Ayalon airs 'hasbara' YouTube video on peace process
Deputy FM releases public diplomacy clip in lead-up to Palestinian UN bid putting blame for peace process failures on Palestinians.
By JPOST.COM STAFFAyalon YouTube 311(photo credit: YouTube Screen Shot)
Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon on Tuesday released a YouTube video entitled "The Truth About the Peace Process," in which he seeks to demonstrate "that the reason there is no successful peace process is because of decades of Palestinian and Arab recalcitrance."The hasbara [public diplomacy] video was released to coincide with the date the Oslo accords were signed 18 years ago and on the background of the upcoming United Nations vote on Palestinian statehood, according to a press release from Ayalon's bureau."The Palestinian excuse for going to the United Nations for recognition is because of the so-called 'occupation' when the facts belie this," Ayalon said. "It is important to demonstrate the truth by showing that the Palestinians were offered a state many times over the last several decades but rejected each offer because it would have meant recognizing Jewish sovereignty."Ayalon said that he decided to release the video after seeing the "vast success" of a previous YouTube video he released two months ago entitled "The Truth About the West Bank," in which he attempted to "show the truth about Israel's rights in the West Bank."RELATED:Ayalon, Erekat trade barbs over 'West Bank' videoAyalon: Israel must fight against internal incitement
"The positive feedback I received from all over the world has led me to believe that we are starting to make inroads in the public consciousness and that people are open and even very receptive to the truth about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict," Ayalon said.Both videos were made in cooperation with the StandWithUs student NGO, by filmmaker Shlomo Blass of Rogatka Ltd, and director Ashley Lazarus.The video was produced in English, but includes translations in numerous languages including Arabic, Spanish, French, Russian and German.The video will also be shown in hundreds of schools and educational centers worldwide as part of their curriculum on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, according to the statement.
Ayalon already has plans for two more upcoming videos that will deal with refugees and Jerusalem."It is vital that people know the truth and don't fall for easy propaganda slogans about the so-called 'occupation' created by the Palestinians to distract from the truth," Ayalon stated.
