Pinkwashing explained: How Israel leverages gay rights to put a ‘progressive veneer atop atrocity’ ( ricochet.media )

Last November, Israel’s official social media accounts shared a photo of a smiling Israeli soldier proudly holding a rainbow flag amid the rubble in Gaza, where over 10,000 Palestinians – mostly women and children – had been killed in the weeks following October 7.

Written upon the multi-coloured flag – an iconic, decades-old symbol of LGBTQ+ pride – in English, Arabic and Hebrew, were the words “In The Name Of Love.”

The image quickly went viral. The soldier, a 31-year-old gay man, explained to the media that the Israeli military was “the only army in the Middle East that protects democratic values… it is the only army that allows LGBT people the freedom to be who they are, and therefore I fully believe in our goal.”

Meanwhile, on Instagram, Israel’s account described the image as an “attempt to raise the first pride flag in Gaza as a call for peace and freedom.”

But for many LGBTQ+ activists, and those struggling for Palestinian liberation, the incident represented an almost perfect example of “pinkwashing” – a term that refers to a state or organization’s attempts to use LGBTQ+ rights and symbols to distract or deflect attention from its harmful practices.

febra ,

The same Israel that blackmails queer Palestinian civilians to become informants.

The same Israel with politicians sitting in the current government and leading parties that agree that "LGBTQ" is the biggest threat to Israel.

The same Israel that still doesn't allow same sex marriage.

The same Israel that claims that killing civilians is okay because they might be homophobic.

As a queer dude, not in my name. Fuck Israel. I don't give two craps about their pinkwashing.

Leylineofthevoid , (edited )

Like Andrei S. Markovits once said, some criticisim of Israel is really "damned if you do, and damned if you don't". When Israel would discriminate against LGBTQ like other countries in the middle east, it would be used against them. But if it does not, it is still used against Israel. What do you want Israel to do? Discriminate against LGBTQ or not? You're just against Israel per se, let's be honest. I think this is really unfair criticism.

roboto ,

I don’t know who that guy is but blackmailing LBTQ Palestinians into spying on their friends and family is really not a great achievement next to genociding them along with every other Palestinian.

But if we’re doing quotes I’d like to quote the queer Jews who got kicked out of the White House pride party recently:

As queer Jews with close LGBTQ family and friends in Israel, we know how precarious their rights are, too. There is no civil marriage, trans rights are consistently attacked and undermined by high-ranking government officials, and Israeli ministers actively spew hate against pride parades, leading to physical violence. LGBTQ Palestinians aren't being 'saved' by Israel. Their identities and their personal lives are exploited by Israeli security services to force them into being informants on their families and communities, putting them at risk.

Leylineofthevoid , (edited )

Like I implied, obviously not everything is well in Israel. But generally, the term "pink washing" is not useful. Also the war in gaza is not a genocide, but that's a different topic, I guess.

Edit: Andrei S. Markovits https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrei_Markovits

Edit 2: This is no appeal to authority, the argument is good.

roboto ,

If we’re at genocide denial I don’t know what else to talk about.

Edit: I can look the guy up, my point is just because someone said something it doesn’t mean it’s necessarily relevant let alone true.

Leylineofthevoid ,

Words are cheap nowadays. Read the Israeli answer to the South African claim in The Hague. The intent, which is important in the definition of genocide, is completly lacking. There are some war crimes, but not genocide, at least not at the moment.

Just one more thing: The IDF warns civilians before bombing. Which other army in the world does that? (To be fair: according to the BBC there are some mistakes in the information.)
https://discuss.tchncs.de/pictrs/image/519c705a-d26d-4db8-939c-4a77204bb45d.webp

Krono ,

Of course Israel denies that it intends to commit genocide. If you're looking for genocidal intent, just look at the words of Smotrich, Ben Gvir, and Netanyahu. Or the words of thousands of rabid Israelis on Jerusalem Day as they publically call for ethnic cleansing.

The IDF stopped the knocking-before-bombing system very early on in this conflict. And when you're bombing refugee tent cities, no warning is possible.

Your genocide denial is disgusting.

Leylineofthevoid ,

You call everyone who does not fully support your view a "genocide denier" and "disgusting"? Comon... Is this your argument?

Yes, after the horrific attack on Israeli civilians, many politicians were emotional and understandably so, I might add. But yes, there are obviously some right wingers in the Israeli government who might commit a genocide or at least ethnic cleansing. I don't deny that. But the most important part of the government does not have the intention for genocide.

The IDF warns civilians in gaza before attacks, has field hospitals, hospital ships and even let's in humanitarian aid to gaza, even when a big majority in the population of Israel is against such aid. How does this fit with it this narrative of genocide.

Like I said: Words matter here. There are war crimes in this war, which is bad enough, but genocide is the worst crime in international law, and the word gets thrown around like it's nothing. This trivializes the whole debate...

This claim, which is older than the war in gaza is a way to demonize Israel.

girlfreddy OP ,
@girlfreddy@lemmy.ca avatar

This claim, which is older than the war in gaza is a way to demonize Israel.

Israel is demonizing themselves without anyone else's help. Don't blame others for what Bebe and the ultra nationalists are doing rn.

BeBa ,

If Israel intended to commit genocide it would be undeniable because there wouldn’t be any Palestinians left. Let’s be real here, we’re talking about a small area that Israel has more than enough firepower to completely wipe out. If genocide was truly the goal why draw this out so long? They control the Palestinians water supply ffs, have for decades. Nothing stopping em from pumping it full of contraceptives and poisons. Why haven’t they ever?

The fact is that hamas willingly makes “martyrs” out of their people. More “martyrs” more sympathy, more money, more hate on their enemy. They make no attempt to help their people and even encourage them to die. Search YouTube for “Palestinian children’s shows” for hamas produced lessons. Six year olds talking about the glory of martyrdom, it’s fucked up. Is there any wonder so many people (most of which children) find their way in front of Israeli rockets?

Krzd ,
@Krzd@lemmy.world avatar

Wtf? The IDF regularly bombs places they told people to flee to???

BeBa ,

Imagine for a moment that you’re one of the many wonderful colours in the LGBT rainbow. You’re also a soldier and you’re fighting people who hate you for both your religion and your sexuality. You’re in a place where traditionally folks with your sexuality/gender identity would be systematically executed. Would you not also wear a rainbow pin and take a photo or two to commemorate that moment? To me it feels significant enough

roboto ,

Yeah I’d be raising the rainbow flag over the bunch of kids I just executed for creating some new Zionist Lebensraum. Maybe let’s do a pride parade on the Netzarim corridor.

This whole post is exactly about what you’re trying to do with your pink washing and genocide denial.

airportline ,
@airportline@lemmy.ml avatar

What do you want Israel to do? Discriminate against LGBTQ or not?

What we don't want Israel to do is use LGBTQ people as propaganda, especially against Palestinians. It's unproductive, and it disgusts me everytime someone uses "Hamas would throw you off a roof" as a cheap gotcha.

Dasus ,
@Dasus@lemmy.world avatar

But if it does not, it is still used against Israel. What do you want Israel to do?

To stop the genocide they're committing. I thought this was pretty clear from all the protests?

I think this is really unfair criticism.

I think it's generally agreed that slaughtering children and raping and torturing people is wrong. Perhaps you were raised differently?

VirtualOdour ,

I hope hamas can be defeated and the people of Palestine can be free from their oppression and propaganda. I was brought up being told it's the job of the strong to protect the weak and we can't fool ourselves into being tolerant to the intolerant. Its hard making difficult choices especially against enemies who use human shields and lies but the IDF are making the area a better place so history will respect them regardless of what agents and fools say now.

roboto , (edited )

How exactly does the IDF make the Gaza Strip a better place through making it inhabitable and genociding its population?

Apart from that the IDF is using human shields and lies on a daily basis. What is this?

Leylineofthevoid , (edited )
whataboutism

So Hamas is not using human shields and hospitals as bases?

girlfreddy OP ,
@girlfreddy@lemmy.ca avatar

Whataboutism.

Do better.

Leylineofthevoid ,

I agree that this is whataboutism.

But all this being called names on Lemmy makes me a bit cynical. I honestly apologize and edit my post.

HomerianSymphony ,

Wow, this sure is some Rudyard Kipling “White Man’s Burden” bullshit.

cygnus ,
@cygnus@lemmy.ca avatar

I sure wish queer people were left out of this war that has essentially nothing to do with them. It's a caricature of intersectionalism. Here's another absurd example: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/stjohns-pride-palestine-action-yyt-1.7253192

St. John's Pride names pro-Palestine advocacy group as grand marshals for annual parade

On July 21, Palestine Action YYT will lead the annual parade, which will wind its way through downtown St. John's and end at Bannerman Park for the Pride in the Park event.

The group has protested throughout the city for months, with downtown marches downtown calling for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war, vigils for those who have died in the conflict, and tent encampments and the occupation of Memorial University buildings to call on administration to divest from companies that are funding the war.

Deceptichum ,
@Deceptichum@quokk.au avatar

Pride being used to help disadvantaged victims is fine.

Pride being used to make genocide progressive is vile.

Manifish_Destiny ,

100%, not the same thing.

cygnus , (edited )
@cygnus@lemmy.ca avatar

Pride being used to help disadvantaged victims is fine.

The real disadvantaged victims are queer people in Palestine (and especially Gaza), where being gay or trans is persecuted to a degree unlike nearly every other place in the world. Not only are they oppressed by Israel, but they're also oppressed by their own people. Here's a good report on the matter (PDF) https://cdn.sida.se/app/uploads/2021/05/07094749/rights-of-lgbt-persons-palestine.pdf

Human rights should come before anything else, whether it's borders or religion or whatever. The morally consistent position is to advocate for Palestinian freedom that also includes freedom for all Palestinians to be themselves.

thesporkeffect ,

Sorry, i misread your comment

dubyakay ,

False equivalence.

Rather this is like when people were angry at BLM for getting the cop float cancelled at the Toronto pride. BLM is the ally. Not the queer cops. Queer cops are still pigs in the position of power. Queer IDF soldiers are still genocidal maniacs in the position of power.

Also you can go screw yourself.

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