Arab World: “We Stopped Saying Israel…”
by Anas Qtiesh
Wednesday, January 28th, 2009
@ 07:12 UTC
On ne dit plus Israel…...
The controversy over the war on Gaza is never ending. Voices calling to prosecute the Israeli officials and officers for war crimes led to warning top Israeli officials against traveling to Europe in fear of impending war crime law suits. Others still claim that what happened during the Israeli aggression was actually in self defense. The Arab online community, getting sick and frustrated at the atrocities that were happening and the media warring that was going on both online and offline, launched a campaign that was sparked by the following tweet (message on microblogging site twitter):
Sarah_elsherif
“We Stop saying Israel and we say israHell”
" توقفنا عن قولكلمة اسرائيل ونقول اسراهل "
Alloush [ar] from Syria explains the idea behind the campaign to start using the word Israhell:
الواقع يقول أن إسرائيل في احتلالها للعرب ارتكبت أفظع المجازر وأقذر الأفعال التي شكلت معاناة انسانية حقيقية لهويتنا العربية، الواقعية تقول أنها Israhell وليس Israel، ما هي الترجمة الأصح لهذا المصطلح الجديد، هل نقول إسراحيم [إسرائيل+جحيم]، أم إسرارير [إسرائيل+شرير]، أم نلتزم بـ إسراهل، ربما كيان الجحيم أفضل ترجمة.
Reality says the Israel committed the most horrendous massacres and dirtiest actions by occupying the Arab lands, and this really shook our Arab identity. Reality says that it's Israhell and not Israel. What's the best translation for this new term? Should we say Israhell (Israel+Hell) or Isravil (Israel+Evil)? Maybe Hell Entity is the best translation [into Arabic].
The campaign got its artwork from the popular art websiteDeviantArt by Algerian designer Hamoud.
The design attracted a flood of comments from people on both sides of the line of fire. DeviantArt user ~Arkangel-Wulf jumps to defend the Israeli side saying:
Your thoughts and opinions are your own. But this is not an appropriate place to voice these opinions. Freedom of speech is only just until it's used to hurt others. Not all of Israel is behind their militarist's decisions. Don't scorn an entire country for the actions of a few.
We also see another online initiative - the Israeli Crimes Against Humanity Encyclopedia [ar/en]- which is a joint effort of Syrian, Egyptian and Saudi bloggers - documenting the success of the campaign:
we got IsraHell about 40.000 result 6 days ago
2 days ago we were about 102.00
now we are about 117.000
The post is dates back to January 15th, 2008. A search at the time of writing this post shows 127,000 results.
While military operations are currently on hold, no one knows for how long this fragile ceasefire would hold, and when would all hellbreak loose again.
Posted by Anas Qtiesh
13 Responses to
“Arab World: “We Stopped Saying Israel…””
1. January 28th, 2009 at 7:33 am
Jew:
1
How clever. If Egypt is so much nicer place than Israhell, why don’t you convince your Arab brothers in Israhell to move to Egypt. We would really appreciate that.
2. January 28th, 2009 at 7:40 am
Aftermath, Day #10 « Intern in Israel:
2
[...] Wednesday, January 28, 2009 by Intern in Israel Israeli aircraft strike Gaza tunnels-residents Abbed Rabbo Area: One Family’s Story, with photos Jan 27: At Al Wafa - Saja and Cease firing, with photos Today’s Photo Noa Calls for Israel to Rid Gaza of Hamas ‘Cancer’ Arab World: “We Stopped Saying Israel…” [...]
3. January 28th, 2009 at 10:08 am
Maysaloon:
3
Anas,
Where is the controversy over the war in Gaza? I think outrage would have been a better word.
Regards,
Maysaloon
4. January 28th, 2009 at 22:53 pm
Stan R:
4
I have nothing calling Israel an “Israhell” better than killing innocent people. But of course I will be fighting hard against this perception. Mr. Alloush from Syria writes:
“Reality says the Israel committed the most horrendous massacres and dirtiest actions by occupying the Arab lands, and this really shook our Arab identity.”
Who gave you rights to so called “Arab” lands? The present Arab occupiers took it from previous occupiers. Difference is only few hundred years. Syria is only a country since 1946. Whom did you “steal it from”? The Medina used to be a Jewish city (Check Koran) It was destroyed personally by Mohammed killing all the male inhabitants keeping only the Jewish women. People from Medina be careful what you say, maybe and probably you are Jewish. What I am trying to say people are moving from one place to other for very long time. This conflict is not about land but about power. Unfortunately, “Israhell” people are more powerful then you but they also want to live in peace. Stop looking back to 7th Century when you were tribal superpower. World is moving toward global nation now, join it!
5. January 29th, 2009 at 7:23 am
Badrul Islam:
5
The First factor is the high illiteracy rate amongst the mainly dominated Muslim areas, with exception of few, perhaps Gulf and Turkey and Egypt). The lack of education plus inability to build a good Media centre like CNN,BBC–now of course we have the Aljazeera- is the reason why the brighter side of ISLAM is not Beijing reached to the outer world specially the Western Countries. Its imperative to develop this sectors so that Christians known that Biblical events and Muslim events are similar with exception that we don’t believe that Jesus is the son of God ; but a Prophet and that he is the sign that God can perform Miracle like the way miracles were shown to Moses.
The next important thing is to develop the infrastructure of all the Muslim countries in agriculture, industrial ,trade and commerce– so that Muslim world is less dependent on Western Countries.
Third the UNITY of the whole region comprising the Middle-East and others Muslim must be made– the Westerners utilize this weakness and encourage Muslim country to dominate over each other and so supply arms that they keep on fighting for domination.
For those who are journalists here please try to write articles in different papers to raise the public conscious and raise these with their Government.
Unless the systems of the Muslims countries change– we will continue to be defeated by the Western countries.
Let’s pray for change in the Muslim world
6. January 29th, 2009 at 16:00 pm
Liveblogging the Conflict: Thurs Jan 29th, 2009 | Israellycool:
6
[...] Anti-Israel bloggers have launched a new online campaign: stop referring to Israel as “Israel” but as [...]
7. January 29th, 2009 at 22:17 pm
Stan R:
7
You are right Badrul people in Arab world are uneducated and used by your leaders but also by UN leaders for their selfish ends. To today in Globe&Mail (Canadian relatively conservative, business newspaper) came out the story about the UN bombing in Gaza on January 6th. What I had been expecting it’s not truth. Only what is truth that 90 % of Gaza population depends on UN charity. You have to understand the UN does not do it for benefit of Gaza but for their own benefit. Look what happened in Africa. They destroyed local farming and economy with “free” food. The estimate it will take at least 10 years to fix it. In Gaza it allowed the Hamas to spend millions on guns instead of taking care of people.
8. January 30th, 2009 at 9:16 am
Badrul Islam:
8
Stan,
Un is only good for emergency relief operations like Refugee operations and Relief operations following war or cyclone etc- apart from this as you correctly mention their development program stinks and you see increase of poverty and corrupt government world over– UN Should be closed.
Now while again it is true that US should change its attitude if they really want change that President 0bama strongly voices i.e. it must sit and tell Israel that item might join the Arab world for against it– telling Israel it will stop Arms is now useless as Israel has so much weapons that without supply from US n Europe it can continue war for more than year– the only threat of joining Arabs will halt their aggression and there should be Arms embargo for Palestine too- weapons means they will never sit for negotiation but will think of how to kill.
Meanwhile the Arabs must unite and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia must take the lead because it has better relation with US and US agree with KSA that Israel return back to 1967 positions.
This history of this conflict is so complex that one will find it difficult to understand the underlying interests.
Unity and Development programs without or with limited foreign aid should be started to reduce dependency of Western Aid.
Hopefully the Muslim world will take this opportunity and also bring CHANGE– 0bama hasn’t outlined what change he will bring and one sentence worries me–is opening clinched fists– for that opening should be done mutually by all parties.
The US general public are educated and are building pressure of wrong US policy what I wonder why it also doesn’t now pressurize the Jewish Lobby to see the reality.
Within their own Country US faces Multi-problems hopefully inability to meet those demands will not encourage to start fresh War to divert the public and say now its more important to save the people of Israel more than solutions to American people- will the Americans tolerate this???
9. January 30th, 2009 at 19:35 pm
Stan R:
9
Hi Badrul:
Problem is that Palestine as an independent country economically can’t survive. There was an interview last year on Israeli TV with Palestinian politician from West Bank. He spent many years in Israeli prison, He was fluent in Hebrew. Educated Palestinians know that they have to have a economic relationship with economically stronger country. They would prefer Israel but they have problem with Arab perception and at this moment Israeli distrust. For that reason now the Israeli politicians are talking about first economic build up of Palestine. Second independence to give time to breath and maybe a federated state. Many educated Palestinians would like to jump and go into federated state but at this moment it’s not possible. Even you are still using tribal nationalistic terminology. Many Israelis have a same problem. It will take some time to move European Union model in Middle East.
10. January 31st, 2009 at 5:31 am
Badrul Islam:
10
Stan,
Appreciate yr cordial comments and criticism– what lines make me sound like using tribal nationalistic- I should learn to improve to pave views better.
The economic position and capability of Palestine is known and therefore I agree if a joint economic cooperation can be made and yr guess could prove more correct about federation system.
Right now however even with the best intention of US; mind you 0bama has studied public reaction and is reason why he speaks of CHANGE- but must be realistic and not dress-rehearsal. Mitchell did well for North Ireland but Tony here was a blunder and if you remember and check internet you will find opinions to prove that he too was responsible to feed wrong data and start the turmoil in Iraq. Mind you no one liked Saddam not even the Muslim world but you have seen a Country destroyed and many Americans and Coalition soldiers die–loss to the parents not the Politicians. Am sure you r aware of all these.
Right now after Michel submits his evaluation the US President and his team must have to tell ISRAEL that we may change support– telling ISRAEL tom unclench fists and that ARMS supply will be stopped is of no use now–they have been stocked up well and can continue fighting for more than a year within which they can wipe Palestine out. Arms suppliers must be warned not to supply to Hamas too and a support for long term cease-fire should be ensured.
But Israel has to realize reality that they are encroachers- history says so- if they wish to continue they have to live with good relations with all Palestine and Arabs.
Meanwhile from the Muslim world there must be a equal amount of reciprocation i.e. warning to Hamas or Hezbollah or Fatah and a peace plan that will be supervised by them to ensure no more fighting. And somewhere down the line they Must wake up to make their countries free from dependence of the West.
Remember that when the East India Company from Britain made India a colony the main Monarch i.e. the Queen and the general public British dint know what actually was happening–they were told that they are training and make Indians human– meanwhile they treated them as slaves — as same as the Blacks were treated in America.
You have a good mind and hopefully you would write to papers in US and try to create an opinion which should be humane– I will try this this side but sometimes the Newspapers refuses to publish articles.
Let’s hope we can continue educating each other and debate points to find a solution. How do we get to write to the Senator ???
11. January 31st, 2009 at 16:32 pm
Stan R:
11
Hi Bedrul:
You, and people like you, who have to write to US, Israeli or European newspapers to show a different face of Middle East population. What they see is an extreme religious tribal nationalistic groups with huge chip on the shoulder who are willing to kill or die for their beliefs. People here same I am sure like average person in Middle East wants to have a choice. We are slowly moving from nation-state to regional-state based on social and economic interests. The Islamic (common religion) based co-operation what you advocate is very un-acceptable to rest of the world. The wars were fought in past and US is based on the separation of state and religion because of that. Unfortunately even Israel is moving toward the tribal religious state as a response to outside treats. There are only about 10% of population who subscribe to that premise but with each attack, killings or political treat, more and more people jump a fence. On both sides average but opened minded people have to be heard.
12. February 1st, 2009 at 16:29 pm
Krista Gum:
12
Hi!
Indian people, Arabs, Orientals do not always “remember” that the European elite kept their (working) people(s) as slaves too. The industrial revolution (1850 - ) relayed on forced labor, child abuse and sufferings. Though middle-eastern prominences around 1900 where interested in f.ex. the freedom ideas of the French revolution, the railway etc, they did not see that European values where all fascistic.
That’s why no light is to be seen in this conflict between modern Israel and middle-east Arabs if not the western values are merged with oriental and US-European power is weakened of climate- and environmental coercion and US-European financial (economical) system’s defeat.
13. February 2nd, 2009 at 9:41 am
Badrul Islam:
13
Stan,
Good suggestions but can you help in providing some names with website address.
The extreme part of our religion is being made a propaganda of by the a group of Politicians because most Americans by now have sought various clarifications through website and are aware that the only difference is that you call Jesus son of God and we say Jesus is a prophet sent by God as HE sent several others to teach mankind– also American and Christians are aware that Jewish– Judaism accepts the same that Jesus is a Prophet and Judaism is more close than Christianity to Islam– in any case difference between three is very narrow but style in Prayers vary.
History has proof of the wild acts performed in none of Christianity too–like white brotherhood– and I am not saying that Muslims are perfect like WHTTEBROTHERHOOD claimed–to err is human and yes due to illiteracy handling of issues are not correct; But excuse America and Europe has where education n literacy are highest and they are more economically sound– they should know the facts and its time THEY TALK openly with ISRAELIS- that Support blindly will no longer be there.
Also you general people like must initiate too as we from Asia are trying.
Am waiting for yr forwarding me some email address of some Columnists and Journalists and newspaper Editors.
http://globalvoicesonline.org/2009/0...saying-israel/