Recently the editors of TahrirSquared.com, a new Egyptian digital magazine in English, asked me to write an article about how Israelis see the Arab uprisings on their second anniversary. They were particularly interested in hearing from Israel’s Palestinian-Arab minority. This is the article I wrote for the magazine.
In February 2011, when it was clear Hosni Mubarak’s 30-year authoritarian rule over Egypt would not survive the popular uprising that had begun on January 25, the Israeli media’s reporting was characterized primarily by a combination of confusion and unease about the big issue that concerns the country above all others – security.
On the evening television magazine shows, panels of white-haired male analysts in their 60s reminisced in tones of near-nostalgia about their army service in the 1967 and 1973 wars with Egypt. They mentioned the porousness of the border in the south and implied that without Mubarak to hold them back, hordes of hostile Arabs were just waiting for an opportunity to infiltrate the country. They offered no insight into the issues that had inspired the revolution, nothing about Egyptian society, no analysis of why Mubarak was an unpopular leader, and no logical reason for implying that the peace accord would end with his rule.
A handful of journalists with dual nationality flew in to Cairo on their alternate passports. They checked in to hotels near Tahrir Square and tried to bring some insight to their reports on the revolution. Mostly, with the exception of one television report by super journalist Itai Anghel, they failed. They could not run the risk of asking anyone to speak for attribution to the Israeli media, so they were reduced to describing the atmosphere around them in broad brushstrokes.
But somehow the enthusiasm of the popular uprising, which introduced young Israelis to telegenic, articulate young Egyptian activists via social media, did have an impact.
Fast forward five months to July 2011, when tens of thousands of Israelis took to the streets to demonstrate in what became known as the social justice uprising.
From the start, it was completely clear that the organizers of the demonstrations were profoundly influenced by the Egyptian revolution. They adopted the chants of Tahrir, customizing them for their cause. Instead of “the people demand the fall of the regime” in Arabic, they chanted “the people demand social justice” in Hebrew. They carried placards that read, “Ben Ali, Mubarak, Qadhafi … Netanyahu.” One enormous banner was emblazoned with the Arabic word “erhal” – “leave” –the same word Egyptians chanted rhythmically leading up to Mubarak’s resignation. On the same banner, in Hebrew: “Egypt is here.”
In Tel Aviv, Israeli social justice activists in the summer of 2011 hold a banner emblazoned with the Arabic word “erhal” – leave. Below, the line in Hebrew reads, “Egypt is here.” (credit: Oren Ziv/Activestills)
But when Israelis tagged their tweets about the social justice demonstrations with #J14 (because the demonstrations began on July 14), in homage to the revolutionary hashtag #Jan25, Egyptian activists on Twitter made their displeasure known in very forceful terms.
Click here to read the rest of this article at TahrirSquared.com.
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Greg Pollock
Human rights logic is rather myopic. It says, “no matter what is happening, this you cannot do.” I have the impression that the Arab State upheavals are being used to deflect notice of actions on the ground in Israel and the Bank.
Perhaps all we can do is choose our prefered myopic view. Human rights is one. The settler’s God is another. At least the advocate of human rights can hold no monopoly over the concept.
XYZ
Outside of a handful of Jews who support HADASH, what does all this have to do with Israel? Those who held up the banner associating Netanyahu with Ben Ali and Mubarak must have noticed that (1) Netanyahu was easily re-elected, and (2) the social protests sputtered out and didn’t even reappear in 2012. I realize that the romance of a supposed “people’s uprising” made a handful of Israelis think they could transfer the magic to Israel and motivating a few to hold up a sign which I’m sure even most of the protestors present couldn’t relate to, but that is, of course, preposterous. Everyone sees how the Arab Spring has ignited fratricial slaughter in Syria, kept it going in Iraq, brought a Muslim Brotherhood machine to power in Egypt that faces big opposition, anarchy to Libya, and instability to even Tunisia which had a repuation for being moderate and stable in the past.
I also find it interesting that most of your Israeli Arab friends didn’t even want to be identified for this article.
Lisa Goldman
XYZ, of all the myriad comments you and your colleagues have posted on this site, I have never read one that was thoughtful, informative or even particularly intelligent. You reflexively dive in, not even reading the post properly, and dash off an ill-considered response that is the equivalent of spit, or a fly mark. You are tedious and predictable. You contribute nothing positive. Go away.
Toz Fi Morsi
Very Interesting article Lisa, although I wish you could have elaborated on the feelings more, “Feeling confused and frustration” seems very murky to me. Are Israelies aware of the spiraling complex political struggle between MB Vs National salvation front (seculars) MBs vs hardcore Activists like 6th of april, MBs Vs Nour party salafists, Alexandria Salafists vs Cairo salafists and so on?
Kiwi
You are not very impressive Lisa. You expect others to hear and heed your minority point of view. But at the first sign of disagreement from someone, XYZ, in this case, you show a very thin skin and tell him to go away.