Israeli Government uses
PsyOps on Settlers
This week (January 25,
2005) the Israeli PsyOps division
was reassembled
after being largely dormant for five years.14
- Amos Harel, Haaretz
Military Correspondent
PsyOps or Psychological
Warfare Operations1 are
units of the military2
designed to
swing public opinion. You can think of them as Public
Relations persons
for the Military.3
They are similar to commercial
and political "spin doctors". Political "spin doctors" put a
'spin' on media events to show
their product or political agenda in the most positive light.
Where
PsyOps differ, however, is if the current events are insufficient
for their needs they are prepared to create their own
'events'. Special agents known as 'provocateurs' are
trained to blend in with the crowd, dress as civilians, and show up at
carefully coordinated times with the camera crews to create a media
'happening'.
Views of GSS
Agent Avishai Raviv talking with settler children
The last
time Israel was assumed to have organized a PsyOps unit was to help
sell the
Oslo peace plan to the general public. The bold plan put forth,
for the first time, a two state solution for the Mideast
conflict. It was a wonderful plan to lead to lasting peace in the
region. Former Prime Minister Shimon Peres envisioned economic
prosperity for all, even to the point where Israel might become a
member of its arch enemy, the Arab League.4
This plan
went against years of Israeli government policy and public
opinion. It was
a hard sell. It faced two major obstacles. First, the
promised 'peace and understanding' with the Palestinians was never
realized. Second, because approximately 10% of the Israeli
population lives over the green line,5 a
significant percentage of
these people would have to be moved.
The Israeli
Government tried its best to put a good face on the Oslo agreement, and
among other things assembled a group of the best and brightest in
Israeli Public Relations (PR) to work as a branch of the military
"PsyOps".
Their first
task was to deal with "no promised peace". Israel fully expected
that by withdrawing from Lebanon, allowing the creation of a self
governing Palestinian Authority with its own police and security
forces, and giving it full control of 98% of the Palestinian population
-- it would 'shock the Arab world' into taking a new, positive view of
the Israel. The Palestinians would be happy, Europe and the
United Nations would cease to condemn Israel, and Israel would be on
the road to living side by side with a friendly Palestinian
state. But this didn't happen. Suicide bombings began to
occur monthly and drive-by shootings increased to almost daily
frequency.
Prime Minister Barak who wanted to give 25%, 33%, 50%, 80% and lastly 95%.6
of the West Bank and Gaza was viciously maligned by the Arab
press - more so than any previous Israeli PM. European
anti-Israel
sentiment reached a zenith, and antisemitism began to reappear after
being dormant for years. Things weren't going as planned.
So then Prime Minister Rabin, respun terrorist victims as 'sacrifices
for peace'. Terrorist attacks went unreported or explained
away.
Terror victims were minimally interviewed on the local news, and never
on the international news. The head of the Palestinian Authority,
Arafat was made to look a peace loving leader who was diligently
fighting terrorism. A desperate Israel turned a blind eye to the
'education of hatred' and glorification of suicide bombers rampant in
the Palestinian schools7 and media8.
GSS Agent
Raviv staged a faked 'secret swearing in ceremony' of a imaginary
settler terrorist
organization "Eyal".
The second
task was to deal with 'labeling' the segment of Israeli population
which would be need to be relocated as 'outside the national
consensus'. The West Bank and Gaza 'settlers' became 'opponents
of
peace', 'extremists', and
for merely holding on to what had been Israeli government policy for
years, they were labeled 'dangerous radicals'. But names weren't
enough, actions were needed. In one highly publicized event,
Israeli secret agent and provocateur, Avishai Raviv, brought in Channel
2 news to film a faked 'secret swearing in ceremony' of a imaginary
settler terrorist
organization "Eyal".9
Raviv was also instrumental in printing and distributing posters of PM
Rabin in a Nazi uniform.10
Raviv looked and acted like a
settler, and the public outcry against the settlers reached
unprecedented proportions. The truth is we would never have known
that one of the most extreme settlers was really an Israeli secret
agent if he hadn't become a good friend of Yigal Amir.
This is the same Yigal Amir who assassinated PM Yitzak Rabin.
Although
Raviv originally denied under oath that he was a secret agent, and the
government disclaimed any possible linkage between Raviv's incitement
and Amir's actions, the Israeli public demanded answers about their
connection. The Shamgar Commission was established and determined
publicly that Raviv was indeed an agent and that he had been involved
in staging
a series of fake 'ultra rightwing' extremist actions. Charges
were
brought against Raviv, but in a closed door court session, and under
the guise of state security, all charges were eventually dropped.
But much worse than that, the effect of government sponsored 'spin'
against a segment of the Israeli population was never measured or
explored,
and the Israeli public was left with the impression that 'all settlers
are extremists'.
Even after
the Rabin assassination, the PsyOps continued their work. It
was assumed by many that the "Kill Barak" website.11 was a
PsyOps
operation to further alienate the public against anyone opposed to
advancing the Oslo accords. It appears that the same webmaster
also ran a
discussion group at webseers.com12 where for
the first time all sorts
of
'anonymous' information appeared creating a bizarre conspiracy theory
blaming the Rabin assassination on pro-Olso politicians, the Council
for Foreign Relations and UFOs. This conspiracy theory (without
the UFOs) gained a lot of attention in the Israeli media and led the
Israeli public to think that people opposed to Oslo are nuts.
When this discussion group went offline during Israeli elections, it
was assumed that there was a connection. It is against Israeli
law for a government organization to influence elections, so several
discussion
group members speculated that the PsyOps had taken the discussion
group down
so that it not appear that they were directly affecting election
results. We don't know. We probably will never know.
After the
Olso agreement turned into the Olso war, there was little indication of
PsyOps activity. Israeli anathematized Arafat. The
official channels began to complain about incitement in Palestinian
schools and media. The world began to see and hear about
terrorist victims.13
But when the
PM Ariel Sharon resurrected the spirit of Oslo (which is basically an
Israeli retreat) in the form of his policy of 'Disengagement', he once
again hit a potentially hard sell with the Israeli public.
Normally when a country redraws its borders, the residents remain where
they are. In a bold step, Sharon insists that the Jewish
residents of Gaza and portions of the West Bank be expelled. He
has even
threatened to use military force against Israeli civilians who wish to
remain in their homes in Gaza and the West Bank. New legislation
requiring up to three years in prison for anyone who resists
evacuation is being pushed through the Knesset. Sharon has
claimed that by the end of the year 2005, "Gaza will be free of Jews" -
a phrase that upset a portion of the Israeli public being reminiscent
of
phrases used during WWII. As time past, Sharon hit more and more
resistance to his policies.
This
week (January 25, 2005) the
PsyOps division was
reassembled after being largely dormant for five years.14 When
I hear
that there is a "truce in Gaza" and "absolute quiet" from the
Government
and Israeli Media, yet I see from the local news that the mortar
attacks and bombings are actually
still continuing15 -- it
seems to me
the PsyOps and spin doctors are hard at work. When several
individual provocateurs (supposably Israeli settlers from Gaza) slash
tires and throw rocks at Palestinian Police who sent to keep quiet in
the area AND the next day the Israeli papers run the headlines
"Settlers destroy peace and quiet in Gaza", as if the settlers are
somehow to
blame for the subsequent mortar attacks and shellings -- more
PsyOps. When the government decides to evict two families and
destroy two caravans in the middle of ten year old village in Yitzhar
on the West
Bank, provoking a scuffle with the residents AND leading to headlines
of "Extremist settlers attack Police and Army" -- It appears to me and
many others that the Israeli government staged an event to further
its
policies. I am outraged to think of the
Israeli government using PsyOps on its own population, and demand a
full and complete inquiry.
It is the
nature of secret services that we cannot know the full extent of their
activities. But Israeli Attorney General Elyakim
Rubinstein
hinted at its scope when he tried to
suppress16 documents
attesting to Avishai Raviv role17 as a
government paid agent provocateur against its own citizens. He said if
the public knew [the truth about the Government actions] it would be a
grave danger to public security, faith
in the government, and public order.
The ICSC reported to
the Knesset that Eyal Arad
indeed
receives a full time salary from the government to provide
strategic services
DAVID BEDEIN, Bureau Chief, Israel
Resource News Agency
December 19, 2005
There is an unprecedented consensus
of revulsion
, across the political spectrum, that the movie MUNICH, produced by
Steven Spielberg, represents the ultimate of "moral equivalency", since
it equates the "human interest" story of PLO murderers with the human
interest of the unarmed Israeli athletes whom they murdered.
This week, it was confirmed news Spielberg has hired Prime Minister
Ariel Sharon's aide Eyal Arad17, to
promote 'Munich' .
Spielberg would not have been able to
hire the chief strategist and
media advisor of the Prime Minister of Israel without the clear and
express consent of the Prime Minister of Israel.
On May 21st, 2005, the Israel Civil
Service Commission reported to
the Knesset Israel Government Controls Committee that Arad indeed
receives a full time salary from the government of Israel to provide
strategic service to the Prime Minister of Israel.
Our news agency has asked the Prime
Minister and the Israel Civil
Service Commission to explain how it is that the Israeli government's
most senior PR advisor would advocate for the "moral equivalency"
message of Israel's adversaries.
The question remains: Does this have
anything to do with the fact
that Machmud Abbas, the chairman of Fateh and head of the Palestinian
Authority, now in negotiation with the government of Israel, was the
PLO official who financed the PLO Munich massacre?
Source: "Spielberg
hires PM aide to promote 'Munich' - Jerusalem Post December 19, 2005
WHO STAGED STERN PROVOCATION?
By Gail Winston, founder of M.E.I.R.,
Mid East Information Resource
October 16, 2005
When an IDF Maj.-Gen
Elazar
Stern gets pelted with water balloons at the Kotel (Wester Wall), it
certainly seems rather suspicious. Who brings water balloons to the
Kotel? (1)
How were "over 100 worshipers" in a crowd of "over 5000"
'spontaneously' able to organize into a group to pelt Stern?
Why would "haredi tourists" join the melee? Sterns advocacy of
disengagement is not a haredi issue. Any normal tourist would quickly
move in the other direction when voices are raised and violence
threatens.
What in the world was a film crew from Channel 2 TV doing at the Kotel
Friday evening? Did they just happen to be there? Perhaps the cafes
were all closed and they went for spiritual rejuvenation at the Western
Wall - and they forgot they happened to have their cameras, microphones
and staff with them. Or maybe they just wanted to offend worshipers by
filming them on the Sabbath?
Stern said that "he felt he was drawn the ire of haredim and religious
zealots due to his efforts to change the religious status quo in the
IDF." What status quo? Which haredi would be particularly surprised at
anything that goes on in the IDF?
It seems Stern has been made into the point man for a number of issues.
Stern said quite well himself: "I hope this garbage is taught to
understand the limits. We won’t let them destroy the State. WE won’t
let anyone prevent us from praying at the Western Wall".
There are always plenty of soldiers at the Western Wall. They are
always welcomed. Stern is the first reported case of any solider being
harassed . Yet he is quick to generalize "We wont let anyone prevent us
from praying at the Western Wall".
This rather strange incident was all too quickly picked up by no less
then Prime Minister Ariel Sharon himself who then calls (on Shabbat)
the Chief of Staff Dan Halutz, Justice minister Tzippi Livni and
Internal Security minister Gideon Ezra and "directs them to do
everything to make sure that IDF officers and soldiers are able to pray
at the Wall without being attacked by worshipers there", Sharon also
instructed them to "do everything possible to arrest those involved in
this violence".
Our guess is that Stern is willingly being used to accomplish at least
three goals:
1. To break up the Hesder Yeshivas. He has already stated this as his
goal. Somehow a staged incident at the Kotel will be used to show that
Hesder Yeshivas are bad places where water-balloon flinging is taught.
2. Increase the rate of conversions - without regard to Jewish law.
Despite the fact that the vast majority of the 300,000 non-Jews brought
to Israel from Russia by the Jewish Agency have no interest in becoming
Jewish but are pressured to do so because the government needs to find
a solution to its self-created demographic problem. These
Russians view Jews (whom they call Zhids even here) with open contempt,
verging into anti-Semitism [note the upsurge in neo-Nazi materials sold
here]. Despite the fact that the proud descendants of Cossacks
say they don’t want to become Jewish - quicky conversions are still a
favored option by the government . Needless to say, haredi authorities
point out that these ersatz converts are not Jewish.
3. Reward Stern for his loyalty to Sharon over the disengagement by
making him a ‘courageous poster child’ willing to brave water balloons
to pray.
How will they toast their success? No doubt over a bottle of cheap
"Champagne" from the well-known vineyards of provocation.
Civil War "Talk" Heats Up
Arutz Sheva - Israel National
News
February 13, 2005
As tensions over the withdrawal/expulsion plan
intensify, talk of a civil war or violence between Jews is also heating
up. Some fear another Avishai Raviv-type provocation against the
right-wing.
The following items have been noted in recent days:
* A resident of Itamar in Samaria was accused on Friday of having
attempted to run over a policeman during a fracas over the deployment
of a caravan. Eyewitnesses say that nothing of the sort occurred, other
than the fact that a resident didn't stop when told to do so by a
policeman. They say that a similar complaint was made two months ago
following a confrontation near Yitzhar, also in Samaria; an officer
claimed that a resident tried to attack him while soldiers destroyed
two empty trailer homes. The case was later closed.
* Voice of Israel Radio devoted considerable time on this morning's
shows to discussing the "similarity" between the events of this week
and those that preceded Rabin's assassination. The host asked why the
police and legal authorities are not doing more to arrest agitators.
* Last week, a group of protestors yelled at Education Minister Limor
Livnat, who attended a memorial ceremony for Lechi fighter Ya'ir Stern,
for her support for the disengagement plan. Many headlines said she was
"attacked," though in fact she was not.
* Transportation Minister Meir Sheetrit, a pro-withdrawal Likud member,
says he received a letter threatening his family.
* It was widely reported that Chabad youths attacked Finance Minister
Binyamin Netanyahu this past Thursday night, threw something at him,
and slashed his tires. It was quietly reported afterwards, however,
that none of this actually happened. The driver of Netanyahu's car saw
that his tire was low on air, but criminal intent is not suspected.
* MK Tzvi Hendel, a resident of Gush Katif, said that the alleged
attackers "cause harm not only to our cause, but also to the entire
country. But they are only a tiny fraction of the entire populace, and
they must be related to in this manner. It's actually the Prime
Minister who sees fit to mention Judea, Samaria and Gaza and extremist
Kach members in the same breath. A citizen who hears the Prime Minister
make such an equation is liable to believe him... I don't see anyone
being arrested. I'm beginning to think that this is another case of
[Shabak agent-provocateur] Avishai Raviv, and that [these incidents]
serve Sharon's ultimate objective of de-legitimizing all of us."
Avishai Raviv (pictured above) is believed to have encouraged Yigal
Amir to assassinate Yitzchak Rabin in 1995. Among other evidence, two
high school girls said they heard Raviv goad Yigal Amir into
assassinating Rabin. Raviv was similarly the driving force behind the
fictitious Eyal organization, which "took credit" for attacks against
Arabs that never occurred - leading to the ostracizing of the
nationalist camp by many.
* Minister Matan Vilnai, who aspires to head the Labor Party, said
yesterday, "We have to 'lower the heads' of the extremist inciters.
There is no reason that they should sit quietly at home. We must chop
off the incitement against public figures immediately."
* The police department plans to grant "immunity" to police officers
charged by settlers with undue violence during the expulsion from Gaza.
So reports the Yediot Acharonot newspaper today. The report states that
the police believe that the settlers plan to "intimidate" policemen
from carrying out the evacuation by filing illegitimate complaints
charging them with undue violence and the like. The police will
therefore not suspend these policemen, in keeping with long-running
custom, but will rather investigate the charges even as the policemen
continue to carry out their jobs.
------
1 For a
definition see "Psychological
Operations/Warfare"
2. A listing by country (except
Israel) of various militaries and their PSYOPS units can be found at "Psyop Links"
3. See their
capabilities in "Psychological
Operations Resources"
4. See a
discussion of this quote, and other more realistic evalutions of the
future of peace at "The Uncertainties
of Peace: Regional Implications of Israeli-Arab Rapprochement"
5. Many Israelis
live 'over the green line' in Gaza, West Bank and Jerusalem
suburbs. The Gaza and West Bank include about 250,000
Israelis. Jerusalem suburbs over the green line include about
another 300,000 people, although the Israeli government policy
has
remained quiet on this issue, and most Israelis are not aware where
the 'green line' runs through the city of Jerusalem.
6. For a discussion of form
President Clintons memoirs on Barak's flexibility and Arafat's
intransigence see "Camp
David II"
7. See Center
for Monitoring Imapact of Peace (EDUME, PA Textbooks)
8. See Independent
Media Review and Analysis (IMRA), Israel
Resource Review (IRW, Analysis of Arab Press), Palestinian
Media Watch (PMW, Analysis of Arab Press)
9. Most
of the documentation of the story has disappeared from
the
internet but can still be found at "GSS
Agent Avishai Raviv and his Israel Broadcasting Authority (IBA)
collaborators"..
10. See
a fascinated discussion between the Tal Ravina and Dr. Aaron Lerner at "Interview: Rabin
Center Spokesman On Photomontage In Website"
11. A counter
on the site ehudbarak.net was registered to a certain Jay Sidman, although
the media
blamed it on Dr Irving
Moskowitz an opponent of Oslo.
12. The site
was originally at
http://www.webseers.com/rabinsitefeedb/ but it has since been deleted.
13. Several
government websites
began to post
pictures and biographies
of the victims, bus 19 destroyed
by a suicide bomber went on tour
throughout North America
to show the utter devastation and horror of suicide bombings.
14. "IDF
reviving psychological warfare unit", by Amos Harel, Haaretz
Correspondent, January
25, 2005
15. See "Residents:
'Terror Attempts in Gaza Continue'". Longtime
Gaza resident Datia Yitzchaki says "The
ceasefire exists only in the media".
16. See "Court
blacks out document on former agent Raviv" by Moshe Reinfeld,
Gideon Alon and Ariel Weiss, Ha'aretz Correspondents" and "Publication
of Raviv protocol banned" By
Dan Izenberg
17
The document itself and associated issues are discussed at
"copy of an Israeli
Government document that was forbidden for publication in Israel last
night" (http://vi.cityline.ru/vi/raviv/) as well as "threats
against the webhosting company"
18. Eyal
Arad: Coined the phrase
'disengagement.' (Archive/Nir Keidar). Haaretz 04/07/2005. Sharon aide
Eyal Arad to oversee PR for disengagement .
19. "IDF’s
Manpower Chief Harassed On Shabbat At Kotel" by Arieh O’Sullivan
Jerusalem Post 10/16/05
This page was produced
by Joseph
E. Katz
Middle Eastern Political
and Religious
History Analyst
Brooklyn, New York
E-mail
to a friend
|