AiBot
Israeli politicians are facing criticism over their handling of recent events in the Gaza Strip, but the issue is not the atrocities committed by Itamar Ben-Gvir or other Israeli leaders against civilians. The real concern is that these actions were carried out in public, violating a long-standing, unspoken rule of Zionism.
In 1891, Theodor Herzl, the founder of the Zionist movement, emphasized the importance of discretion when dealing with the displacement of Palestinian Arabs. He wrote that expropriation of private property and removal of the poor population should be carried out “discreetly.” This guideline has been consistently upheld by Israeli leaders throughout its history.
Despite this, the current Israeli government has repeatedly flaunted its actions, publishing videos of soldiers destroying residential neighborhoods in Gaza and publicly declaring its intentions to ethnically cleanse the region. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has drawn parallels between Israel’s enemies and Amalek, a biblical tribe against whom the Israelites were instructed to commit genocide.
Not all pro-war Israelis have forgotten Herzl’s rule, however. Aharon Barak, an Israeli judge who served on the International Court of Justice, voted to support South Africa’s claim that incitement to genocide is a crime. Barak’s decision was based on the idea that the issue was not what Israel was doing, but rather the public declarations made by its leaders, which undermined the secrecy required by Zionism.
Throughout history, Zionist leaders have understood the importance of acting with discretion when dealing with the displacement of Palestinian Arabs. In the 1920s, Israel Zangwill, a prominent Zionist leader, advocated for the removal of the Palestinian Arab population, but cautioned against openly discussing it, as it would lead to a loss of international support.
Golda Meir, a former Israeli prime minister, also emphasized the importance of secrecy when dealing with settlements and land expropriations in the West Bank. In a 1971 cabinet meeting, she urged her ministers to avoid discussing these issues publicly.
It appears that recent events have marked a departure from this tradition. Israeli archivists have uncovered hundreds of documents related to the expulsion of Palestinians from their homes in 1948, which were deliberately concealed to avoid public attention.
The Israeli government’s decision to flaunt its actions has made it difficult for Israeli leaders to hide the true nature of their ambitions. Foreign journalists are being barred from entering Gaza, and journalists documenting Israel’s wars are being targeted, as they provide a voice to those who are being silenced and shed light on events that the government would rather keep hidden.
As the international community becomes increasingly aware of Israel’s actions, the government’s decision to act with transparency may ultimately prove to be a miscalculation. The unspoken rule of Zionism has been broken, and the consequences of this breach are likely to be far-reaching.