“Israeli pinkwashing,” in the words of Prof. Jasbir Puar, “is a potent method through which the terms of Israeli occupation of Palestine are reiterated – Israel is civilised, Palestinians are barbaric, homophobic, uncivilised, suicide-bombing fanatics.”
Last week, pinkwashing came to Penn State, with the campus Hillel chapter hosting two back-to-back talks by speakers from the Israeli Consulate General’s office in Philadelphia. First, the consulate’s Public Relations director (and former IDF Captain) Sharon Singer spoke on “Being Gay in the Israeli Army.” Much of her talk consisted of screening Youtube clips depicting gay intimacy in Israeli films and television shows.
Afterwards, Deputy Consul General Raslan Abu-Rukun spoke about Israeli foreign policy and emphasized the atmosphere of racial and religious harmony in the Jewish state. When he presented a vigorous justification of Israel’s killing of 1400 civilians during the 2009 Gaza war, the majority of the audience, wearing stickers saying “Free Palestine” and “End the Occupation” stood up and walked out.
Abu-Rukun spoke for only a few minutes after the walkout, addressing the remaining audience of 10-15, mostly comprised of Hillel members. A few pro-justice students also stayed behind. “How do you reconcile the rosy picture you paint with Human Rights Watch’s account of “systematic discrimination” against Palestinians,” asked one student. Visibly flustered, Abu Rukun complained that Israel was often unfairly targeted by human rights agencies. When asked if there were any human rights organizations he would recommend for objective coverage of Israel and Palestine, he was unable to name even one.
Abu-Rukun, an Israeli Druze, was on his second visit to Penn State. In his talk, he mentioned his private meeting with President Graham Spanier earlier that morning. Pres. Spanier, himself born in Apartheid South Africa, was one of the main organizers of the 2007 University Presidents’ petition against the decision by Britain’s University and College Union to pursue academic boycott of Israel (the petition appeared as an ad in the New York Times sponsored by the American Jewish Committee.) When asked afterwards about the subject of his meeting with Spanier, Abu Rukun’s response was unequivocal. “I am a diplomat,” he said. “My job is to advance Israel’s interests.”
The following day, the Consulate updated their Facebook page, describing the event as “fully packed.” The event certainly was packed, but only if you include the protestors.
