Reversing Israel hatred starts with young minds

There’s a solution to the problem of Israel haters. It’s long term, but successful. Let me give you an example.

In the late 1950s, Prime Minister David Ben Gurion met Chancellor Konrad Adenauer of Germany somewhere in Europe. It was a secret meeting. The two statesmen had decided that the Jews and Germans somehow had to overcome the tragedy of the Holocaust. Various ideas were discussed, and they parted with the understanding that they would meet again and come up with the solution.

After Ben Gurion returned to Israel, the story broke that he had met Adenauer, and there was widespread unhappiness among survivors of the concentration camps. Demonstrations were held and demands were made that Ben Gurion should resign.

So, Ben Gurion went back to Adenauer, and told him there was much unhappiness among many Israelis, and there was a generation of Jews who would never forgive nor forget. It was decided then to start reconciliation with young children who had no knowledge of the past. There was an ongoing exchange of young people and over the years, the system had been so successful, that by the mid-1970s there were more tourists in Israel from Germany than from any other country. Lufthansa became the airline of choice for Israelis. Israeli companies bought German machinery and technology. The system which started with small children became very successful.

We have to implement a carbon copy of the successful Israel/German experiment in South Africa. We need to influence young minds. We should have exhibitions at black schools about how Israel helps Africa and the world at large. Let children see for themselves what Israel does. They don’t know anything about Israel. Top matric students should be offered bursaries/scholarships to study at Israeli institutions. Let South African black students get Israeli degrees or diplomas. We have to invest in the youth. It’s a long term proposition, but the current generation, particularly of grown-ups, is a lost cause. We need to control the narrative, and give the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions movement a free pass.

We need as many people as possible on Israel’s side. We have enough enemies.

Another idea is to print a weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly advert in a local newspaper telling all the readers about the latest inventions/innovations and good-news stories coming out of Israel.

At the moment, we don’t control the narrative. Let’s do something about it.