After stonewalling for two and a half years in the face of being accused of every human rights abuse in the book and a few that haven’t even been invented yet, Israel finally hung one of its own out to dry. The whole world and Zionist slacktivists and thinkfluencers and even a fellow Israeli cabinet minister went after National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir after a video he posted yelling at zip-tied detained activists made Israel look bad and appeared to confirm everyone’s worst suspicions about the country. Possible war crimes can be argued around and lawyered down, but yelling at people and looking like you enjoy it? Indefensible. 

These activists had arrived as part of the latest flotilla, a plucky li’l assortment of semi-seaworthy vessels deliberately chosen to contrast with the mighty Israeli navy. The flotillae have been challenging the Israeli naval blockade of Gaza with such regularity that it has become a sort of annual pilgrimage. The point, stated aloud and clearly by those involved and their supporters, is less about actually delivering any aid and/or weapons to beleaguered Gaza, and more about daring Israel to do anything about the attempt. 

There was a moment before the brief window of acceptable self-criticism slammed shut where the more self-aware among us could have wondered how it is that Israel and her supporters continue to gripe about losing the information war while engaging in much publicized rough........

© Canadian Jewish News