Kim Kardashian to name her kid Gertrud?? WTF

Great, now I have your attention.

You wouldn’t have clicked this link if I had written “Samer ilIssawi is dying of hunger”, would you?

I am not judging you. I am asking you to not be in denial. You are more attracted to Hollywood, but that’s just the way we were raised. And it’s okay, sometimes I catch myself watching mindless E! reality shows as well…but we should not let that overshadow humanity. 

 

So now that I have your attention: Samer ilIssawi is dying.

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I applaud those who have continued to read. It means you care. It means your mind is not filled with complete nonsense about celebrities that only care from your existence because they make money from you.

Who is Samer ilIssawi? Well, he certainly isn’t Kim Kardashian. But he is someone who’s got injustice’s cruel hands clamped to his neck, killing him slowly and painfully. You see, Samer is an innocent man like you and I except at the same time, he isn’t. He hasn’t eaten for 200 days. Why not? Because he is fighting. He’s fighting for his freedom and the freedom of all those unjustly detained by Israel without trial or charge. So basically, he is sitting in jail without anyone having proof that he committed a crime. Isn’t that a little more astonishing than the name Gertrud? I think it is. 

And now, I bet you’re wondering, “Okay great…now I know who he is but what can I do about it?”. Well, I’m here to tell you that Samer, and countless of other prisoners, is in this position because we don’t know his story. Because the media and humanity in general don’t know what is going on. So now you know what is going on. Spread the word. He is the voice of Palestine and we need to be his microphone.

Join us every day on Twitter and make some noise. Watch the Khader Adnan Twitter that tweets daily hashtags we can use to contact media, or anyone, to talk about his and the Palestinian hunger strikers’ stories. Its the least we can do. And one thing will lead to another, eventually.

The Red Cross has stated that Samer ilIssawi’s heart could stop at any moment. The time to act is now

Why Hezbollah can’t fire a rocket into Israel

With the attacks on Gaza escalating, everyone feels incredibly helpless. No one knows how long it will last or how many more people will be killed by the monstrous Israeli regime. Palestinian resistances are confined by the inhumane seven year siege of Gaza and  are unable to receive decent weaponry to fight this “war”. While they have been successful in many operations, such as sending rockets to Tel Aviv for the first time in 21 years and downing drones, resistance in Gaza is still being pummeled by the technologically advanced Israeli army. What could they possibly do with Egypt restraining movement through Rafah disallowing people to even take refuge from the ongoing bombardment?

One would think it would be a fabulous idea to assume Hezbollah should get involved. Well, it’s not.

Actually, it’s a really illogical idea or claim to make. Now, there are some making this “point” with the motive of trying to discredit Hezbollah’s support for the Palestinian cause. “Oh, does Hezbollah really care about Palestine? THEN WHY AREN’T THEY FIRING ROCKETS INTO ISRAEL, HUH?”. I’m not trying to sound like a mouthpiece, but everyone thinks I am anyway so I may as well just go with it- supporting a cause is different than fighting for a cause. While there have been reports that Hezbollah fighters had attempted to enter Gaza in 2008-09, no one can actually say that they haven’t indirectly aided the resistance. I can only really say this based on assumptions, but I feel like it’s a legitimate thought: the rockets that hit Tel Aviv were Fajr 5 rockets from Iran. One of Hezbollah’s biggest allies is Iran. After the Tel Aviv rocket fire, Sayyed Nasrallah held a speech congratulating the resistance further elaborating what a Fajr 5 rocket is and its velocity and importance. I just thought it was ironic and perhaps people would like to chew on that for a bit. However, these are simply my feelings and theory.

But then, there are those, who just lack common sense. These are the same kind of people who use the excuse that the Syrian regime is not pro-Palestinian ( not that I am claiming it to be, but the following statement is ridiculous) because they’ve never fired a bullet into Golan Heights (which they have, this past week.)

Guys. Please hear me out.

If a couple of rockets from Gaza results in week long violence and nearly 70 people murdered…what do you think Israel will do to Lebanon? Just allow a barrage of rocket fire to hit Israel and not retaliate? And we have seen Israeli retaliation. They have absolutely no remorse for civilians and will purposely target as many as they can. If we want the killing to stop in Gaza, how is it logical to bring south Lebanon into it as well?

Another point is, that if Israel gets into it with Hezbollah, it will be the ugliest war this region has ever seen. Since the 2006 war was seen as a defeat by even Israel themselves, do you think they’re going to just leave Lebanon alone and not come back with the vilest form of revenge? They are waiting at the edge of their seats for Hezbollah attack in attempt to blame them, as they did in 2006.  The cause of Palestine is divided in Lebanon. Not all Lebanese, even supporters of Hezbollah, support bringing down Lebanon because of Palestine, to put it bluntly. It’s not right since we are all technically the same land, but that’s a whole other blog. If in 2006, Hezbollah’s supporters were attacking them, calling them disproportional for plunging Lebanon into a war by kidnapping the two Israeli soldiers for the SAKE of LEBANON their own COUNTRY, just imagine if they did for Palestine. It was only after the war that people acknowledged that the kidnappings were successful in the prisoner swap.

Why did I feel the need to blog about this? Well because first of all- I have been asked so many times why Hezbollah hasn’t interfered as if I can give a confirmed answer (I don’t think it’s necessary to say that everything I’ve written is my 2 cents) and secondly, I just feel like some people are looking at this situation too black and white. South Lebanon is a ticking time bomb. It’s calm now, but it will explode one day. The liberation is temporary as long as Israel exists. Hezbollah still has a war they are fighting here in Lebanon. They must be strategic in their aid for Palestine and not recklessly start shooting rockets from Lebanese land….or else Israel will just use that excuse to occupy South Lebanon again for 22 years.

Accept the truth before it destroys us.

Recently, a controversy has erupted in the activism world regarding the Palestinian cause and the fight against Zionism. Electronic Intifada covered a story claiming a member of the Free Gaza movement left an offensive, anti-Semitic tweet. It resulted in criticism of Electronic Intifada’s professionalism as well as accusations of them spying. Since then, the story has indeed developed and has left us into what is now a huge mess of questioning journalistic and activism credibility . Many see it was defamation and slandering, others see it as someone’s incapability as an activist to claim responsibility and admit they did something they shouldn’t have done. It has caused an even larger disunion in an already shaky atmosphere where many have fallen victim to being discredited based on their beliefs or political views.

However, I believe that the  people who are viewing this as a mindless dig really need to see it for what it is.  It’s not exposing for the worse, it’s for the sake and benefit of a truthful cause. Instead of dragging on the situation and lying about what happened, you can use one of these two choices: say you’re sorry for being offensive or say “well this is my view, suck it up”. If they choose the latter, the controversy will then surround the individual and not intefer with our cause. End of story.

An apology and explanation was issued after the tweet, the apology was deemed suspicious, more evidence was given to prove that  there was more than one tweet and that it was an actual group inciting Antisemitism.

And now people are furious.

The question on my mind is: WHY? Because we admitted that we, as mere mortals, are capable of making a mistake and our cause may have some slight corruption? As souls who are so defiant on letting the truth tell our story and battling lies, why are we sweeping facts under the rug and calling this a “conspiracy” and collaborating with the enemy just because they are having a field day that a mistake was found in our incredibly broad cause? When Israelis lie to whitewash their belief, we condemn them. When we are put in an awkward situation, we do the SAME thing they do and that’s try to whitewash with excuses. Well no, I will not have this. Lying on the premise that we can’t afford to lose anymore credibility to the cause is still lying. We’re trying to break down the apartheid wall with truth, not sweep mistakes under it that further strengthen it.

We must not be like Israelis and not admit to our faults. We mustn’t resort to personal attacks like offensively using the term Ayatollah in the way that Greta Berlin did. Which BY THE WAY, didn’t make me respect her anymore as I am a Shia Muslim and that term is used in our beliefs for respectable figures and she used it to mock someone.

We, as people, who yearn for those to hear the truth must first be able to HANDLE the truth despite who is laughing at us. What are we afraid of? There is corruption in our cause, humanity is not spared of corruption . Let’s destroy it while it’s still small instead of allowing it to grow into something we can no longer defeat.

I will not lie for the sake of anything, even a cause I wholeheartedly believe in. We are human beings, we make mistakes. This is not just a Palestinian cause. As a Lebanese who’s country is often torn apart into shreds by Zionism, I value those who fight against Israel but not at the expense of causing injustice to others. Antisemitism, just as Islamophobia, is never okay and we need to remove this mindset before accusations (with proof) of Antisemitism is used against us. That makes me more fearful than accepting the truth.

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Your dumb assumptions make you look dumb

Never in my short blog life has a post caused so much hoopla. My recent blog post “The Syrian revolution is dead and maybe we should just accept that” resulted in personal attacks and dumb assumptions. So far, it’s my highest viewed blog and I’ve been told that the reasoning behind this is because it is “hilarious”. I honestly am flattered to have been your entertainment. I feel like I should make things clear, not because of me, but because of you.

Let’s go back to the dumb assumptions- because that, to me, is hilarious. I wanted to get offended by what people were saying about my blog but the idiotic methods they are using to belittle my views are simply that…idiotic. I mean, I was condemned for making the conflict “sectarian” by people bringing up my sect. I was scolded for my assumed “idolization” of Hezbollah by people who will not admit to the crimes of the FSA. The ironic hypocrisy of someone trying to argue that Hezbollah cannot be considered a resistance because of past operations is exactly what I was doing with my last blog but with the FSA. Yay for being original and different.

Then there are those annoying skim readers who already think they’ve got me figured out because they selectively read my tweets where I say I admire Nasrallah yet completely ignore how I have questioned him and his party and nearly every single thing regarding politics…even those who suit my views. This is because people generalize. Don’t play open minded if you’re going to shove me under the label of super Hezbollah Shia Bashar Iranian fangirl because I am not and that actually offends me. Just because I give credit where credit is due, it doesn’t mean anything. It’s called the truth and I’m not going to sweep Hezbollah victories under the rug to denigrate them. The same way I wouldn’t if the FSA ever has a victory.

I am incredibly capable of having two different views that contradict themselves…I am not a programmed robot. I supported the Syrian revolution, I see that it has failed, end of story. I hate writing these kinds of these because it feels like I am trying to explain myself to please people. I don’t dwell on what people think of me because that ship has sailed. But I really just want to point out how flawed these tactics are. If you don’t like what I write, argue it (see Maysaloon and Wala’s comments on my blog for examples)! If you mock me, you’re just going to look stupid. Provide me with information instead of calling me names and attempting to patronize me with elementary school insults.  And yes, this is a challenge.

The Syrian ‘revolution’ is dead and maybe we should just accept that

Back in February 2011, I would have told you that I supported a peaceful uprising in Syria- whether it be for reforms or democratic elections. I’m not a fan of the typical perception of “democracy”, but I feel that Syrians should have a right to elect whoever they want to be president, even though many will argue that Bashar Al Assad was a part of free and fair elections. This becomes a basic right, not necessarily “democracy”. However regardless of how democratic any election can be- opposition will always exist. And they have a right to exist. But how far can they go with their fight until it becomes illegitimate and not actually peaceful anymore?

As a southern Lebanese who’s land has been torn apart by a foreign entity, I know all too well about homegrown armies relying on the simplest of weaponry to defeat what they perceive is their monster. It takes decades and numerous amounts of martyrs, but victory is inevitable if you play your cards right. Establish a consensus and choose the right allies. It sounds relatively easy, no?

Probably not. For me, the Free Syrian Army has made all the wrong moves and should just go back and fold.

What started off as a somewhat peaceful revolution in Syria has become an absolute nightmare. And while I can sit here and blame the Assad’s regime and Syrian army for cracking down on protesters, one must look at the whole picture- the FSA is committing crimes and no one is acknowledging them.

(Warning: video is rated 18+ for violent and graphic images)
I, unsurprisingly, blame the media. Events in the past can prove this: see Gilles Jacquier. Initial reports flooded the internet and news networks claiming the Assad regime had killed the French journalist until the FSA took responsibility. And then we never heard about it again. Even today, people will still tell you the Syrian army committed this crime. They are so blinded and brainwashed that they can’t even believe statements that are coming from the Free Syrian Army themselves. This to me has made for pitiful journalism…I don’t even think they themselves are convinced but they report what they want anyway because everyone is already expecting the Assad regime to have done it. So they just go with the flow, because when it comes to Syria facts don’t matter.

Then there is the assumption that people are just too emotional to admit that the FSA cannot contain a peaceful revolution anymore. And while I fully support armed resistances defending themselves, things like Barack Obama signing “secret” deals with the CIA to support Syrian rebels in ways that are “unclear” leave me skeptical. Who are these rebels and what exactly are they doing? Why are they accepting weaponry from the likes of Saudi Arabia and Qatar who have done nothing but exonerate the crimes Israel has committed on Palestinians? Those who support the revolution and the FSA will tell you that Bashar Al Assad never truly cared for the Palestinian cause, but how is using weaponry from those who practically sold Jerusalem and accept the partitioning of Palestinian land? For me, as one would find hypocrisy in Bashar Al Assad’s support for Palestine, I find that the FSA too are using the cause in vain and this should be offensive to Palestinians.

Also the Syrian revolution has become somewhat of, and dare I say it, a fashion statement. The popularity of the Syrian revolution among the youth is not something unlikely, but how many of these kids are doing their research about the history of the FSA? I think one of the most important details being left out about their whole existence is their ties with the Syrian Muslim Brotherhood- a sectarian faction consisting of extremist Salafi and Sunni Muslims who’s funding comes from Qatar, one of the countries where they sought refuge after they failed at an attempt to topple the late Hafeth Al Assad in the 80′s. It seems like a lot hasn’t changed since the so-called Free Syrian Army is again looking to old friends to revamp their dying revolution. See here.

And that’s exactly it- their revolution is dying. Does that mean the FSA has lost? No. Does it mean Bashar Al Assad will not fall? No. But a peaceful revolution, the kind Al Jazeera keeps trying to shove down our throats, is dead and buried. What we are now witnessing in Syria is a full blown civil war and it has been for the 16 months. Syria, the only country that bears any Arab dignity, is now left in fragments holding on to dear life. Its people are bleeding and stability might never be seen again. Syria’s future is slowly becoming present-day Lebanon.

It all comes down to one question- was it worth it?

Marriage for Arab men

Because of the amount of feedback I got from my last blog, I decided to write one related to it- but this time, it’s about the guys. A few bros who took a liking to my last post informed me that they to suffer from the wrath of marriage. It is not the same issue, yet there is the same kind of pressure. Now, don’t be fooled by my sweet exterior (I know, I laughed too). When all the housewives of my village sit down for coffee and “married woman talk”, I pay close attention. Because that is when the gossip begins. My village gossips so much that we deserve to have our own news station. I can name a few hajjis that would be eager to correspond. But anyway, that is not the point. The point is that I hear stories and have taken the liberty of summarizing them for you all. So please, sit down, relax let me walk you through the wonderful traditions of marriage for Arab men.

Typically, in my village, boys are allowed ultimate freedom to do everything at the tender age of 16, (14, if they come from a wealthy family) staying out until 3am with the guys in Beirut, smoke, drive their dad’s Range Rover, get hundreds of dollars a week and blow it all on…well, they can’t even remember! Most of them flee to foreign lands, leaving mama and baba to get an “education”, also known as partying all night in a club where you won’t get caught by someone from your village. All is well, but then something happens. They fall in love. Now, nothing is wrong with falling in love. But it sure is hell wrong when this girl is either a) not Arab b) not a traditional Arab girl and c) not the one mama wants. And we all know, mama will always be the only woman in your life (she declared it herself, don’t worry) and no one wants to get on her bad side. You won’t dare utter a word of this relationship to her or she might convince your dad to cut you out of the will. And after years of living under her tyranny, he’ll do it as he has no other choice. He’s counting the days until he dies because it’s the only way he can escape her.

Ahem. Back to the “love” story. The young man and his secret girlfriend that everyone already knows about (those dang hajjis can’t keep their mouths shut!) keep their relationship going for years with the slightest hope that one day, his stone-henge living parents will maybe change their minds.

Until- SURPRISE!!!! Guess which one of your cousins needs a husband?! And guess who your mother appointed for the job? Her favorite guy EVER! YOU!

You can’t say no. You saw it coming. Mother dearest will convince you that she will be the greatest wife ever. I mean she can cook, clean and kinda read. What more can you ask for? Plus, she is mama-approved. No more questions. Any doubts will get you a slap in the face. 2 weeks later, you’re married and your former lover finds out on facebook. Ouch! But guess what? Cousin/wife has some good news for you….1 month into the marriage and she’s pregnant! Guess you’re stuck eternally….

My piece of advice? Start kissing up to your uncles now. One of them will be your father-in-law someday.

(disclaimer: my blog is a humorous one. No need to take offense. I am being sarcastic and stereotypical about like…99.9 percent of the time. If you don’t like it, I really really don’t care.)

Why I am not suitable for marriage (ramblings of an Arab girl)

Here is something I have just been thinking about and need to release. It causes great angst and what better way to release angst than with the best therapeutic method out there? Of course, I mean blogging.

A common conversation between Arab women upon their first meeting is: family, food and you guessed it, marriage. It is also a common conversation (or more so a hassle) between family in the village and I. As most of you know, I’m an Arab teenager/practically an adult born and raised in the US (..oh one of those girls) and currently living in Lebanon. “Why did you move to Lebanon?” you ask? Well that’s a whole other blog.

To save you the life story (and boy, am I doing you a favor!), I basically walk the streets of Southern Lebanon strutting around with my independent-American-woman attitude. I’ve got dreams, aspirations, a future I can’t wait to live…but oh deary me, please someone stop me from having these feelings for I can hear every woman in my village having a heart attack. If I fulfill all of these goals, or maybe even just one, I might develop an Arab man’s worst nightmare…an opinion. And the last thing you want is a woman with an opinion in something other than cooking and politics. What should be my greatest fear is that I may become unsuitable for marriage. Women are only capable of having one of the two things: marriage or an education. Though, under some circumstances, you can actually have both. But please focus on the keyword “some”.

Here are said circumstances. You see, a lot of women here use school and getting an “education” as a time filler, if you will. Or, before facebook, a ground for looking for potential husbands. Where I come from, if you are still in high school your excuse (proclaimed by others) is usually you being a) ugly b) fat or my favorite c) lesbian. Don’t get me started on university girls. They are doomed eternally. There is no hope for them. They will become spinsters in their cheetah print, prowling on any UN soldier that comes across their path. These women will die in shame, nonetheless. Oh, the profanity.

Okay sure, perhaps I am being stereotypical and melodramatic. Maybe I am generalizing too or not being specific enough. But it appears that the fate of every Arab girl is indeed marriage. Now don’t get me wrong, it’s not a terrible fate…but why is it the only fate? And if I decide to slip away from that fate, then why does that ultimately make me unsuitable for marriage?

Or should I just start buying my cheetah print?

Asia to Gaza article

Three years in the making finally paid off- in early January 2011, the Asia to Gaza aid caravan successfully penetrated the illegal siege of Gaza, against the will of Israel. People from all over Asia, including Malaysians, Pakistanis, Indians, Iranians, Indonesians, New Zealanders, Kuwaitis and UAE, battled the Israeli “defense” forces in order to give much needed aid to innocent Gazan men, women and children. I had a chance to interview the head of the Asia to Gaza convoy, Mr Feroze Mithiborwala, who has been actively campaigning for Palestinian rights since the 1980′s. He, along with countless other activists, showed no restraint to resist oppression and to make the Palestinian story come alive.

Although, it was not as easy as it seems. It was a war between simple human beings and a monstrous Israeli regime. With the massacre of nine Turkish activists aboard the Freedom Flotilla ship “Mavi Marmara” still fresh on the minds of Palestinian activists everywhere, you might think that traveling to Gaza would become a lost cause. But that definitely was not the case for determined Asia To Gaza activists. Though the Israeli army drew threats and tracked activists, the determination was still there and it wasn’t going anywhere.

First, a quick walkthrough of Gaza. Gaza has been made victim of an illegal siege for over 3 years after the resistance group Hamas drew out Israeli occupiers and settlers from the strip. Since then, Israel has imposed a crippling blockade, prohibiting the simplest of items from entering Gaza including clean water and medical supplies. 1.8 million people strive to live day by day from supplies grown within the strip, which are scarce, and items smuggled through tunnels built underneath the Egypt-Gaza border. Gazans spend thousands of dollars building these tunnels and depend on them greatly. Israel claims Palestinians use these much needed tunnels for weaponry to attack Israeli citizens, so they are often a target of air raids. Egypt, who has made peace with Israel in 1979, is threatening to build a steel wall underneath the shared border putting the lives of Gazans at risk.

In a war that started in December 2008 and led into the new year of 2009, Israel brutally attacked densely populated areas in Gaza killing 1,400 civilians, mostly women and children. Israel committed illegal acts on Gazans, the most startling being the use of white phosphorous in civilian populated areas. After the war, nearly 80 percent of Gaza’s population was left underneath the poverty line and majority of it’s children suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Depression. Until this day, civilians are still unable to rebuild homes destroyed by Israeli air strikes because of the inhuman siege prohibiting imports of building material into the Gaza strip.

The war left civilians trapped and unable to leave making Gaza the center of attention and on the tongues of human rights activists all over the globe. Quickly, activists stood up to rightfully defend Gaza and supply it’s people with crucial aid . Through air, through water, through land…nothing was going to stop faithful activists from giving much needed supplies to the besieged Palestinian people who had just witnessed a 22 day long massacre.

I asked Mr. Mithoborwala a few questions about how he came to be a Palestinian activist, who his inspirations were and if he will ever visit the Gaza strip again.

When did you decide that you needed to go and help the Palestinians in the Gaza strip?
Firstly, we were not there to ‘help’ the Palestinians. Ours is a movement of ‘solidarity’ with the people’s resistance for the liberation of Palestine. I have been involved in the Palestinian question since 1987 and even before the First Intifada. As for the current initiative to ‘End the Siege of Gaza’ and challenge the Israeli blockade, the process started after the siege was imposed. I was amongst the few Indians who was involved with the Palestinian questions and maybe the only one from my generation. As destiny to have it, I also started my own political activities in 1987. I come from the Gandhian, Left, Phule-Ambedakarite (the struggle of the oppressed lower and untouchable castes) and the stream of Liberation Theology. So, especially since 2008, I have been trying to organize a ship or a land caravan from India. I was and am also the National Coordinator for the Free Gaza in India. It was finally after the attack on the Mavi Marmara (31st May, 2010) that the process gained momentum. I also happened to be in Iran during that period. It was thus my Indian friend, Shahid Pradhan studying in Qom, who put me in touch with Roohulla Rezvi & Salim Ghafoori. And then the process began to gather steam.

What was your first reaction when you entered the strip?
The first reaction, was a feeling of accomplishment and the fulfillment of a dream, a dream of having reached the ‘Holy Land’. The emotions were high and I thanked and prayed to God for having heard my plea.

Did anyone condemn you for wanting to make this trip?
Not really, the support was very good. Some peple did refer to the problem of Kashmir though. But since I have been working on the Palestinian question for more than two decades, people did understand my initiative.

Who was your biggest inspiration? And who could you not have completed this trip without?
My biggest inspiration comes from the Palestinian people and the love that I have for the Holy Land, especially for Jerusalem. I have a deep spiritual connection to the land.

I also was inspired by the initiatives of the Free Gaza and the Viva Palestina movements. I would say to myself that it is time for the Asian people to take the initiative and stand united for the cause of Palestine.

Will you ever go again?
Yes, we will continue to march until Palestine is free. We will continue to sail until Palestine is free. Today we have begin our march to Gaza, but tomorrow we will march to Jerusalem.

The land of our Prophets and Saints will be liberated and of this I am convinced. It pains my heart and my spirit to see that today Hebron lies divided, Bethlehem surrounded by the apartheid wall and Jerusalem and the Haram-i-Sharif are being destroyed. But I have a vision, a vision and the belief that the Holy Land will be free. I see a time when Palestine will be liberated as one Holy Land for the Muslims, Christians and Jews and as the common spiritual heritage of all of humanity. I see a time when millions of people from across the world will march to Jerusalem and redeem the Holy Land of Palestine. That will also be the time of a spiritual revolution and evolution amongst all of humanity, that will draw humanity closer to God.

That is how critical the battle for Jerusalem is. It is for the very soul of humanity and for our freedom. Thus the battle for Palestine, will determine the very future of humanity.

Leila Saleh

English article for Asia to Gaza Persian magazine

In the event of a tragic earthquake or a country holding controversial elections, websites such as Twitter and Facebook have become easily accessible sources for news agencies and regular folks alike. People simply create a username, log in and search what their hearts are looking for. You’ll find average people, from some of the rural places of the world, tweeting their local news from inside their bedroom. Some people depend on such information and think it’s better to have a civilian side of the story. But how can we really trust what random strangers are saying? How do we know these people are not working for their country, to provide us with false news and propaganda? How can we filter what is truth and what is a blatant lie to protect the sovereignty of of a country with an already controversial existence?

It was the early hours of May 31^st when an Israeli raid on a Gaza bound aid ship killed 9 Turkish peace activists and left many injured. This news story flooded the internet waves in the Middle East, with Arabs on one side and the Israelis on the other. Both sides were claiming to have the most truthful news, though one side was conducting a propaganda campaign. The condemnation of Israel ignited a spark of Twitter users, trying to defend Israel’s name. Numerous Twitter accounts were created, sending messages to Palestinian activists across the Twittersphere, claiming that the activists on the boats were funded by terrorist groups and that they attacked Israeli soldiers. They also provided information of “frequent aid deliverance” by the Israeli state into the Gaza strip, trying to prove these aid ships were unnecessary. One particular Twitter account that wasted no time personally tweeting activists and in general was @IsraelMFA. This Twitter account was created in the wake of the tragic attack on the aid Flotilla, gathering a mere 292 followers. People became so fed up with the propaganda, a mockery account was discovered named @FakeIsraelMFA that posted sarcastic comments, mocking the Israeli government and it’s ridiculous defense mechanisms. It proved to be more successful with nearly 1,000 followers.

Reports have claimed that Israel even resorted to paying large amounts of money to Israeli civilians to defend Israel against pro-Palestinian messages. These reports stated that the person didn’t even have to know Israeli history, but just be willing to spread pro-Israeli propaganda. The world was falling out of love with Israel and the state was using any measure to try and win hearts back.

Since that day, world wide protests against Israel began and continue until this day showing the failure of their internet propaganda. Millions may have been spent trying to defend the Zionist state, but the truth was still revealed. Palestinian activists have been given a voice by these social networking sites and given the chance to spread awareness. This situation proves that no matter in what shape or form in might come in, on the internet or on the TV, propaganda will always be propaganda.