The battle over the narrative - opinion

The article accuses Israel of the systematic rape of Palestinian detainees and prisoners by Israeli prison guards, members of the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency), and Jewish settlers.

Kristof even suggests that Israel might be accused of training dogs to commit acts of rape on humans (as despicable as they may be): a preposterous accusation which both doctors and dog experts consider extremely unlikely from a zoological point of view.

Kristof’s article was based on 14 interviews, 12 of them anonymous, and at least one of the remaining two was known to be a Hamas supporter. These facts were the main proof presented by many critics of the article to justify referring to it as a “blood libel.”

“To our great shame, under [National Security] Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, the imprisonment conditions of the [Palestinian] prisoners have deteriorated significantly, and the case of the abuse in [the military camp of] Sde Teiman... demonstrates that cases of heavy abuse actually exist.”

The Sde Teiman abuse case involved a Palestinian detainee who had suffered various injuries, allegedly inflicted on him by five reservists from Force 100, who had guarded him. A tear in his rectum was diagnosed by the senior doctor who examined him at Sde Teiman as resulting from a foreign object having been pushed up his rectum.

In a video clip (available online), this doctor stated that he had recommended that the injured Palestinian be sent urgently to a public hospital for treatment due to heavy bleeding, as indeed he was.

In March 2026, it was decided to cancel the indictment against the five, inter alia, because the Palestinian victim had been released back to the Gaza Strip in the last deal for the release of the Israeli hostages, and was not available to appear at the trial.

The name of Ben-Gvir repeatedly comes up in connection with inappropriate conduct on his part, which causes harm to Israel’s image and reputation.

In the video clip, a group of foreign activists is seen on their knees, with their hands tied behind their backs and their heads bent downward.

Protests about Ben-Gvir’s “show” were submitted by 24 states, whose citizens were among the detainees.

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar stated that Ben-Gvir “has knowingly caused damage to the state with this disgraceful performance, and this was not the first time.” He also said to Ben-Gvir, “No, you are not the face of Israel.”

Netanyahu also stated that “the manner in which [Ben-Gvir] acted vis-à-vis the flotilla activists does not correspond with the values and norms of Israel.” Fine words. But did they impress the 24 protesting states? Probably not. Nor did they impress Ben-Gvir himself.

Fine words are not what is required in this case. Ben-Gvir should never have been appointed national security minister, but now he ought to be fired – better late than never. However, he will not be fired: Netanyahu needs him to survive politically, and his survival has proven much more important to him than Israel’s honor, public relations, and international status.

A third recent event that highlights the problem Israel faces in its public relations was the interview American TV host Tucker Carlson gave our Channel 13 presenter, Udi Segal.

Carlson, who is not my cup of tea, is always outspoken, no matter what side of the political spectrum he happens to support at any given moment (he is currently anti-Trump and anti-Israel). He made a few “statements of fact” that most Israelis are not willing to recognize as facts.

First of all, he stated that Israel has no right to complain about terrorist states like Iran.

“You live in a state that recently murdered thousands of children,” he said to a visibly shocked Segal. Perhaps the word “murdered” is exaggerated, but one may argue that Israel could do more to try to limit civilian casualties in general, and of children in particular, in the course of its legitimate military activities.

Segal, in return, raised the good old excuse of self-defense. He also defined Israel as a democracy, which obeys international law.

Carlson denied that Israel is a democracy, since millions of persons (i.e., Palestinians) live in it who do not have the right to vote. Well, Israel is still more of a democracy than any of its neighbors are, though perhaps it might be defined, these days, as a somewhat flawed democracy, or a country currently fighting over the shape of its democracy.

As to Israel’s obedience to international law, the best one can say is that this obedience is selective, especially when it comes to the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.

I believe the bottom line is that perhaps we ought to stop being so self-righteous when we are called upon to look at ourselves.

Perhaps our army is not the most moral in the world, and perhaps we could garner a little more international sympathy if we would admit to being fallible from time to time, and reexamine our modus operandi.