There are not many countries that yearn for respect and reputation as much as Israel. From the Olympics to Eurovision, through the championship in shesh-beshu (backgammon). Every Israeli victory in the round of 16 at the badminton championship is "national pride", every medal from the taekwondo competition in Albania "represents honor". The floor exercise gold medal puts Israel on the world map, the European surfing competition changes the status of the country. Is the former Israeli singer representing Luxembourg at Eurovision this year? Another reason for "blue and white pride".1)
The childish longing for recognition could be touching and even heartbreaking - a young country paving its own way - if not for other more important issues. If the successes in sports and Eurovision are taken away, Israel is a country without honor. He can imagine that Eden Golan's performance in Malmo will hide what is going on at Han Younis, but that is wishful thinking.2)
It is incredible that a country that cares so much about its honor acts as if its international standing is not a concern at all. The war in Gaza has brought the country's status to an unprecedented low, but Israel is childishly squinting and thinking that no one will see it in its shame. He does nothing to improve his status, his reputation, to regain at least some honor.
It is hard to say if there is another country in the world that has been brought to The Hague twice within a few weeks by its own actions. The claim of genocide and the discussion of the occupation under the unbearably grave suspicion that it is patently illegal.
And Israel? He acts like he thinks the spit of contempt on his face is just rain. Israel blames the judge, that son of a bitch, anti-Semitism, hypocrisy and malice of the world, but it does not see its own fault. He is not interested in that. All major world media broadcast the session of the court in The Hague this week, and only Israel ignores it. It is not interesting or important to him. If we close our eyes, they won't see us. If we ignore it, The Hague will cease to exist.
But the Hague exists and shouts at the top of its voice, which should cause great shame and embarrassment here. After the world saw Gaza and was horrified - there is no man who did not react that way - the court hearings in The Hague followed. Insightful, grounded and serious about genocide, and even more so about occupation. However, Israel ignores them.
Israel is preparing to occupy Rafah, although this will further degrade its status, and will not participate in the discussions in The Hague, although this will make it clear that it has nothing to say in its defense. Israel renounced the remnants of its dignity. He doesn't care if he becomes an ostracized and marginalized country - at least the whole world is against us, it doesn't matter how we behave - as long as it doesn't result in practical steps against Israel.
But in addition to the supply of weapons, the veto in the Security Council and the lack of sanctions so far, there is something more important for the state as well as for the man, and that is his good name. Israel renounced it. Maybe he lost hope in the world, maybe he discovered that it is possible without him. The world is not in its immediate deliberations, before and after every war. Gone are the days when the world was in love with Israel, while the country behaved like a member of the family of nations. The world may be cynical and love only force, as Israel tells itself, but in that world there is also justice, international court and moral considerations, civil society and public opinion. And they are just as important, at least as much as the third "respectable" place at Eurovision 2023.
(Haaretz; Peščanik.net; translation from Hebrew: Alma Ferhat)
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1) The term "kahol levan" (the blue and white color of the flag) is used to indicate that something is Israeli.
2) The representative for Eurovision has been chosen, but the song for the performance is still being considered. They will probably go with the patriotic version in order to once again explain to the world what happened on October 7. Eden Golan was born in Israel, but she lived in Moscow for a long time, so the media is now discussing whether the bad image of Russia will affect her placement in the competition.
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