Image problem: Has Israel learned lessons?

Over the decades, the Israeli governments have managed to silence European criticism of Israel’s policies toward the Palestinians by reminding Europeans of their long history of anti-Semitism. The Israeli policy has worked perfectly as many Europeans equate criticizing Israeli policies with anti-Semitism.
And yet, it seems that this policy has not created a clean image of Israel in some key European countries. Over the last three years, the Germans have become more critical of Israel according to a poll published by the weekly Stern magazine.
I was on a work visit to Berlin in February 2010 where I met various decision makers and members of the Parliament from across the board. While they supported the establishment of an independent Palestinian state they refrained from criticizing Israel’s policies that contributed to the deterioration of the peace process. Indeed, it was the guilt factor that conditioned Germans’ stand toward Israel.
For Germans to have become noticeably more critical of Israel is indicative of a transformation in Europe. Some 59 percent of the Germans describe Israel as aggressive. Another Stern poll conducted in 2009 found 49 percent of the Germans saying that Israel was aggressive. Interestingly, the poll conducted by Forsa Pollsters showed that 70 percent of Germans see eye to eye with the statement that Israel follows its interests without taking into account other nations. Three years ago, only 59 percent agreed with this statement.
It is hard to avoid the conclusion that the German governments do not reflect the position of the public. While a majority of the ruling elite is obsessed with the guilt feeling, more Germans are getting over the Holocaust. According to the poll, 60 percent disagreed with the statement that Germany owed a special obligation to Israel after the Holocaust. The same poll shows that 65 percent wanted Germany to recognize a Palestinian state.
A more comprehensive poll on Israel was the one conducted by the BBC World Service and covered 22 countries. Israel was ranked in third place among the worst countries on this planet. It seems that the opinion about Israel got worse worldwide. It should be disturbing for Israeli leaders to see the image of their country close to that of North Korea and Iran.
But there are some lessons for Israeli leaders to learn. When asked to point out the reasons for having such a negative view of the state of Israel, 45 percent pointed out to Israel’s policies. This reminds me of the question raised in the United States in the immediate aftermath of the terrible events of Sept. 11. Back then the Americans grappled with the questions: “Why do they hate us so much?” Two answers were advanced.
The first one was that the Untied States was hated because of what it represented. While the second answer, which was backed by a series of polls and surveys, pointed at the policies of the United States.
In Germany, people debated Israel’s threat to launch a preemptive strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities.
The debate was triggered by a poem composed by novelist Gunter Grass. The poem, which was entitled “What Must Be Said,” was certain that Tel Aviv was threatening to “wipe out the Iranian people.” Israel accused the novelist with anti-Semitism and said he would be refused entry if he ever tried to visit Israel. Observers then said many Germans might quietly agree with him.
The transformation of the German public opinion should ring the alarming bell in Israel. The continuous deterioration of Israel’s image should be threatening in the long run. And yet, it might not be too late to reverse the tide of negative opinion of Israel in the world.
All it takes is to proceed in the peace process with good faith. Should Israel succeed in reaching a historical compromise with the Arabs and the Palestinians, I think people around the world would change their views of Israel.
Has Israel learned the lesson? I doubt! Just recently, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu included Kadima — a political party that is closer to Likud than to the left — thus establishing a national unity government the biggest in Israel’s history.
While such a government strengthens the position of Netanyahu, the latter is constrained by the imperatives of coalition politics. If anything, this means that the peace process will be the victim. In other words, the current Israeli government will not succeed in creating a better image of their country and instead will fall back to accusations of anti-Semitism.
A more comprehensive poll on Israel was the one conducted by the BBC World Service and covered 22 countries. Israel was ranked in third place among the worst countries on this planet. It seems that the opinion about Israel got worse worldwide.