By Adam Shoshani, GS | 2014

Before I begin, I would like to clarify my views: I hold moderate political opinions regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and truly believe that there is only one way to end this longtime conflict in the Middle East- a two state solution- with Israel, as a Jewish and democratic state, living peacefully side by side with a free Palestinian state. Moreover, I place myself somewhere in the center of the political map in Israel.

Holding these opinions, I attended the “Breaking the Silence” event at Barnard College hosted by Students for Justice in Palestine on January 26. Breaking the Silence is a public-benefit organization of former Israeli soldiers working to “raise awareness about the daily reality in the occupied territories.” While I had heard several views regarding the organization, I decided to hear the group’s opinions and presentation for myself. I watched the movie for nearly two hours, and I found myself not only surprised but also disappointed. Following the event, I decided that I could not stand still as different people and organizations hypocritically and wrongfully delegitimized my own country- the state of Israel. The movie presented from start to finish a one-sided story with no real consideration of the Israeli perspective. I am responding to this crude event to give a more balanced and historical view of this tragic conflict.

The movie claimed to present to the audience the reality of life in the West Bank and Gaza. Some audience members were familiar with the conflict while others formed their beliefs based on media reports. Very few people have the intimate relationship and understanding with the situation—“matzav,” as we say in Israel—that we ex-Israeli soldiers have. We are here on campus, and we know how our military conducts itself with a great deal of respect and restraint. While I do not doubt the suffering of the Palestinians interviewed in the movie, I highly doubt the Israeli soldiers who clearly did everything in their power to mock Israel and to present a distorted reality.

Throughout my entire military service, I was trained and educated to strictly follow the Israeli Defense Forces Ethical Code, which is composed of several core values: Respect for Human life, Personal Example, Professionalism, Purity of Arms, Representativeness, and Responsibility, among others. The Ethical code states, “The IDF serviceman will use force of arms only for the purpose of subduing the enemy to the necessary extent, and will limit his use of force so as to prevent unnecessary harm to human life and limb, dignity and property… With special consideration for the defenseless, whether in wartime…or times of peace.” The language used in the movie attacked IDF soldiers as “monsters,” and as “part of a machine.” I do not know the soldiers who expressed their experiences, but I do know one thing: their incessant effort to demonize the IDF and its soldiers is unjustifiable. Describing themselves as young 18 year olds who had no say in any matter is a lie. Avichai, one of the soldiers who spoke, described a situation where he was bored in a security post and, as a result, began shooting for fun. Well, in that case Avichai is a criminal, and should be prosecuted for breaking the “purity of arms” code. However, to apply his individual misconduct to the IDF generally is a gross distortion of facts.

In five years of active service as a soldier and commander, I have never witnessed stories such as those described in the movie. I was shocked to hear a soldier say he was not surprised by the “confirmation of death” of a 14 year old because “that is the way a combat soldier is trained and educated” – a bold lie. I am proud of my military service for the defense of Israel, and I am deeply honored to have taken part in such a moral army. I will not be naïve – in every military in the world you will find terrible stories; these should be taken seriously and strict punishments should and are enforced.

The movie also chronicled the conflict at the Jenin Refugee camp. A person watching the movie with little knowledge of the conflict would conclude simply – Israel is to blame. However, the movie failed to recognize the Israeli perspective and the broader events surrounding the incident. Operation “Defensive Shield,” during which the IDF entered Jenin, came as a direct response to one of the cruelest and deadliest attacks on civilians to ever occur inside Israel. On March 27, 2002, on the Eve of the Passover Seder (one of the holiest dates in the Jewish calendar), a Palestinian suicide bomber entered a hotel in the city of Netanya, found the dining hall, and detonated an explosive device. Instantly, 30 people were killed, and 140 were injured. Most of the victims were senior citizens who had nowhere else to celebrate the holiday. Hamas claimed responsibility – yes, the same Hamas that rules Gaza today. The same Hamas that terrorizes and manipulates more than a million Palestinians under its rule. The same Hamas that has been holding Gilad Shalit, an Israeli soldier, for more than four years without letting the Red Cross.

This cynical attempt to show the “Israeli side” was presented by a few activists who did not convey the reality of the situation. The soldiers in the movie hold full responsibility for their actions and do not represent in any way the norms of conduct of the large majority of Israeli soldiers. The motive of the presenters was not to accurately present the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, but to unjustly tarnish and disgrace the reputation of the only real democracy in the Middle East- the state of Israel. Along with the event “Never Again For Anyone,” which took place on the International Holocaust Remembrance Day and accused Israel of “ethnic cleansing” in the Palestinian Territories, these events reflect a historical distortion that reminds me of the manipulative propaganda targeted at Jews in darker days.

I strongly believe that, in order to achieve a true and lasting peace between the Israelis and Palestinians, it is crucial to address the many opinions on all sides of this conflict. Only then will a true debate take place. Films such as the one presented by Breaking the Silence are cheap propaganda and fuel the hatred and violence in our region. Here at Columbia University, we Israeli and Palestinian students have the opportunity to see the Middle East conflict from a distance and from a different perspective. We should make a true effort to work together towards achieving a better understanding among our people and should be engaged in a debate where opinions and possible solutions can be discussed. The constant delegitimization of Israel and the IDF will lead to a dead end. Israel is here to stay, not as a flawless country, but as a strong democratic state that, on the one hand, will stand fiercely against those who aspire its destruction, but, at the same time, will leave no stone unturned in order to reach peace with its neighbors.