Israeli and American Leftists Face Sexual Harassment, Assault by Palestinians They Aim to Defend
- Posted on March 17, 2012 at 8:08pm by
Sharona Schwartz
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Israelis, Palestinians and foreigners at weekly protest. File photo from Haaretz
Last year’s Occupy Wall Street protests were plagued with reports of sexual harassment and assault on female participants at encampments. Now, Israeli and foreign left-wing activists protesting alongside Palestinians are complaining of similar problems from Palestinians they aim to defend.
The liberal Israeli newspaper Haaretz obtained testimonies from female protesters and examined blog posts and online forums discussing what it’s calling the “wider phenomenon” of pro-Palestinian Israelis and foreigners, including an American woman, being harassed or assaulted at West Bank protests. Haaretz reports:
“In the past two years, at least six incidents were recorded in the West Bank and East Jerusalem: two in Sheikh Jarrah, four more in the Mount Hebron area, in Masra, in Kfar a-Dik, and an alleged case of attempted rape in Umm Salmona, near Bethlehem, that was revealed in Haaretz.”
One woman wrote a letter to “Anarchists Against the Wall:”
“‘At the demonstration today (February 10, 2012) in Kfar a-Dik, I noticed looks and finger pointing from the shabab (nickname for young Palestinians) that made me feel some discomfort. They talked amongst themselves, and not with me, but the word that came up quite a lot was ‘slut,’ with glances directed toward me. When I met A. and H. (two men), I told them about this, and H. stayed by my side. Despite this, there was some ‘accidental’ touching, and some incidents in which people called me a ‘slut.’ In the end of the day, it was a very unpleasant experience.’”
The sexual harassment has prompted a “stormy debate” among leftist and human rights activists in Israel. These Israelis gather weekly with international activists, including Americans, in Palestinian villages to protest Israel’s construction of its West Bank barrier, or what they call the “Apartheid Wall,” even though only 5 percent of it is a concrete wall. The Israeli government decided to construct a barrier between Palestinian neighborhoods and Israel in the wake of a wave of Palestinian suicide bombings a decade ago. A step that has shrunk suicide terrorism considerably. Haaretz reports:
“The joint activity of Israeli leftist activists on one side and local Palestinians on the other has created rare cases of cooperation in this time of conflict. But at the same time, complaints of sexual harassment by Palestinians started to emerge. In April 2010, an American peace activist filed a complaint against a Palestinian, charging he had tried to rape her. The suspect was later freed when the activist withdrew her complaint.”
A veteran feminist activist told the paper there was an “outcry” when female activists were told to dress modestly due to conservative Palestinian social norms. One former protester told Haaretz:
“Two years ago we had a meeting of women who took part in the struggle against the occupation. It took place in an apartment in Jerusalem, and disturbing things were brought up. Nearly all the women that attended told of cases of harassment or discrimination. One of the women recounted how one night, in a tent set up to help Sheikh Jarrah families, someone tried to grab her. She shouted for help and Palestinians came and asked who it was so that they could ‘take care of him.’
‘A female foreign activist of the international solidarity movement that was sleeping in one of the Palestinian villages, where protests against the fence take place, said that one night someone entered her room and tried to grab her, she began to shout and one of her friends rushed to help her. Since then I don’t go to places I ‘shouldn’t’ go to alone, as a woman,’ she said.’”
The paper obtained a response from a Palestinian protest organizer:
“Mahmoud Zohara, a member of the Popular Committee of Masra told Haaretz that the town decided to fight the phenomenon in every way possible. ‘First, the person responsible for the incident was ostracized. In addition, the Popular Committee decided to file a complaint against him at the Palestinian Court. He was fined NIS 5,000 for his deeds.’
Zohara said that the residents of the town will not accept this phenomenon. ‘It is unacceptable that Israeli or foreign women that come to protest in solidarity with us be harassed and their human rights be infringed upon.’
Zohara added that the Popular Committee has done much to raise awareness about the issue among the town residents and youth. ‘One must understand that harassment takes place everywhere – in Tel Aviv and in the United States as well. In these protests there is a very open relationship between the Palestinians and Israeli and foreign activists. This creates friendships, love, and yes, incidents of sexual harassment. But we must put an end to this phenomenon, whatever the price.’”
Some Israeli-Palestinian protesters ran into controversy last week after the “Solidarity Movement” published a poster on its Facebook page depicting a woman being raped, as an apparent metaphor for Palestine being “raped” by settlers. The group was protesting a deal the Israeli government struck with settlers earlier this month to move the West Bank Migron outpost to a nearby location, thus legalizing their status.
The poster’s caption reads “Deep Migron,” a play on the word “Garon” in Hebrew which is throat, a reference to the movie Deep Throat. NGO Monitor reports:
“The poster depicts a woman forcefully pinned down with her mouth held open, with the poster title a takeoff of the film ‘Deep Throat.’ The text, referring to the controversy over the Migron settlement, proclaims: ‘If they were residents of Haifa, Beer Sheva or Ashdod they would be in jail. But they are settlers. So shut up, bend down, swallow, you probably know that you want it!!!’”
This infuriated female protesters. To answer the complaints, Solidarity Movement changed the photo to a jar of Vaseline, which prompted even further outcry.
Haaretz reports:
“Two weeks ago, another activist anonymously wrote on the website haokets.org about an incident of sexual assault she had experienced, this time by an Israeli activist. ‘I was sexually assaulted last summer by an Israeli leftist activist. The assailant met, and still meets, all the right criteria: post-colonialist, post-Zionist, anti-capitalist, etc. And most relevantly, he considers himself a feminist. Until he assaulted me, we were friends.’
‘After the assault it took me three long days to understand what had happened to me, and find a name for it. I couldn’t wrap my mind around it, because I couldn’t understand how someone who spoke with me using the language of opposition to oppression could breach my walls.’
‘When the solidarity movement released its new campaign with the Vaseline, hinting at anal rape, with the caption ‘shut up, bend over and swallow, you know you want to’ conjuring the most appalling imagery of sexual violence, I was angered, but unfortunately, I wasn’t surprised. In all honesty, the left isn’t as good at keeping gender equality as they think they are.’”
Anarchists Against the Wall told Haaretz “the group was dealing openly and seriously with incidents of sexual harassments done by Palestinians, as well as those in which soldiers and Israeli citizens were the assailants,” adding, “The attempts to use incidents of sexual assault, a phenomenon that takes place on both sides of the border, and to tie them to a single nationality, is harming the important fight against sexual violence.”
Which brings us back to events in the United States. Feminist groups such as CODEPINK have been vocal participants in anti-Israel activism, including participating in the Occupy AIPAC protests, actively supporting a boycott of Israeli goods and standing side-by-side with pro-Palestinian activists at Occupy Wall Street events. Those viewing themselves as defenders of women’s rights may want to take pause to consider the credentials of those with whom they stand, and ask, are they really defenders of the feminist cause?
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Comments (54)
independentvoteril
Posted on March 18, 2012 at 8:59amOnly thing these so called activist groups want is FACE time in the MEDIA.. they could care less about OTHER women’s human rights ..IF they did they would KNOW (and most likely do know) just who they are protecting..
Report Post »LouC57
Posted on March 18, 2012 at 4:11pmAs Lara Logan found out, this is not just a palestinian (small P intentional) problem, it’s endemic across the Middle East. These men will do anything to subjugate females. Years ago at a bead show, there were many arabs, I was grabbed several times, and the offender got a elbow jab as hard as I could muster. I heard “sharmoota” one too many times and told the last jerk to STFU before I shoved his pearls down his damn throat. He blinked as did his companions. They are chickens at heart.
Report Post »For the women out there, first protect yourself, if in public and one is harassing you, put your hands on your hips and stare the creeps down, it works.
Hickory
Posted on March 18, 2012 at 8:18amkneel infidel……………………….
Report Post »happ77
Posted on March 18, 2012 at 10:38amHey anarchist,,, “Up against the wall”
Report Post »johnpaulkuchtajr
Posted on March 18, 2012 at 7:54amIf you play with pigs, you’re going to get a little pig s_ _ _ on your hands every once in a while.
The Paletinians are outlaws; but, all this is going to be worked out very soon.
I believe that by November the “Palestinian Situation” will be a mute point.
Report Post »Magyar
Posted on March 18, 2012 at 6:10amWOW, again the religion of PEACE shines brightly! As to these stupid misguided people–not a lot of simpathy…they willingly put themselves in harms way.
Report Post »right
Posted on March 18, 2012 at 5:35amWhat a bunch of fools. Go protest with the insane. See where that gets you. Oops, raped. Or maybe dead. Something goes wrong in the brain of a lefty and send them off in the wrong direction. They may never recover from that illness.
Report Post »JLocke
Posted on March 18, 2012 at 7:03amThese are lessons not learned from other liberal women from decades past. There was one story of a woman who went to Haiti and found herself raped by a man while pleading that she studied such luminaries as Malcolm X. and rallied for civil rights. The man had no clue of such events or luminaries.
Report Post »Charles
Posted on March 18, 2012 at 10:20amThe mental illness of “liberalism” tends to get worse as the years go by for those affected. Old liberals are some of the most unhappy and demented people I know.
Report Post »Chuck Stein
Posted on March 19, 2012 at 12:37amThis is not a new phenomenon. I remember back in the 1980′s when a female American college student went over to South Africa to protest REAL apartheid. She was attacked by a crowd of those whom she came to South Africa to “liberate.“ They chanted ”One settler, one bullet!”. They killed her. Her parents reaction? They blamed the South African government. It reminded me of Moloch. Sacrificing your children to a false god.
Report Post »EP46
Posted on March 18, 2012 at 4:15amSo when are the Left Wing liberated women of America going to stand up for the women being raped at ows across the country?
When are the Left Wing liberated women of American going to stop killing unborn little girls every day?
When are the Left Wing liberated women of America going to stop the Democrats from using them as ‘victims’ to push a polical agenda?
When are the Left Wing liberated women of America going to grow up and stop being sex toys???
Report Post »BRAVEATHEART
Posted on March 18, 2012 at 1:17amMaybe they think women of the American left have loose morals. What would give them that idea?
Report Post »TurboCat
Posted on March 18, 2012 at 6:41amThese people are just so stupid. What did they expect? To be guaranteed that no one would do harm to them because ‘they are doing such a noble deed’?
Report Post »zoro51
Posted on March 18, 2012 at 12:29amALL of the LAND of ISREAL belongs to ISAAC NOT ISHMEAL.. murdering muslums LEAVE its NOT your corner or your country.. infafact YOU OWE ISREAL RENT FOR 300000 YEARS of living there….
Report Post »RamonPreston
Posted on March 18, 2012 at 2:12pmYou have too many zeros
Report Post »RamonPreston
Posted on March 18, 2012 at 2:14pmThe troublesome areas in the mideast are where Joshua failed to exterminate them as told to by God.
Report Post »powedj
Posted on March 17, 2012 at 10:25pmAren’t these woman suppose to find 3 witness or get stoned?.
Report Post »1casawizard
Posted on March 17, 2012 at 10:17pmI can’t speak for the rest of the world, but in America the women have the same civil rights as any person in our country. The abuse of women in some other countries is common. They may not be able to go to school, show their face, vote. If they get raped, they can be put to death. This is no easy feat to try to convert them. They use their Koran as a weapon to shunt any attempt to change. Iran is the most westernized nation. The people want to be like US. Let’s US encourage them instead of helping the Khomeini shut them down. Lots of citizens were killed in the last uprising. The Iranian people want to be like US. Don’t doubt me.
Report Post »DEFCON4
Posted on March 17, 2012 at 10:31pmI would like to hear more about the Iranian people, sir
Report Post »1casawizard
Posted on March 17, 2012 at 11:11pm@DEFCON4. Sir, the Iranian people are the most advanced people of the Muslim world. We need to keep them informed of things that their government is not telling them. The Iranian government currently is like Hitler’s Germany. During the last uprising of Iran, the government shut down the internet. There was no communication to the outside unless you had a satellite phone. That may happen again. Iran is the head of the snake with the Muslim world. The Muslim religion like Christianity teaches peace. The government of Iran is of the radical Muslim belief and practice. The US government is now ruled by a Muslim president. Yes, the Muslims can act like animals.
Report Post »DEFCON4
Posted on March 17, 2012 at 11:31pmAfter that reply, 1CASAWIZARD ,I will never doubt you.Thanks!
Report Post »tonythefisher
Posted on March 18, 2012 at 4:29amI saw a very interesting Iranian movie years ago, about an Iranian Judge being called to another province, to be part of a three Judge panel who would hear a case about a Female (her crime escapes me but it was serious). Most of the movie deals with a letter he reads from his Wife, who he had pissed off because he had seemed prejudiced against the Girl he was to be Judging. His wife reminds him in the letter, about their ideals during the Iranian Revolution. Their hopes and dreams. How hard they fought against prejudices like his!
One of the MANY things in this movie that struck me was the INCREDIBLE simmilarities in the modern neighborhoods, which could have been superimposed onto ANY American street! The theme also of course was VERY relevant to our times. The name of this movie escapes me and the subtitles were horrible, but the message and MYOWN prejudices were sorely taxed!
Report Post »SpeckledPup
Posted on March 17, 2012 at 9:54pmAmerican Left women are really the total dregs of American society, they coddle the muslim terrorists as much as they worship their god obama, and they deserve every vile thing the muslim terrorists come at them with. no sympathies AT ALL if the muslim animals start raping stoning and killing them.
Report Post »1casawizard
Posted on March 17, 2012 at 10:27pm@SPECKLEDPUP. Mega dittos to you. The left leaning women have a lot of growing up to do. thank for your comment.
Report Post »Mr.Fitnah
Posted on March 17, 2012 at 9:52pmLeftwing maroons dont understand being raped by muslims is normal Islam.
Report Post »TurboCat
Posted on March 18, 2012 at 6:47amThey’re just too stupid for their own good. What a wake-up call they are in for!
Report Post »COFemale
Posted on March 17, 2012 at 9:06pmMaybe, just maybe they will realize the true pigs the Palestinian men are. I can’t speak to the women, but the men, ANIMALS.
Report Post »nostromo
Posted on March 17, 2012 at 9:03pmMore evidence that progressivism is a mental illness. People believe their prejudices regardless of the empirical evidence. This is called, nuts.
Report Post »bhelmet
Posted on March 17, 2012 at 8:54pmSad part is – they WILL CONTINUE to support these people. Of course, they will blame it on Bush or whomever.
Report Post »dmerwin
Posted on March 17, 2012 at 8:35pmIn the words of that great American philosopher Gomer Pyle, “Well, surprise, surprise, surprise”.
Report Post »bhelmet
Posted on March 17, 2012 at 8:53pmHilarious!!!
Report Post »Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
Posted on March 17, 2012 at 9:21pmI fought for their rights…..I defended them……why would they do this???? Oh, wait, I am not of their faith, and I am lower than a dog, I am a woman. I guess I deserve this.
Stockholm syndrome.
Report Post »Shasta
Posted on March 17, 2012 at 10:02pmAnd a great American marine (TV marine that is).
Report Post »right
Posted on March 18, 2012 at 5:29amLove it. Perfect!
Report Post »leonardo44
Posted on March 17, 2012 at 8:35pmNone of this is surprising. Women have no rights in muslim culture, it’s all about submission and control. Look at the disgusting, misogynistic posters they designed, what more do you need to know?
Report Post »The left better wake up and stop marching with the Palestinians.
Code Pink…what a disgusting pack of morons.
DEFCON4
Posted on March 17, 2012 at 8:47pmThe left will be marching with the palestines on March 30th.It’s called the global march on Jerusalem.Once again, they will try to overwhelm the IDF to no avail.
Report Post »biblegeek119
Posted on March 17, 2012 at 8:34pm“there is a very open relationship between the Palestinians and Israeli and foreign activists. This creates friendships, love, and yes, incidents of sexual harassment.” WOW I read this before here in the US during the OWS. I think it was that woman from Congress…
If anyone reads Haaretz and Arutzsheva news will be amazed on how it looks like our news media. People are all the same, they just change the address.
Father said: “Getting into each others fights it is like holding a passing dog by the ears”. Proverbs.
We imagine that they will understand what the Israelis have to deal with, but they are not smart enough to get it.
Report Post »KusoJiJi
Posted on March 17, 2012 at 8:30pmleftist are so blinded by utopian ideology they have lost sight of what is right and what is wrong; what is good and what is evil.
Report Post »justangry
Posted on March 17, 2012 at 8:28pmProbably would be best to mind our own business.
Report Post »338lapua
Posted on March 17, 2012 at 8:45pmWhy?
Report Post »justangry
Posted on March 17, 2012 at 9:45pmBecause we don’t have all the facts.
Report Post »GBTVFan_Non_American_Overseas
Posted on March 18, 2012 at 1:55amAngry,
That’s not possible…don’t you know we are all women now? :)
Report Post »scuba13
Posted on March 18, 2012 at 9:38amJustangry, it‘s no wonder why you don’t know all the facts. Because your head is buried in the sand.
Report Post »338lapua
Posted on March 17, 2012 at 8:26pmIf you have ever wanted to live doring the stone age……this truly is it. Good luck ladies, animals are worth more than you.
Report Post »DEFCON4
Posted on March 17, 2012 at 8:26pmAnimals acting like animals.It’s only been going on for thousands of years,yet these liberal activists are finding it out now.The hard way. Don’t feel sorry for them/mindless sheep.
Report Post »cosette
Posted on March 17, 2012 at 8:23pmSome American female leftist called a slut? Report it to the Marxist pig in the white house. He’ll slap down that uncivilized loudmouth….. From 6,000 miles away, surrounded by bodyguards, and wearing body armor, and carrying two weapons one for each hand, and standing in front of his pet Wookie.
Report Post »AB5r
Posted on March 17, 2012 at 8:21pmSandra Fluke will make sure they are prepared for duty.
Report Post »Mark0331
Posted on March 17, 2012 at 8:15pm..anybody with sense could see this coming…lay down with dogs, get up with fleas.
Report Post »TomFerrari
Posted on March 17, 2012 at 8:36pmKinda what I was thinking …
They dont respect women, and yet, you, a woman, are going to stand with them in protest of good, Godly people who DO respect women.
Yes, you lie with dogs, you’re gonna get fleas.
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