Conflict between Israel and Palestine: A Matter of Humanity
In the vibrant city of Berlin, two prominent voices often heard in the media are those of Ahmad Mansour, a Palestinian author, and Yossi Bartal, a journalist and writer.
Ahmad Mansour, a frequent guest of German media, has raised questions about whether his invitations are based on his expertise or serve an anti-Arab discourse. On the other hand, Yossi Bartal, a Berlin resident since 2006, contributes regularly to nd.Digital, writing about parallel societies, nationalism, and the fight for a better world every third Monday of the month.
Bartal, an enthusiastic new Berliner, has expressed sympathy for all forms of treason, but differentiates between those who turn their backs on their nation for a universal ideal and those who serve another repressive power. He resists the essentialist view and group thinking that labels those who don't fit into clearly defined minorities as pawns of the majority society.
A person known to Bartal regularly posts videos of Jewish people who criticize the atrocities of the Israeli military on their electronic reach. Bartal writes with a healthy dose of skepticism towards state and law, and he questions whether he is invited to write for 'nd' for his views and style or as an 'ex-Israeli who occasionally speaks ill of his homeland.'
The author suggests that the person's actions could be labeled as tokenism, a behavior where individuals from a specific group are highlighted to make a political position appear more credible. However, he expresses that Jewish accompaniment is not necessary to criticize the ongoing crime in Gaza. If one stands for equality and justice for all, their identities do not matter.
Bartal identifies as a left internationalist and has made it clear that he is not a fan of self-hatred, stating early on that self-hatred is the noblest form of hatred. He has encountered both dull and friendly individuals in his interactions, observing that meeting people in person can sometimes differ greatly from their online presence.
The accumulation of such posts, however, makes the author cringe, and he sees a need for certain disloyalty towards one's 'own' group, even if dissenting voices within a community are exploited from the outside. Despite this, he emphasises that there is a difference between those who turn their backs on their nation for a universal ideal and those who serve another repressive power.
The author believes the motives of the person posting videos may be well-intentioned, possibly believing that a Jewish protest is taken more seriously than a Palestinian one, or wanting to convey that Jewish people should not be equated with the actions of the State of Israel. He finds the person posting these videos to be a joy to meet in person.
In a city as diverse as Berlin, these discussions serve as a reminder of the importance of open dialogue, critical thinking, and the rejection of tokenism in the pursuit of a better world.
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