Today, there is no excuse for not knowing the truth about Palestine. Even taking the disinformation spread in mainstream media, there are enough glimpses one gets of an oppressed people in Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem that should compel us to ask questions. This has been considerably aided by the internet. Where once Israel could manipulate the media narrative, now millions can see videos and read witness accounts of Israel’s occupation in all its terrifying ugliness. Global initiatives, like the daring Free Gaza flotillas, force the mainstream media to report this news, however fleetingly. Consequently, people want to see for themselves what is happening in Palestine and come back with stories that have shaken them to the very core of their being.
Listening to the commentators, journalists and reviewers giving their retrospectives on 2011, many seemed to put the events in Egypt in early 2011 at the very top of their pick list. For those of us who were fortunate to have been on the ground in Tahrir Square, it was one of life’s great moments. It was, for sure, the Egyptian people’s finest hour.
It was bewildering to see Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, welcoming the Arab spring. It was even more puzzling to see its president, Shimon Peres, repeatedly support and salute these "So called spontaneous" revolutions. But is it really a source of joy and delight for Israel? Is it really a chance for Israel to see more democracies similar to its own extending across the Middle East? Why is Israel not concerned about these revolutions, or is it actually concerned and thinking for itself new ways out on the long term with new contingency plans afoot? One would have to wonder to oneself who the loser is and who the winner from these revolutions.