Cotler said the challenge facing Israel and its supporters was combating all forms of deligitimization – under the cover of universal jurisdiction, human rights and charges of racism.“The real issue is the critical mass of exposure to that deligitimization, especially under the protection of the United Nations,” he said. “Israel is often portrayed by our enemies as the two greatest evils – apartheid and Nazism.” Wilf said anti-Semitism was often disguised as criticism of Israeli policy and represented “a strategic threat to Israel” as a member of the international community. She voiced her concern over how Israel is seen in the world and said much of the opprobrium it receives is unfair.Attempts to segregate women in Israeli society, an issue which has been in the news of late following a series of clashes between the ultra- Orthodox community and women’s rights groups, came up during the discussion.Hasson joked that the audience, which was predominantly female consisting of hundreds of WIZO delegates and a handful of men, was not segregated.“If anything there seems to be segregation against men,” fired back Gillerman.Linde said supporters of Israel abroad can help improve its image in the media by writing in letters and pressuring news organizations to report fairly and accurately.“Every time Israel is falsely portrayed in the media, we should all fight with all our might to refute the reports,” he said. “But the media are not the core of the problem. They merely reflect what people are thinking.”
Gillerman: Obama’s ‘weak’ leadership harms Israel
Former ambassador to UN blasts US president at WIZO conference in Tel Aviv.
Cotler said the challenge facing Israel and its supporters was combating all forms of deligitimization – under the cover of universal jurisdiction, human rights and charges of racism.“The real issue is the critical mass of exposure to that deligitimization, especially under the protection of the United Nations,” he said. “Israel is often portrayed by our enemies as the two greatest evils – apartheid and Nazism.” Wilf said anti-Semitism was often disguised as criticism of Israeli policy and represented “a strategic threat to Israel” as a member of the international community. She voiced her concern over how Israel is seen in the world and said much of the opprobrium it receives is unfair.Attempts to segregate women in Israeli society, an issue which has been in the news of late following a series of clashes between the ultra- Orthodox community and women’s rights groups, came up during the discussion.Hasson joked that the audience, which was predominantly female consisting of hundreds of WIZO delegates and a handful of men, was not segregated.“If anything there seems to be segregation against men,” fired back Gillerman.Linde said supporters of Israel abroad can help improve its image in the media by writing in letters and pressuring news organizations to report fairly and accurately.“Every time Israel is falsely portrayed in the media, we should all fight with all our might to refute the reports,” he said. “But the media are not the core of the problem. They merely reflect what people are thinking.”