Activity Two:
Simulated Anti-Israel March

Purpose

• To raise the question of how to effectively respond to the growing public attacks on Israel;
• To familiarise participants with analytical approaches to the underlying issues;
• To enable participants to acquire focused experience in response.

Materials

• Arts and Craft Materials.
• Highlighting pens for everyone (2 colors per pair of participants).
• Speeches from website links and appendices (#1, #2, #3)

Time and Suitability

15 upwards. 2.5 - 3 hours.

Program

Part One: Should there be a Response?

The facilitator should explain to the group that, since the beginning of the Intifada there has been an increasing amount of anti-Israeli activity on campuses and nationally. The way to respond to this to such attacks has always been a question of ambivalence.

Get into Role

Members are given the following scenario.

You are members of a local Jewish community. In two weeks time a large anti-Israel rally will be held in your community. The march will take place through a Jewish area. The march may well become violent. At the end of the rally a key note speaker will make an address at the local town hall. The speaker will describe Israel as Nazi and accuse the Prime Minister of War Crimes.

You have to decide how to react. Since the announcement of the rally, there has been an increase in Antisemitic incidences locally. Antisemitic leaflets have been distributed etc.

• Members are split into 3 different responses, either by choice, or by allocated position into 3 almost equal groups (see: The Different Roles).
• They should decide to respond in accordance to the role given to them, and discuss their reasons.
• The reasons are presented in summary to the entire group, and a review of the main points is conducted.

The Different Roles

• You believe that you must act strongly against this demonstration. If this march is allowed to take place it could lead to Antisemitism.
• You believe that by talking and understanding political problems can be resolved.
• You are Jews who support the march against Israel because you are critical of Israeli action.

Part Two: Hands-on Analysis & Response

This section is designed to enable participants to try out their analytical skills, acquire some background knowledge and work through a detailed analysis of issues that appear daily in the media and at important forums - from university campuses through the UN.

At this stage, it is not the aim to conduct a detailed Hasbara techniques presentation, but to enter the content and techniques from a hands-on standpoint.

All participants receive copies of:

1. The Melchior statement to the Durban Conference;
2. Sections from the Ashrawi speech to the Durban conference.
   [The analysis sheets are initially only for the educator, but prepare copies for handing out later.]
3. Sources mentioned in the Introductory chapter
   1. Allow participants to skim the Melchior statement in pairs for 10 minutes and then mark up the text as indicated in the instructions.
      Discuss the main findings of the group in terms of what works in what kinds of context.
   2. Hand out the statement by Hanan Ashrawi and allow participants time to mark the sections they feel require substantiated, knowledgeable response.
      · Why are these sections problematic?
      · What ideas do participants have for response? Differentiate between substance and sound bytes.
   3. Hand out an analysis print-out to groups of four participants and have them study the points and check the sources mentioned.
   4. Allow participants to focus on issues relating to the Zionism = Racism allegations in this speech.
      · How many such instances did they find?
      · What was the real purpose of the speech?
      · What were the responses to her allegations which participants felt they could use in other contexts?

Part Three: Preparations for a Counter-Rally

Participants are asked to respond to the anti-Israel march in different media.

Running a Campaign

Split the group up into the five media subgroups detailed below.

All groups receive copies of:

• Excerpts from the Peres-Melchior press conference;
• Online links on Durban (from the Introduction).

Speech Writing Group

You will be responsible for rebutting the claims of the speaker. The speakers speech is printed below. Read the speech and click on the lie to reveal the truth or how you are being manipulated.

Useful Tips

You need to write a speech, or even a few different options.
Think:

• Who is your audience?
• What message do you want to say, what agenda do you want to set?
• How much time do you have?
• Think of an effective way to start the speech and an effective way to end. What is the theme and subject matter?
• Think of some special features and points for your agenda inside the speech.

Posters Group

Design Posters to support Israel.

Remember:

You will have to think of a theme(eg Israel wants peace)

• Keep it visual
• Keep it simple
• Colors are important
• Who is the audience?

Many of these ideas will also be useful for preparing hand-outs.

Street Theater Group

Street theater is very effective as a means of getting publicity. The more creative the drama the better. Protesting for peace can include pantomime, releasing doves or balloons etc.

Remember:

• You will have to think of a theme(eg Israel wants peace)
• Keep it visual
• Keep it simple
• Colors and music are important
• Who is the audience?

Media Group

For the press:

• Hold a press conference
• Give good notice
• Provide a story
• Speak in easily quotable sentences
• Journalists are looking for a story so help them with their work by being interesting
• Remember- what is your message?
• Set the agenda.

Many of these ideas are suitable for radio too.

Web Page Group

• Webpages are easy to make. Decide what role you want for your site
• You will have to think of a theme(eg Israel wants peace)
• Keep it visual
• Keep it simple
• Colors and music and interaction are important.
• Ask why somebody would come back
• Who is the audience?

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