A political commentator argues that Israel cannot control the narrative of what it is doing to Palestinians anymore as modern tools such as the internet and smartphones are exposing the regime’s crimes in the Gaza Strip.
“The internet has changed the geometry of propaganda,” John Steppling, an author and political commentator, told MUSLIMPRESS in an interview. “there were too many cell phone videos of Israeli abuse of Palestinians.”
He said the Israelis always controlled the narrative, particularly in the US, but “cracks had started to appear in this narrative. And the cracks were widening.”
The following is the full transcript of the interview:
Since the beginning of the Gaza war on October 7, there have been countless lies and distortions concerning the conflict. Despite the fact that the truth has eventually come out in each case, it seems that it has not had the desired effect. What could you say about this?
The Israeli state has always lied. Since 1947 they have lied. They lied even before that, actually. But a number of things have changed over the last several years. I noticed this before October 7. The Israelis always controlled the narrative. Certainly, for Western audiences (meaning especially the US), they controlled the narrative. Western media is heavily influenced by the Israeli lobby. Hollywood certainly plays a significant role in manufacturing the myth of *Israel*. But cracks had started to appear in this narrative. And the cracks were widening. Part of this is due to Netanyahu who cynically formed a coalition government that included the far far-right fanatic parties and then gave them prominent positions in the government (Ben-Gvir is the perfect example). And this was partly because Netanyahu wanted to stay out of jail. He’s not been a popular figure now, and for a number of years. And the problem with these far-right settlers is that they aren’t very good or sophisticated with media. They are not really very smart, to put it bluntly. And I think increasingly they said things out loud that were only ever said in private. Also, the internet has changed the geometry of propaganda. And there were too many cell phone videos of Israeli abuse of Palestinians. And not only that, but Israeli police abuse orthodox Jews and even average Israeli citizens. The state was feeling insecure and becoming more authoritarian. It’s always been authoritarian but it was now reaching unprecedented levels. The world was awakening to the true face of the Israeli state. And then voices such as MikoPeled, IlanPappe, and Raz Segal — all Israelis — were speaking out openly against Zionism. And these voices are heard in the English-speaking world. Peled is enormously influential. And his moral authority makes Netanyahu appear even more craven and unhinged. And you have people in his government advocating the use of nuclear weapons. It’s absolute insanity.
Remember too that as a political entity the US and Israel are one. Half of the political class in the US have dual citizenship with Israel. And Israel could not survive a week without US subsidies. One does not control the other, they are the same. And the US has its own issues right now. Massive homelessness, unemployment, and since the COVID-19 lockdowns, which triggered a retail apocalypse, the sense of community and continuity in medium and small cities has unraveled. The entire WEF reset is at work, too, with global digital currency and the WHO and all of these well-funded NGOs. These are powerful forces. And the US is stretched thin after the debacle in Ukraine. The BRICS nations are forming ties that threaten US hegemony. It won’t happen right away, but it scares Washington. So I sense the US didn’t want this new war right now. There are counter theories that it was all planned, and it’s out of the question, but it doesn’t make sense to me. Also, the black market is flooded with US-made weapons.
There have been massive protests in Western countries, especially the US and Britain, against the Israeli regime’s atrocities against Palestinians. How effective are these rallies in changing those countries’ policies toward the war?
The protests are enormous. A million people today in London. Israeli voices are strident and even hysterical now… Hasbara is in full-tilt craziness. But the statements from Israeli politicians are hard for most people to ignore. And more, the horror of murdering children. The great Norwegian doctor Mads Gilbert is someone trusted in the West and he has reported that Israel is committing atrocities. Not Hamas.
So yes protests help. But remember that millions marched in the streets in the lead-up to the Iraq invasion and it didn’t change a thing. Still…they do matter.
In the meantime, the US-run bases in Iraq and Syria have been targeted repeatedly. How do you assess these developments?
There is a danger of the US being dragged into a war. That’s the theory. I don’t think anyone drags the US anywhere. But Biden, besides his senility, has multiple crises to deal with. And the neo-cons in this administration are like the Israeli government. They are not smart, they have no experience of the real world. A Russian journalist the other day observed that Antony Blinken was stunningly ignorant of history to be in the position he holds. These are all men and women groomed to be officeholders. They lack imagination and experience with life. Jake Sullivan, Victoria Nuland, Blinken, Ron Klain, and Avril Haines. None of these people have accomplishments worth mentioning. They are functionaries, they are products of elite universities and DC think tanks. This has gone on for decades but now this practice of total insulated wonk appointments has reached a tipping point. Of course, you had four years of Trump, too, who has a third-grade vocabulary and made decisions based on what he saw on Fox News. The country is a disaster area. So the attacks on US bases feel inevitable. I think it is likely to get worse before better. Nobody likes the US (well, the UK does). The Arab ruling class might, still, too. But even there the relationships are fraying.
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