Soccer Dad: The marketing of nakba

May 16, 2006

The marketing of nakba

Every year May 14 or May 15 comes and goes. But not without comment. There is always a news story (or are news stories) about the Naqba. For example the Associated Press reported:

Palestinian women, some holding Palestinian flags, attend a Hamas rally to mark the 58th anniversary of 'the Naqba,' or 'catastrophe', the term Palestinians use to describe Israel's creation on May 15, 1948, in the Rafah refugee camp Monday May 15, 2006. Some 700,000 Palestinians fled or were driven from their homes during the war that followed the declaration of the Jewish state.

Then there's this from Reuters

A Palestinian boy wears a Hamas head band during the movement's rally ahead of the 58th anniversary of the Nakba (Day of catastrophe) at Rafah refugee camp in the southern Gaza Strip May 15, 2006. Palestinians mark the Nakba as a day of mourning for the establishment of Israel in the 1948 Arab-Israeli war which led to the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians. The head band reads: 'There is only one God.'

Given the religious component of Palestinian nationalism, why is the date used for the Naqba the Julian?

It's because the West will react to a Julian anniversary a lot more readily than it will to an Islamic one. If every year on the 6th of Rajab we'd be almost celebrating the 60th which would be about 3 months from now. By using the Julian date, the Palestinians keep Nakba in the same season (within a week or two) of Israel's independence day.

But that's not the only item that's being marketed for Western consumption. There is also the myth of the keys

A Palestinian man displays a key that he says is from his home as he marks Nakba in the West Bank refugee camp of El Fawwar near Hebron May 15, 2006. Palestinians mark the Nakba as a day of mourning for the establishment of Israel in the 1948 Arab-Israeli war which led to the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians. REUTERS/Nayef Hashlamoun

A staple of Palestinian profiles is the mention of the key to the house in Jaffa that the refugee left behing. The problem is that the keys, as LGF notes look awfully similar. But whether or not these keys really worked, they are a symbol that Western media mythmakers are all too willing to promote.

Elder of Ziyon writes about toasting Nakba with a fine whine.

Israel Matzav reveals the Nakba code.

Clarity and Resolve observes that some want to celebrate Nakba by attacking the U.S.

AbbaGav critiques other Naqba photographs here and here.

And he speaks for me when he says

Shame on AP for not monitoring what is published in its name. The Palestinians can handle their own Press Office; they really don't need another.

What applies to AP applies to all too many news agencies nowadays.

Efraim Karsh answers the essential question "Were the Palestinians expelled?"

UPDATE: And what would a marketing campaign be without some really nice posters? Greetings from French Hill found one, and its covered with .... keys. And it demands ... return. He concludes

it gives a true account what the Palestinians really want, or at least what they don't want, no compromise - no Israel and of course no Jews living in their land.

AFP has a picture that it describes

A Palestinian artist paints a mural marking the 58th anniversary of the Naqba, "Day of catastrophe", when Palestinians lost their homes and land to the creation of the State of Israel

And it shows a red key integrated into the body of a highly stylized dove. Presumably it means that peace will come when the owners of the deserted houses get to return. But will that be before or after all the Jews are driven from the land?

UPDATE: Featured in Carnival of the Insanities #21.

Technorati tags: Nakba, Israel.