Writers and speakers often employ hidden rhetorical devices when discussing charged political issues – especially when it comes to Israel. The average reader or listener is often unaware. Here's a list of the most common tricks. Practice finding them and chances are you’ll never think about political discourse in quite the same way!
Euphemisms
One way of subtly influencing the conversation is to excuse behavior by describing it in softer language than it might otherwise merit.
Example: when is a terrorist a terrorist? Many media organizations have no trouble calling groups like Al Qaeda “terrorists,” but balk when describing those who kill innocent civilians in Israel, labeling them “militants” instead.1
The opposite of “euphemism” is “dysphemism,” calling something by a name that carries a negative connotation.
Example: Those who can’t bear to say the name “Israel” use the ominous-sounding “Zionist entity” instead, betraying more about the speaker than about Israel itself.2
Israel’s capital, Jerusalem, can become “illegally-occupied Arab Jerusalem” for those who are uncomfortable with having Jewish residents there, and Israelis are sometimes called "settlers."
Stereotyping
Stereotyping is another sneaky way to subtly load a conversation. Animal-like words like “overrunning” or “breeding” when referred to people works to downplay their humanity.
Example: British Member of Parliament Martin Linton has recently described pro-Israeli Britons as “the long tentacles of Israel” reaching into Britain.
Pre-Selecting Data
A trend may be downward, overall, but one can mislead by pointing to a brief uptick as evidence that things are, in fact, going up, even when the opposite is true.
Example: In its April 3, 2010 edition, The Economist magazine ran an article about the terrorist organization Hamas, which controls Gaza, positing that “….some economists say the (Gaza) strip is growing faster than the West Bank run by Hamas’s rival Palestinian Authority.” I’m not in a position to measure this (I’m not sure anybody is, given the lack of transparent economic data in Gaza), but to me this claim cries out as being fragmentary and suspect.
Proof Surrogates
This occurs when writers rely on shadowy or manufactured “experts” to give gravitas to an otherwise wild claim.
Example: look at The Economist quote above: “some economists say….” Who are these economists? And if “some” economists say this, does it mean that many more economists say the opposite? Use of proof surrogates is a clear red flag that a statement might be highly contentious, if not outright misleading.
Assigning Traits
Advertisers have found that when they add the word “fantastic” to packaging, consumers rate products more highly.
One can do something similar in political discourse, assigning either positive or negative traits to political groups or ideas.
Example: in April of 2010, the emeritus Italian Bishop Giacomo Babini asserted that “Zionists” are behind the many reports of abuse by priests bedeviling the Catholic Church, because Jews are “God killers.” The remarks are bizarre, but can nonetheless -- especially when they are repeated -- subtly color people’s impressions of Jews and Israel.
Caricature
If you can reduce a view or arguments you oppose to a ridiculously simplistic caricature, it becomes easy to dismiss.
Example: in Carol Churchill’s infamous (and very critical of Israel’s very existence) play Seven Jewish Children, the biggest laugh comes when a Jewish character tries to explain the central, eternal connection of Jews throughout history to the Land of Israel.
In Churchill’s hands, all she can do is say that once -- she doesn’t know how long ago -- an ancestor lived there. It’s a hilarious moment for most audiences, and effectively (but misleadingly) ridicules millenniums of Jewish devotion to the Land of Israel, making it seem silly, but ignoring the fact of continuous Jewish residency in Israel for thousands of years, obscuring the fact that most land in modern Israel was actually purchased by Jewish residents in the years leading up to the founding of the state, and dismisses the political reality of Israel today.3
Caricature is the hallmark of someone seeking to mislead, not debate.
Follow the Money
Who is paying for what you’re reading and to whom you’re listening?
Example: in Israel today, there has been a lot of publicity about the fact that the European Union has been funding some far-left Israeli civil rights groups (which are often extremely critical of Israeli policies). Some Israelis might still agree with this agenda, but they deserve to know who is paying to disseminate these viewpoints.4
Another example: a few years ago, participants in a Chicago festival of Arab culture were startled to see extremely anti-Israel and anti-Semitic materials handed out. It turned out the source for these trinkets was not the local community, but a display funded by the Government of Libya.
Rhetorical Analogy
Analogies provide us with mental shorthand. There are some ideas that are so closely associated with evil, like Nazism and Apartheid, that comparing a contemporary political group to them taints them with guilt by association. Unfortunately, these two odious regimes are routinely invoked when discussing Israel today.
We are responsible to educate ourselves.
Example: recently, thousands of students across the world have participated in annual “Israeli Apartheid Week” activities. These events do not foster inquiry, but obfuscation.
If students were to truly learn, they would find that it is a vibrant, modern democracy that extends full political rights to all its citizens, regardless of religion or ethnicity. How many participants in “Israeli Apartheid Week” know that Israel has granted asylum to persecuted Muslims fleeing war in Sudan? The reality of Israel doesn’t fit the often rhetorical analogies made about it.
Comparing Israel to Nazi Germany or Apartheid South Africa is not only unfair and outrageous, it does a disservice to people who suffered under these truly evil regimes.
Outright Lies and Distortions
Finally, perhaps the most difficult rhetorical device to counter is the bald-faced lie.
Example: in September, 2000, French television broadcast a video of terrified boy being shot by unseen Israeli soldiers. The boy, Mohammed al-Dura, immediately become an icon. There are terrorists (including those who murdered Daniel Pearl) who have specifically cited Mohammed al-Dura as their motivation for murdering Jews.
Yet, it emerged years later that the al-Dura video was a hoax, staged by local activists, and carefully edited by France’s Channel-2 television station, which to this day has refused to release the full, un-doctored video, despite a French judge’s requests.
In the face of a brazen lie like this, what can we do? Fortunately, a number of resources counter some of the most common slanders of Israel. Organizations such as Honest Reporting and Camera keep us appraised of some of the most vicious lies and innuendoes concerning Israel.
Ultimately, we are responsible to educate ourselves. The more we read about Israel, the more we visit it, the more we speak with knowledgeable people, the more equipped we will be in identifying and resisting the rhetorical devices listed here.
Footnotes
- See "Terrorist or Militant"
- For a lighthearted take on these names, check out “American Friends of the Zionist Entity” on Facbook.
- The text of this play is available at “Seven Jewish Children”
- See the report “Trojan Horse: the Impact of European Government Funding for Israeli NGOs"
(16) BezalEl, September 21, 2010 2:08 PM
most interesting!
NOW THAT'S ANA EYE OPENER, COZ THAT'S WHAT MOST PEOPLE NEVER GET DOWN TO............KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK GUYZ!
(15) Ruth Rosenberg, May 31, 2010 12:51 AM
more methods to mislead
Another way of misleading is to always lead with the action of one party, even if it is responding to a previous provocation. In Israel's' case, news reports begin: "Israel attacked Gaza, killing three people". Later it may say, "This attack was in response to a rocket that was fired into Israel the day before." But many people will only read the headline or first sentence. Some of the lies that are shown are visual. Photos have been doctored. The famous one is of extra smoke being added to photos of buildings in Lebanon. Apparently, journalists would go around with dolls, and put them in the photo, to make it seem like a building had been bombed with children in it. Another way to mislead is to never show one side's perspective. Israel's suffering is almost never shown. It happens "off-stage". So for TV viewers, Israel's suffering is never real, and so of course any response they make is "disproportionate".
(14) Anonymous, May 10, 2010 4:07 PM
Brilliant analysis of anti-Israel propaganda
A passionate and convincing look at the bias and anti semitism that fills our media and political world.
(13) Laura JANSZEN, May 1, 2010 2:45 PM
very ggod article ; it would be great if it was translated into French also
(12) Gershom May, April 28, 2010 5:46 PM
We've abrogated our responsibilities
Unfortunately - we've been taught since childhood - that those who teach us - ARE - THE SOURCE - of TRUE information. OR - they wouldn't have - the position of responsibility - to teach & or disseminate information. So - we allow - those who teach us - to masterfully - manipulate - perceptions - with analogies - partial truths - that sound good - etc.. Which as pointed out - artfully - skew our perceptions - of whatever event(s) - are occurring - in our sphere of life. Consequently - we've abrogated - OUR OWN RESPONSIBILITY - to VALIDATE - VALIDATE - VALIDATE - with - GOOD SOUND RESEARCH - what we're being taught. Yet sadly - even when we do - validate what we've been taught. Then find that - it's been - SKILLFULLY SKEWED. FEW - have access - to legitimate media sources - to expose - and or correct - such egregious errors.
(11) Norm Fadelle, April 28, 2010 2:26 PM
Useful summary and resource
Thanks for providing an illustrative list of the media "tricks" and providing a relevant example. It provides a useful summary and resource for recognizing misinformation. Getting trustworthy information is always difficult, but the truth is out there for those who seek it.
(10) Tor, April 28, 2010 10:33 AM
Sobering and to the point
I recognize all the tricks of the trade that is mentioned in your article. Excellent. Sadly, too many people are ignorant about the true chain of events. Today, we no longer have to rely on the established, national media to gain a balanced insight. I wish more people would do . I participate on discussion forums, where the opinion of many of my opponents are stained by the misinformative tricks that you mention. It is a hard struggle to rectify their view of the world. Sometimes impossible. But unfortunately, it is the only way. I am non-Jewish, but so fed up with the anti Israeli sentiment in Europe.
(9) Folke Holtz, April 27, 2010 9:12 AM
Anti-Sionism=antisemitism
There is no doubt that antisionism tocay is the same as antisemitism. Original it was two differrent word for two phenomens, but today it become blend into one. Here in Europe the antisemitism is again growing and we have to be more careful in our security. That even in Sweden. Here is also the media critical against Israel and overlooking on Hamas and Islamic Jihad. Education is the answer everywhere in order to stop as much as possible of the spread of antisemitism.
(8) Leo Ray Ingle, April 26, 2010 11:32 PM
Excellent summary of common tricks the media uses in obfuscating the truth about the Middle East. Interestingly, both sides indulge in those practices to the extent they can persuade or control the media. The media is, of course, increasingly susceptible to overt and covert control. Eliminating obfuscation, deception and lying would be a good start toward dialogue. I don't see a solution other than eternal war, but others, more creative than I may devise one. Truth might be a good start.
(7) Anonymous, April 26, 2010 3:35 PM
A house divided will not stand
I'm talking football. I live in Illinois and 1/2 the people or more root for the cults, instead of the Bears. When the Bears and the cults went to superbowl, the Bears lost. Is it surprising when most of our citizens cheering the cults on. The same problem with baseball, 1/2 or more is for the carnals, not the Cubs. It just doesn't bring good results when the people are divided, whether in the same state on sports or more serious issues concerning the State of Israel. United We Stand, is powerful when implemented!
(6) Independent, April 26, 2010 7:26 AM
Occupied territories
Are Silesia, parts of Pomerania, and East Prussia occupied territories? No, because Germany fought a war, lost it, and lost territory. Does not the same principle apply in the Middle East.?
(5) , April 25, 2010 9:29 PM
I often wonder why the media do not describe Texas and New Mexico as "Occupied Territories". These were acquired iin the same way as Israel aquired Gaza and the West Bank.
(4) Melanie, April 25, 2010 6:53 PM
Very True! And More
I pick up on this a lot in the media and it really makes me angry! Thank you for this, hope to see more like it in the future so I can spread the word.
(3) manugw, April 25, 2010 5:54 PM
Israel never defends itself for the world press
Another trick, this is how moslty European Press Agencies and Latin American press following the former, treat the news. i.e "Israel attacked Gaza" in big bold characters in the headlines, then 10 lines below in small letters you read "Israel attack "was in respose" to rockets launched by Hamas militants..." so the idea is to always portray Israel as the eternal aggressor. Israel never defends itself
(2) Andy, April 25, 2010 1:49 PM
our enemies within are the problem
when our fellow Jews defame Israel and/or the Jewish religion it lends credibility to all the lies and exaggerations propagated by our enemies. The Arab world is unified in rejecting the legitimacy of Israel as a Jewish State. That is nor true among the Jews. It seems to me that is the heart of problem and all the rest is commentary
(1) Anonymous, April 25, 2010 12:29 PM
Excellent Article!
I need it in Hebrew! has it been translated? Thank you.