That progressve reversal n the wake of the Six-Day War is so fascinating. I had assumed it happened more gradually though, do you have a good example of a progressive newspaper or commentator swiveling "within a week"? And was it mostly because they believed Israel started the Six-Day War pretty much unprovoked (which is of course false)? Or did they mostly resent Israel for winning it, and thus losing its victimhood status?
I am going by my recollection of the mood of the time, as shown by the tone in which events were discussed in the Guardian and the Observer (at that time two separate center-left newspapers). I do indeed remember it as being that sudden, although I can't recollect specific articles (it was a long while ago, so of course I may be truncating and oversimplifying in memory). And they were perfectly well aware that the war was a pre-emptive strike in the face of an existential threat. Nonetheless, the Jews of Israel lost their victim status, by becoming victors. I think it's really that simple.
As soon as I read the title of your piece, I thought of something I remember well; how after the Six-Day War in 1969, self-styled progressive thought (as typified by The Guardian in the UK) swivelled within a week from pro-Israeli to pro-Arab.
There is a further paradox here. I would dearly love to join protests against Israel's conduct of the war, and of the occupation of the West Bank, but cannot, because of the postures adopted, as you so well describe, by the leaders of those protests.
That progressve reversal n the wake of the Six-Day War is so fascinating. I had assumed it happened more gradually though, do you have a good example of a progressive newspaper or commentator swiveling "within a week"? And was it mostly because they believed Israel started the Six-Day War pretty much unprovoked (which is of course false)? Or did they mostly resent Israel for winning it, and thus losing its victimhood status?
I am going by my recollection of the mood of the time, as shown by the tone in which events were discussed in the Guardian and the Observer (at that time two separate center-left newspapers). I do indeed remember it as being that sudden, although I can't recollect specific articles (it was a long while ago, so of course I may be truncating and oversimplifying in memory). And they were perfectly well aware that the war was a pre-emptive strike in the face of an existential threat. Nonetheless, the Jews of Israel lost their victim status, by becoming victors. I think it's really that simple.
As soon as I read the title of your piece, I thought of something I remember well; how after the Six-Day War in 1969, self-styled progressive thought (as typified by The Guardian in the UK) swivelled within a week from pro-Israeli to pro-Arab.
There is a further paradox here. I would dearly love to join protests against Israel's conduct of the war, and of the occupation of the West Bank, but cannot, because of the postures adopted, as you so well describe, by the leaders of those protests.