Western colonizers and imperialists have used various psychological and propaganda tools to justify their conquest and exploitation.
For instance, they came up with a narrative that the native people are stupid, lazy and primitive so it is the white man’s burden to bring proper education and development for the native people. Following their logic, the freedom fighters were called traitors.
Similarly, various psychological and propaganda tools have been used to justify Israeli occupation and war crimes in Palestine as well as ensure that the world remains silent. The freedom fighters are called terrorists and anyone criticizing Israel is called antisemitic.
Now, despite the mainstream media’s effort in manufacturing consent for Palestinian genocide, the world has started to realize that antisemitism propaganda has been used to cover up the heinous reality of Israeli occupation and war crimes in Palestine.
Even before the Taufan Al-Aqsa, academics and prominent figures from all around the world including Jewish intellectuals and religious leaders have signed “The Elephant in the Room” petition calling Israel a regime of apartheid and demanding the upholding of equality and human rights for Palestinians.
Inspired by the South African anti-apartheid movement, the Boycott Divestment and Sanction (BDS) movement was founded in 2005 to hold companies and institutions accountable for supporting Israel’s occupation through various economic, academic and cultural boycott campaigns.
Boycotts, sanctions, trade embargoes, suspension of aid as well as prohibition of investment and other capital flows are some of the common means in economic warfare since the Napoleonic era to weaken the enemy’s economy and thereby reduce its political and military power.
The effectiveness of the BDS movement has been questioned and examined but even with a dim light of hope to free Palestine through the non-violent pressure led by NGOs, Israel views it as a threat and describes it as antisemitic.
The US has passed the law to prevent boycotts of Israel and the UK is also introducing a similar law despite criticism of violating freedom of expression. They are also imposing sanctions on individuals and entities who support Palestinian freedom fighters in the name of war against terrorism.
Economic and psychological warfare has become an important means of waging and winning war. Despite the steadfast resistance of Palestinians, Palestine’s freedom also depends on the hearts and minds of the people around the world.
Dr Adilah Zafirah Mohd Suberi
Penyelidik IRIS Institute
References
- Ahmed, Y. & McDonnell, E. (2023, June 30). UK Anti-Boycott Bill on the Wrong Side of History
- Al Jazeera. (2023, August 27). ‘Accusing Israel of apartheid is not anti-Semitic’: Holocaust historian
- Anti-Defamation League ADL https://www.adl.org/
- BDS Movement https://bdsmovement.net/
- McEachern, J. A. (1949). History of economic warfare.
- Patel, V. (2923, Nov 20). At University of Arkansas, a State Law Stifles Pro-Palestinian Speakers. The New York Times.
- Psaledakis, D. (2023, November 15). US, UK impose new round of sanctions on Hamas following attack. Reuters.
- Rooney, K. & Keramati, S. (2023, November 13). Why are newsrooms manufacturing consent for Palestinian genocide? PRISM
- Segal, R. (2023, October 24). Israel must stop weaponising the Holocaust. The Guardian
- Shapira, A. (1995). Anti-Semitism and Zionism. Modern Judaism, 15(3), 215–232.
- Syed Hussein Alatas. (1977). The myth of the lazy native : a study of the image of the Malays, Filipinos and Javanese from the 16th to the 20th century and its function in the ideology of colonial capitalism
- Van Ells, M. D. (1995). Assuming the White Man’s Burden: The Seizure of the Philippines, 1898-1902. Philippine Studies, 43(4), 607–622.
- Yousef Al-Helou. (2019, July 8). Why is the rise of BDS worldwide worrying Israel? Middle East Monitor
