SHOA AND GAZA

Shoa and Gaza.

Last night here in Italy David Grossman was interviewed in one of the rare enlightened television programs we have, 'Che tempo fa'. Grossman discussed amongst other things the fear that Holocaust survivors had to actually describe what had happened to them in detail as they feared that the extreme evil of it would spread ( lit.)so they avoided talking too much about it. I have read today what Israel deputy Defence minister said sometime ago and sociolinguistic background does not help to digest it. I think it is important although painful to read on.It was a year ago: the seeds of Gaza'shoa ? I hope not. I believe in peace.

Israel threatens holocaust against Gaza?!
29 Feb 2008 11:04:00 GMT
Written by: Andrew Stroehlein
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I am a journalist who’s just marked his 40th birthday, so I am officially a cynical old grump who thinks he’s seen and heard everything as far as human stupidity is concerned, particularly regarding public statements made by officials and politicians in conflict zones. But even I was shocked and surprised by this story.

In a radio interview today, Israel’s deputy defence minister threatened a “holocaust” (using the Hebrew word "shoah") against Gaza if Palestinian militants stepped-up their rocket fire against Israel. According to Reuters, Deputy Minister Matan Vilnai said:

“The more Qassam (rocket) fire intensifies and the rockets reach a longer range, they (the Palestinians) will bring upon themselves a bigger holocaust because we will use all our might to defend ourselves.”

For those few readers who might not understand how mind-blowingly shocking this is, the article helpfully adds:

“’Holocaust' is a term rarely used in Israel outside discussions of the Nazi genocide during World War Two. Many Israelis are loathe to countenance using the word to describe other contemporary events.”

If, as a spokesperson for the Israeli government, you had to make a list of words you should never use to define your country’s policy toward the Palestinians, certainly “holocaust” would be at the top. The ministry has since tried to defend Vilnai, saying he meant "shoah" in the sense of "disaster" rather than referring to genocide, but that doesn't explain why someone would use such a hugely loaded and incomparably symbolic word for the current situation.

A case of professional suicide by sound bite, surely.

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