Outraged by Picture of Israeli Soldiers Shooting of Handcuffed Palestinian, Israeli Commentator Objects to Palestinians Being Given Cameras

Prominent journalist and radio host Uri Orbach has a curious sense of outrage. In a column, Orbach describes the outcry after the release of a recent picture of a handcuffed Palestinian being shot by an Israeli soldier with a rubber bullet at close range. Instead of decrying the need for better training or calling for justice, however, Orbach is infuriated that Palestinians have been given cameras to allow them to record such abuses.

The shooting incident was captured by a camera and the image later given to media.For the shooting story, click here.

Orbach accuses the organization B’Tselem of “collaboration with the enemy” because it handed out 100 cameras to Palestinians to record any abuses. The “armed with a camera” campaign was designed to allow a non-violent form of activism and to increase transparency of conditions in the area. For their website, click here.

Sorry, but I’m disgusted by that. The fact that Jews are trying to catch the soldiers of their own country doing bad things by handing out cameras to our enemies is intolerable. After for years now leftist Israeli politicians have failed to convince us during elections that we can make true peace with our friendly neighbors, now they just try to smear us; to show us, and to show everybody, how terrible we are.

There are obviously many (including the publishers) who believe that this is a legitimate point and that the real problem is the camera itself. Obviously, there are many in Israel who must be appalled by such views, but I have not been able to find widespread condemnation of Orbach among right-wing publications and conservative party officials. It is a chilling glimpse into the extremist views of some in this region.

For the full column, click here.