Online debate over Palestinian statehood
In the run-up to a possible UN vote on Palestinian statehood, political jockeying has spilled over into social media.
In September the United Nations General Assembly may vote on a push for statehood by the Palestinian Authority. Plenty of lobbying has already been taking place in the international community and jailed Palestinian leader Marwan Barghouti has called for mass rallies to back the statehood initiative. While Barghouti wants a 'million man march' in the streets, efforts in support of Palestinian statehood have already begun to spill over into social media.
On Twitter, supporters of Palestinian statehood are tweeting using the hashtag #StateofPalestine. Egyptian activist Wael Ghomin tweeted, "My name is Wael Ghonim & I strongly demand the recognition of Palestine as an independent country. #StateofPalestine".
On Facebook, multiple pages have been launched in support of the upcoming potential bid. One page, entitled "10 Million signatures for a Palestinian State on September" is collecting signatures to an online petition. Another titled "Support Palestine" has garnered over 8,000 'likes'.
The Israeli perspective is not going unrepresented in social media either. Many tweets using the #StateofPalestine hashtag are arguing against the statehood push. In a rare venture into social media video production, however, the state of Israel has also become involved. A YouTube video called "The Truth About the West Bank" produced for the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs in cooperation with standwithus.com features Danny Ayalon, Israeli's deputy foreign minister.
The video begins with light music and a cartoonish title and then features simple animations on a white background with Ayalon standing in the foreground. He gives a history lesson about Israel and the Palestinian Territories from the Israeli government's perspective. The aim of the video seems to be to reframe the language of the debate over the Palestinian territories.
Ayalon asks, "We'll start with a simple but important question: From whom did Israel capture the West Bank? From the Palestinians? No. In 1967 there was no Arab nation or state by the name of Palestine. Actually, was there ever?" After a brief trip through his government's version of events that have transpired since the end of the first World War, Ayalon argues, "The West Bank should not be considered occupied because there was no previous legal sovereign in the area and therefore a real definition should be 'disputed' territory."
The video, in which Ayalon speaks in English, is nearly identical to a Hebrew-language video produced by the Yesha Council of Jewish Settlements in May. Both videos, in fact, were produced by Shlomo Blass of Rogatka, Ltd. Aside from language the most notable difference is that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs video features Ayalon, a government official.
Read Yousef Munayyer's opinion piece: "Boycott the state, not just the settlements".
These are some of the social media elements featured in this segment.
The territories - Who do they belong to? Actor Golan Azoulay on a new short and fascinating video clip Join Yesha council's facebook: http://on.fb.me/lpWDce
האם באמת התנתקנו מעזה? סרטון חדש מאת עמותת גישה מפריך דעה רווחת כי ישראל אינה נושאת באחריות לנעשה ברצועת עזה ומסביר שמדיניות הסגר המתמשכת פוגעת בעיקר באוכלוסייה האזרחית ברצועה.
Avaaz.org also has a petition calling for Palestinian statehood.
In five days the Palestinian leadership will call on the world to recognise Palestine as a state. Over 120 countries are supporting, but the US and Israel are opposing, and Europe is still on the fence. Click here to join the global call to European leaders to support the legitimate statehood bid now!
Support Palestine - About Me: قطاع غزة _ مكتب ثروة: في غزة المحتلة حدوديا وجوا وبحرا رغم انسحاب الاحتلال منها قبل نحو عامين، تتركز أعلى كثافة سكانية: 1.5 مليون بمعدل26400 مواطن/كم مربع، وفي مخيمات اللاجئين 55500 مواطن/ كم مربع، فيما تتجاوز نسبة البطالة ال 50%.
10 Million signatures for a Palestinian State on September. - ((10million.signatures@gmail.com))10 Million signatures for a Palestinian State on September. - Description: I, the undersigned.... As a person who respects democracy and human rights, I demand political leaders in my country and the world to put an end to the Israeli occupation and to establish an independent Palestinian state with full sovereignty.
InfoLiveTV's piece on potential violence in West Bank this September when the UN vote may happen.
Brazilian freelance political cartoonist Carlos Latuff's "Once upon a Time in Rafah" cartoon strip has won the United States' Best Political Cartoon Award.
Tweets with the #StateofPalestine hashtag.
Palestine is a country, not a state. Israel is a 'state'. “@earthtonadine: I don't want a fake state, I want justice. #StateOfPalestine”
You are a naïve fool if you believe the #StateOfPalestine is justice and will be "independent"
Thumbnail image: Israeli and Palestinian peace activists hold flags and placards at the start of a march near Jaffa Gate outside Jerusalem's Old City July 15, 2011, calling for Palestinian independence. [REUTERS/Darren Whiteside]
Wednesday, 27 July 2011
Online debate over Palestinian statehood | The Stream - Al Jazeera English
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