Maybe I'm simple or perhaps a Pollyanna, but it seems to me - reading articles in the Israeli press - that there are things that can be done to restore cordiality with Turkey, to reduce tensions over the presence of Egyptian soldiers in Sinai, and maybe - just maybe - get the UN and media to honestly report what goes on in and around Israel.
AND maybe improve Israel's image to The World.
Israel and Turkey
In two words: "Be quiet."
That applies to politicians in Israel and in Turkey.
It also applies to interfering politicians elsewhere.
Every time some politician opens his or her mouth about the flotilla, fuel is added to the fire.
It's like two children in kindergarten who get into a shouting match. As long as they are "egged on" (encouraged) by their peers, the shouting will continue until it turns into physical attacks.
It would be far better to separate the two combatants before words turn into blows. Let the pair cool down without making faces or gestures at each other. Pretty soon, the situation will be forgotten or at least become manageable.
Right now, the child Turkey is demanding an apology from the child Israel.
Turkey: "Say you're sorry."
Israel: "Won't say it"
Turkey: "If you don't say it I'll make you pay."
Israel: "Yeah, let's see you try."
Does anyone see that some politicians - and nations - behave like children just out of diapers?
The media adds fuel to the fire as well, but lacking someone to (mis)quote, eventually most "journalists" will lose interest. (I write as a former honest reporter and editor; I'm still honest, but no longer a reporter or editor.)
Israel and Egypt
This really should be a "no brainer."
Israel "allows" Egyptian army troops to populate the Sinai in hope that its presence there will reduce terrorists' infiltration into Israel and the movement of artillery into Aza (Gaza).
At the same time, Israelis are skeptical of Egypt's enthusiasm to do the job, and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) thinks it could do a better job of interdiction.
Meanwhile, Egypt's government-du-jour complains - properly - that this excursion (or incursion, if you prefer) into the Sinai is expensive and the troops could be better employed elsewhere.
Why not solve several problems at one time.
Integrate IDF soldiers with Egyptian soldiers. Let the combined units patrol the Sinai. The top commander will have to be Egyptian; Sinai after all was returned to Egypt so it's Egypt's territory. The second in command will be from the IDF.
Egyptian manpower requirements (and costs) are lessened as IDF personnel take the field and Israel always knows that the Egyptian troops are doing.
Obviously for maximum benefit, the IDF contingent should be comprised of Sefardim who speak Egyptian Arabic and understand the language's nuances.
Who knows, the fragile peace between Egypt and Israel might even be strengthened if people get to know each other as individuals rather than stereotypes. Imagine !
Note I am not suggesting that the UN be involved in any way; there is no need for "peacekeepers in blue." In the event of trouble, they disappear in a hurry anyway.
Israel, the UN, and the media
When American politicians threw U.S. forces into combat in Iraq and Afghanistan - being unmindful of the Monroe Doctrine or the value of American lives - the media was invited to "embed" reporters with troops taking the field.
The Defense Department hoped the media would glowingly report on American successes.
Unfortunately for the Defense Department, the media reported on body counts and the treatment of prisoners. Never mind that the prisoners were not "prisoners of war"; these people wore no uniforms or other identifications separating them from the "civilian" population.
The IDF would do well to "invite" - make that "insist" - that the UN, always careful to protect terrorists, and the media, especially Agence France-Presse and French tv "reporters" who delight in ignoring reality, participate with IDF units operating along the border with Aza and in southern Israel where most of Hamas' rockets fall.
They - UN and media - also could be "invited" to live in southern Israeli communities - Sedrot comes to mind - and perhaps a few could be "invited" to live in some northern communities, right up against the border where Syrian "civilians" are encouraged to illegally cross into Israel.
Lousy PR
Israel has a lousy image with the world, and it is largely Israel's own fault.
It failed to wage a successful PR war, apparently ignoring shifting world opinion.
"The World" now thinks of Israel as the "Goliath" and the 21 countries that make up the Arab League (http://wiki.ask.com/Arab_world) as "David" only because Israel has survived repeated attacks, both official "national" (with uniformed armies) and terrorist. By the way, the Arab League draws on additional support from Moslem-dominated nations around the globe.
Israel needs to get its PR act together and fight the enemy on its own terms - in the media. It needs to spend more time presenting its case to the average, non-Jewish, citizen and less time to "preaching to the choir" (already pro-Israel Jews) at JCCs and Jewish Federation events. How it deals with anti-Israel Jews is beyond my ken.
Before posting this I came across an Op Ed piece on Arutz 7 http://www.israelnationalnews.com/Articles/Article.aspx/10582 titled Sept. at UN: PR is Used by the Arabs, Israel is Silent. The author is Ronn Torossian, CEO of 5WPR, said to be in the Top 25 PR agencies in the U.S. The piece is worth a read.
הריני מקבל עלי מצוה עשה של ואהבת לרעך כמוך, והריני אוהב כל אחד מבני ישראל כנפשי ומאודי
Care to comment? Yohanon.Glenn at gmail dot com.
