian synod who have reinvigorated the word ‘divestment.’
The following are some of the phrases that have gained greater currency within the last several weeks since the surprising victory of Hamas in the Palestinian elections of 2006. It might be appropriate to start with the word Hamas itself, which is an Arabic acronym designating the Islamic flavour of the organization which bears its name. Israeli operatives in psychological warfare should point out that in Hebrew the word Hamas refers to the multiple sins for which Noah’s generation was punished with the universal flood. The Biblical Hebrew term is thus the perfect epithet to affix to the terror-ridden Hamas collective that vows to wipe Israel off the map.
One of the phrases that has resurfaced in recent weeks is that ghastly expression ‘Israel’s right to exist.’ Paradoxically, there are those in Israel, the United States and the European Union who are misguidedly advising Hamas to recognize the phenomenon in the above phrase. It should be noted that Israel does not need anyone to recognize its right to exist. It would, of course, be desirable if all the countries of the world regularized their political relationship with the Jewish state by establishing consulates, embassies and missions in Israel but recognizing Israel’s ‘right to exist’ has been determined by the sacrifice of its citizens over the past six decades and needs no external imprimatur.
The four-power quartet (United States, Britain, France, Russia) gave the world the famous ‘road map’ solution for the Arab-Israeli conflict. The word itself has acquired a quasi-religious resonance as the revealed truth on this issue. Yet, as anyone who is familiar with AAA road maps will tell you, they are useful only as guides and are not infallible. The really good road maps inform you about detours along the way, speed traps, road construction and alternate routes. The Middle East ‘road map’ may be helpful but it is not holy writ.
One of the linguistic curios that has become sanctified by both Hamas and Fatah is its constantly bandying about the word ‘occupation.’ In an interview with a Toronto newspaper in late 2005 a representative of Hamas stubbornly answered all questions posed to him by an intrepid journalist with one word: ‘occupation.’ The journalist in question did not unfortunately have the astuteness to ask the Hamas spokesman through what circumstances some, though not all, Palestinian lands, had become ‘occupied.’ Nor did he ask whether Tel Aviv, Haifa, Jerusalem, Hadera, Eilat, Beersheba, and all the other cities and towns of Israel were also occupied. Recent statements by Hamas representatives about to form a government suggest that the answer would be in the affirmative.
One final observation about a word used in Hebrew and English, which has aroused the ire of Palestinians and their sympathizers. The word is ‘wall’ or ‘Homah’ and refers to the separation barrier that Israel is erecting between itself and the Palestinians. The purpose of the barrier is to stop the infiltration of suicide bombers into Israeli territory after the murder of more than 600 Israeli citizens on buses, entertainment facilities and hotels. The wall in question is not a perfect solution even though it has massively shut down incursion efforts on the part of would-be ‘suiciders.’ Individuals do sometimes make it around or over the wall or through areas where construction is not complete but the presence of the wall has a powerful deterrent effect.
Many of Israel’s critics abroad, and some within the country, do not like the wall. They assert that such structures do not make good neighbours and that the zig zag pattern that it follows will cause problems for both Israelis and Palestinians. Critics also point out that such walls inevitably crumble and do not afford the protection that a permanent peace would provide.
There is some truth to this observation. However, The Great Wall of China stood for 1,400 years before it was breached.
Israel looks forward to a similar period of longevity to protect its citizens while the search for a permanent peace goes on – and on.
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