Thread: Flotillas and the Wars of Public Opinion (by Statfor)

A interesting article by the respected Statfor,with lessons for OUR movement as well.

The tougher Israel is, the more the flotilla’s narrative takes hold. As the Zionists knew in 1947 and the Palestinians are learning, controlling public opinion requires subtlety, a selective narrative and cynicism. As they also knew, losing the battle can be catastrophic. It cost Britain the Mandate and allowed Israel to survive. Israel’s enemies are now turning the tables. This maneuver was far more effective than suicide bombings or the Intifada in challenging Israel’s public perception and therefore its geopolitical position (though if the Palestinians return to some of their more distasteful tactics like suicide bombing, the Turkish strategy of portraying Israel as the instigator of violence will be undermined).
Israel is now in uncharted waters. It does not know how to respond. It is not clear that the Palestinians know how to take full advantage of the situation, either. But even so, this places the battle on a new field, far more fluid and uncontrollable than what went before. The next steps will involve calls for sanctions against Israel. The Israeli threats against Iran will be seen in a different context, and Israeli portrayal of Iran will hold less sway over the world.
And this will cause a political crisis in Israel. If this government survives, then Israel is locked into a course that gives it freedom of action but international isolation. If the government falls, then Israel enters a period of domestic uncertainty. In either case, the flotilla achieved its strategic mission. It got Israel to take violent action against it. In doing so, Israel ran into its own fist.

STRATFOR - Geopolitical intelligence, economic, political, and military strategic forecasting | STRATFOR

I doubt that (even though implied in the article) a vicious attack by Israel was a planned and desired outcome, but Israel has clearly lost the war for public opinion.

The article is correct (IMO) that the "aid missions" have always been a public relations exercise to some degree. Of course though, that doesn't matter. The goal was always to benefit the Palestinians living under inhumane conditions.

The only thing that can help Israel now is a wave of "Islamic terror attacks",either in Israel itself,or elsewhere.

Remember, if/when the time comes, that you read it on WNN.

Hope I'm wrong....